PLDF Chapter 12

"Chapter 12: It's Time to Say... (Sub-Entries 111-120)"

Sub-Entry 111: "A Lifetime of Catch-Up in a Few Hours":
Well what started as an attempt to get us on the same page still developed into a lengthy series of stories and catch-up.

"...and so Rex's underpants ended up on the news."

"Aunt Viiiii!  We promised we wouldn't spread that story around!" Asriel whined.

"Oh my!  How undignified!" Mettaton looked flabbergasted.

"Well, I hope the guy's embarrassment was...brief?  Or he'd have to hid in a stack of box-ers."

Asriel tried to cover up his chuckle. "Sans...!"

"Your vulgarity knows no bounds, brother." Papyrus deadpanned.

"Tell us about this half-demon princess!  I bet she kicks so much butt!"

"Well from what I understand she was gifted a special rouge makeup that allows her to transform into Benihime the Destroyer of Lands for one minute's time.  With it comes a horrific demon power." Asriel explained to Undyne.

"He is going to have stories to tell for days." Willamina comment.

"No.  He's got enough to tell for a whole lifetime." I corrected.

"Won't stop him from trying to condense it down to a few hours." Violet shrugged.

"That would be a most impressive feat." Usagi noted.

"Speaking of feet--"  Vi mused.

"Too easy Vi." I wrinkled my nose. "You weren't even subtle."

"I hope he at least saves a few tales for us to tell.  Add a few more perspectives to them, y'know?" Honey mused.

"Some of those perspectives need to go through a laundromat." Sally prodded. "I don't think we want Goat Mom's disapproval on how many colorful metaphors some of us would describe with."

"You implying something, team leader?"

"No.  I'm saying it out right.  Keep it G-rated or you'll find out how outclassed you are at fire ability."

"I can take the heat."

"You'll be sorry." Sally walked away and joined the Asriel to assist with spinning a few heroic tales.

"Hmph.  How much better at flames could she be?"

Pretty sure she was inviting trouble. But despite this...no payoff to her being cocky actually came of it. She said it and would forget it. As would most of us within hearing range.

Not to be outdone, though...each of us had our own stories to tell and eventually the Boss Monsters all started dividing up to hear which tale intrigued them the most.

While Frisk was the latest person to show up...she wouldn't be the last.

"Ahuhuhuhuh...!"

Giggling little spider-lady. Also...still greedy.

"I believe this settles any and all debts we might have."

Mitzi and Jon of course paid their long-standing tabs...though I don't exactly know what they bought off of her to merit such large-scale bills.

"Now...ready to have your mind blown over all the gossip you missed within the last few hours?"

"Of course, dearie!"

Grillby was the next to show up but...I don't know if I'd consider him a Boss Monster. More of an NPC. Though...with the game broken, all those roles just disappeared like dust in the wind.

Okay, THAT was still morbid. Pretty sure monsters still turned instantly to dust when they fell down. At least it was less morbid than the usual post-mortis process of decomposing. But still morbid by this world's rules.

Subject change, very yes.

Mitzi of course found herself tied up in double duty entertaining both Muffet and Grillby.

Sally had found her groove with Napstablook and Shyren.

Violet was now going full-on, keeping Mettaton bedazzled.

Jon was now back-and-forth with Papyrus and everyone who could cook.

Bunnie and Usagi kept Undyne occupied.

Lupe of course bonded with Asgore while trying to get Flowey to be at least somewhat social. The flower wasn't having it.

Gradually other lesser monsters dropped in on us. No doubt rumors would spread like wildfire from this moment. I had a feeling Toriel and Asgore would no doubt call some sort of press conference or town meeting or something to break the news to everyone. And they'd have their hands full spreading it to the world. Their world.

It was a curious thing being the last ones to know about something that was 15 years in the making PLUS the time before this all started. Countless lifetimes of crisscrossing time steams, reconnecting with my Ultra Crew Institute while remastering my own history as well as theirs. So many events piled upon each other and now another world would gradually become privy to the details.

This was one of the worlds that I didn't have to hold back. One that might actually be ready for this rather than the many different Earth realms that would probably NEVER be ready for this. Realms we'd continue to hide in plain sight in human disguises. All the while, keeping the circle of those who DID know our secrets nice and small.

"...and 'zat is 'ow I became zee knight who eez well-liked by our princes--"

Sally cleared her throat with a scowl.

"...well...perhaps the like-eeng eez a bit of the too much, no?"

"I'll settle for tolerating him in slowly increasing doses." Sally crossed her arms.

In another conversation...

"...so you didn't have a Royal Scientist, per say?"

"No.  It was more of a position of Minister of Science.  I probably could have been the next one in line but...bad things happened." Rotor explained.

And elsewhere...

"...humans are kind of the minority in this party, aren't they?" Drew off-handedly asked Frisk.

Frisk just shrugged with an awkward smile.

"So...Frisk. Last name?"

"N...not so much." Frisk looked off to the side. "Though...technically it's now Dreemurr."

"Well.  Asriel over there is now technically an Arcade so..."

"Yeah."

"But you two are siblings, in a way--"  Violet cut in before being thwapped.

"Don't." Bunnie warned.

"I don't know what you mean." Frisk blinked, missing the implication.

"Violet, seriously. You got no shame." Drew muttered.

Okay we were still dancing around the fact that we all saw Asriel and Frisk making eyes at each other before trying to downplay it as a polite "first" meeting. Though, there were many of us who were in the loop who knew better. There was nothing "first" about this. This was a reunion in every sense of the word.

Anyway. I was just glad Drew and Bunnie cut off the conversation before Violet could get into inter-species dating. And even more glad we didn't somehow draw Papyrus back into this subject. Friend Zone, indeed.

It was starting to get late and it was starting to get dark/

"It would seem we've overstayed--"

"Nonsense.  As our guests, we are more than glad to offer you all rooms for the night."

"Yeah, I guess we'll have to put off that tour of the town until tomorrow."

"Is it really okay, Miss Toriel?" Gadget asked.

"Of course, my child! We have more than enough rooms to spare."

This was adding credibility to my theory that maybe the Dreemurrs were considering opening a large-scale hotel, initially. Maybe a bed-and-breakfast for all Monsters and humans outside of Newest Home?

Either way...maybe I was just still having hanging doubts but...it felt better than we deserved.

You heard what Asgore said, Volt. So. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. You want to build trust? Accept the trust you're offered as a start.

"Azzy...?"

"Yeah...it's going to feel weird sleeping in a bed that isn't a dorm room or my old room's with Scott and Callie......and wow...it's the first time I called them by their first names.  I hope that isn't being--"

"Don't give it a thought, Goat Son.  You're a grown adult and your own man, now.  I'm sure it's fine."

"Well...I guess we all could use some winding down before turning in for the night." Sally looked on.

"I hear that." Mitzi agreed.

In the time that followed, we all went through our own rituals before eventually calling it a night--each of us at a different time.

Some of us early...

"Whoah, there, Jon. Yawn any louder and you'll be the stunt-double for the lion-taming act.  AS the lion."

"Oh hah hah hah." Jon stuck his tongue out at Violet before collapsing on the spot...right in front of the nearest air conditioning vent on the floor.

Sheesh. Offered a nice comfy bed and he has to sleep like a common family pet. Go figure.

And then some of us at normal bed-time hours...

"Cute nightgown, Gadget.  So adorable!" Mitzi complimented.

"Thanks, Mitzi! I wish I had a bathrobe that cute-looking!"

"Oh, this old thing?" Mitzi downplayed it as she undid her pigtails and let her hair down.

Though, in reality, Gadget fell more under a different group. Speaking of which...

There were some of us who probably never slept.

"...how long are you planning on staying up, Vi?" Honey mused.

"Staying up?"

"Yeah.  You know, before you go to bed."

"What is this "bed" you speak of?" Vi grinned a trolling grin.

"Oh, you."

"Don't go eating up all the electricity and being a WIFI hog again." Willie warned before she headed to her room. "Frankly I don't know which of you to tell to keep the other out of trouble.  Frankly...neither of you are responsible enough to do that."

"Ouch!" Violet stuck her tongue out.

"We are wounded. How tragic." Honey giggled.

"Ugh..." Willie shook her head.

And then there was Papyrus, who, I'm sure probably wasn't going to sleep. The lack of a Race Car Bed and a copy of Peek-a-Boo Bunny might have been contributing factors.

All over, each of us had our unique take on the night hours. Most of us also tried to observe we were in a guest house and encouraged to be on our best behavior, despite being told to make ourselves at home.

"Hmm." I noted that Asriel's room was right next to Frisk's.

I didn't expect either of them to visit each other in the middle of the night. Pretty sure they were both better behaved than what Vi was implying.

Aside from that, I couldn't shake the echoes of Undertale's prologue backstory. Namely, the era where Asriel and Chara shared a room as siblings. But now...this was territory I didn't quite know how to make sense of. Much less know what lay ahead.

It's for that reason, I probably had the most trouble actually falling asleep that night.

There was something on my mind. Something gnawing at me. Something incredibly obvious. Something...I just didn't want to admit to myself. It was something...inevitable.

By gods...I'd prepared for a long time for this moment. But I was still praying it would never come.

As I lay awake, my werewolf ears could pick up a lot of sounds I could definitely discern from familiarity.

Sans' distinct snoring.

Jon getting up to raid the fridge.

Sally, trying to tire herself out with warm-down exercises.

Muffet's spiders rehearsing their synchronized clapping and dancing to her Spider Dance theme.

And so on.

I don't know what time it was before I actually managed to drift off. But...it was for the best. I couldn't let myself spend the next day exhausted and unfocused.

I wondered...how well were you sleeping, Asriel? How were your dreams? Were they good dreams? Or nightmares? Was it a sound sleep? Or was Hyperdeath taunting you from within. Was Gaster hiding in the shadows? Or maybe...was Chara watching over you. Maybe Frisk was the one giving you reassurance in your slumbering mind?

Whatever the case was… I hope you were less restless than I was.

Tomorrow would be a big day...

Sub-Entry 112: "Into the Town of Monsters":
"In retrospect, we probably should have accounted for additional people for ride-alongs."

Granted we had a good number of vehicles, but keeping in mind some of us were stowaways, brining Boss Monsters along to get the grand tour was definitely not something I factored in, either.

"It is quite all right. Some of us can stay behind." Toriel assured.

"Yeah, and get to know each other." Scott agreed.

"And don't forget some of us actually have transportation!  Nyeheheheheh!"

Okay. With Pappy's car and...Sans' tricycle, if he decided to come along, this certainly evened things out.

I think what I really wanted was...closure. Closure that this world wasn't an inevitable DeltaRune.

I mean...it was obvious there was no Kriss on this world. While many of the Monsters existed in both Undertale and DeltaRune...the differences were what I was after. Reassurance, despite the parallels. Let's face it. I wanted this to be a world where choices DID matter.

Yet, at the same time...I couldn't ignore similarities. Monster Kid had grown up but I didn't exactly see a holy cross around his neck. Undyne was...still unemployed and had not yet ended up in a police officer's uniform. Besides...she still had only one eye and that eye patch over the other. That was different, right?

I was really glad that Alphys was able to start her own research facility. More relieved that she didn't spend her free time loitering around alleys...kind of like what Bratty and Catty used to do around MTT resort...? Hmmmmmmmm...

All over, we were about to discover that every monster that was still in Newest Home and hadn't migrated to another part of the world to see and explore and make a new life for him/her/themself; the remaining found their niches in life. They found their place and their careers, their own futures.

"OH MY G-G-GOD!"

Yeah...I probably should mention the part where Dr. Alphys lost her mind upon seeing all our vehicles, in addition to the recognizable Delorean.

"Hey!  Watch the paint job!"

Annnnd of course I probably should have mentioned that RDI-001 and WLS-002 now had functional A.I. driven G.P.S. Nav-Coms. And with Violet's programming, they were already finding, accessing, and downloading from viable satellites on this world. By now they were already updating their maps.

Which no doubt gave Alphys more to geek out over.

"Easy, Doc.  Use your words." Violet prodded as she stammered upon examining CMD-X's hidden Proton Cannon in the trunk bay.

"Yeah, we don't plan on busting that out any time soon." Mitzi quickly auto-collapsed it back into the trunk.

It took a lot to keep her from acting on her really strong urge to disassemble our cars to figure out how they worked.

"Man, Sally. I've seen some fanatical cats in my day but this lizard girl is off her rocker."

"She's just passionate about science." I downplayed it.

"You've certainly done well for yourself, my boy." Asgore and Toriel were rather impressed by Asriel's set of wheels.

"Well. I did have off-world adopted family design and build it." Asriel gave credit where credit was due. Uncle Edward did know his stuff.

While some of the group agreed to stay behind to allow for enough passengers to be shared across the cars it still meant everyone else couldn't resist seeing us off.

We left the Delorean at the house. Besides not needing space, time, or dimensional travel; I was really trying to keep mentor's life's work on the down low. Especially after the Deceptions had their way with it.

With Asriel leading the pack and Frisk gladly serving as his navigator/guide, we set out for town.

The Major, Violet, and Pit all took the 57' Chevy.

Sally took RDI-001 with Undyne convincing Alphys to squeeze herself into a shared passenger seat.

Papyrus took his car with Jon as a passenger. Mettaton couldn't resist lounging in the back seat; it was no piano, but somehow how felt like the skeleton and werewolf in front made for good muses. I didn't ask.

Sans just followed along on that tricycle...somehow outpacing most of us. How did he do it?

In his own words...rather, word...singular: "Mmmmmmmmmmagic." Yeah. The explanation frustrated me, too.

Town itself wasn't too far off from the Dreemurr residence. It had to be for Toriel to get to her school in a timely manner.

I'd waste no time, putting my mind at ease (hopefully) by comparing what I saw with what I remembered from DeltaRune. Let's face it. I was on edge. And I wasn't sure what would come of it, if there ever arose another...chapter...to the story. After the jump-scare it left off on...I actually had someone to fear far more than any incarnation of Chara I'd come across at this point.

Yet...I always felt like there would one day be more for the Lightners and Darkners to tell. And I was even more worried that it could cross-over with Undertale here. More complications than I was ready to deal with in this retired point in my life. I'd need...a long while to re-adjust if it ever came to that.

But...Lady Destiny was being generous. She had...won quite a gambit those seven, going on eight years ago. And I just knew it was burning her sister's hide...metaphorically, speaking.

"Nyeheheheh! Feast your eyes on our grand town! A town that feels just as home-worthy as our old place back in Snowdin!  But...with a lot less snow, year round.  Though to be honest, as a skeleton it doesn't bother us in the least!"

Yeah. Having no flesh, muscles, or nervous system meant a skeleton was immune to a lot of issues with extreme temperatures and climate. Frankly, my concern was how Sans and Papyrus dealt with house pets of the non-monster variety. I knew plenty of canines during my lifetime that sure couldn't resist snagging a good bone.

Plus I was leaving out the obvious one. Annoying Dog just couldn't resist running off with Papyrus' special attack. I had a feeling that annoyance followed him around the surface as well.

"Yeah, it's really something.  But it gets so borrrring without any fights or anything!" Undyne complained.

"W-w-well, they s-still have that pro-wrestling thing you l-like on the TV."

"It's just not the same, Alphys!  Maybe if I were up close and part of the action!  Better yet, I got to climb into the ring!"

Simple minds, simple pleasures.

"Oh g-g-g-g-g-gosh!" I wasn't sure if Alphys was dreading it or getting hot n' bothered by it. Either way I could feel the awkward all the way from here.

"I'm glad everyone is getting along so well." Frisk beamed with a pleasant smile.

"It feels like a part of my other home found its way to this home." Asriel admitted.

In the moment, they seemed more like...old school mates rather than...something else.

Any one of us could tell there was a spark there. That there was chemistry...

However, I was bound and determined that we weren't going to interfere. We weren't going to set up some kind of Lady & the Tramp situation over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. And we sure weren't going to play matchmaker. Obviously, some of us; without naming names, would be tempted. But all in all...things were seemingly going well.

"So...here's Mom's school on the right."

I remembered it from my dreams...from my many, many observations of other stable timelines. I'd recognize the bushes trimmed into Papyrus' magnificent Cool Dude form anywhere.

"I had a lot of good times here before moving on to the University."

You know I never thought to ask what grade Toriel taught. Then it occurred to me...this was just another of the variations in the multiple unstable timelines. I imagined they usually scaled with Frisk's age when she...they would fall into the Underground. This iteration was probably in high school.

"It must've been fun having mom be your teacher."

I saw that look in Azzy's eyes. That look that said...'I missed out on this.'

"Well. It was hard work.   Though...it was just as much work for her to try to see me as a student rather than--"

"Rather than her child. Yeah.  I...have vague memories of being homeschooled.  Faded but...I still remember them fondly.  Just...understand them better now."

Perspective was a strange thing when you looked at the same with more mature eyes.

Just seeing it from the outside would be good enough but--

"Violet!  Sally!  What are you two doing--"

"Alarm's off." Vi grinned as Glitter.EXE's hologram facepalmed.

"Door's unlocked." Sally brandished her Key-Whiz electronic lock pick. Starting to regret designing that for her. It was intended to compensate for when we couldn't actually get Marcel to join up with us on missions but...

"We are SO going to get in trouble." I facepalmed and followed the two of them in.

"Eheheh...if we get caught, I'll smooth things over with Mom."

To my relief...it actually didn't look anything like DeltaRune's school. The design and layout were completely different as were the furnishing and colors.

Plus Alphys didn't teach here.

On a different note...what a lovely example my team was setting for Frisk and the others. *groan*  Breaking and entering into a school just to look around. Way to stay out of trouble, huh?

I felt Asriel's hand pat my shoulder. Yeah. He knew. He understood.

Well...a brief bit of fumbling around and exploring eventually led us back out while Sally and Violet reset the locks and the security system. Oh boy.

Past suburbia we'd go and find some familiar citizens. Double-takes at Asriel's presence were almost guaranteed. Great. The rumors would start any hour now.

"Hmm..." Pit also noticed he was getting looks. More from the monsters than the humans. Likely to what his presence meant for a fulfilled prophecy. I mean...obviously the Delta Rune foretold of an angel freeing the Underground...but...nothing about a second appearance by one. Hmm... I wonder what this would lead to?

We passed by a small hotel where I noticed a certain Snowdin rabbit visible in the windowed manager's office. Made sense. Natural progression from Snowdin Town.

Didn't take long to find Muffet's bakery...across from the new location of Grillby's. Oh boy. I sensed competition. The former was harder to miss as Muffet made it clear she was promoting the importance of spiders. After her successful campaign in the RUINS to save her kind, I figured she'd take it to the next step.

What did surprise me was Grillby's place had a different look than I was expecting. I decided I'd get into detail later.

We'd head back to those spots before long.

There was of course park land. Seeing the lake made me wonder where Onion-san had relocated to.

As we continued on our drive, Frisk pointed out and explained all.

I soon learned Tsunderplane got her own private airfield...mostly because she kept calling the other real passenger planes "baka" and getting all wonky around other flying vehicles. Supposedly...a couple incidents occurred with news choppers.

Little by little we got to know more and more of the town. As we did, I noted the correlation between Newest Town and the Underground. On the outskirts of town, coincidently enough, a small geothermal vent just happened to be in a prime location to serve as the main power supply for Alphys' off-the-grid part of Alphys' research complex. While the main portion was still powered by the city's traditional generator station, the remainder housed most of her auxiliary server farms and her special projects. Everything she'd ever need in case of a city-wide blackout or a disaster or crisis. It was arguably the best place for people to go in times of catastrophe. Though if I knew Alphys, all she'd have to offer was a lot of canned food, instant noodles and Pocky.

While there was no need for a castle now that the monarchy was more or less dissolved...maybe not so much in ceremony for anniversaries or holiday events...there was a small rampart constructed as a reminder of Castle Dreemurr. Seemed like the kind of stone structure you'd almost expect a damsel in distress to be locked in the highest point of the tower like in fairy tales.

There was a grocery store...Sans' name was most certainly not on it nor was it anywhere near the Skeleton Brothers' new house...easily identified by its year-round Christmas lights, no less.

Yes...there was even a new Temmie Village. And sure enough I think the Temmie population had multiplied since then. I guess the hard-boiled and soft-boiled egg thing wasn't just excusive to other AU's. Maybe it was universal?

Everything just seemed to have a counterpart or influence from back in the RUINS, Snowdin and Snowdin Town, Waterfall, Temmie Village, Hotland, the CORE, and New Home.

"I've never felt such familiarity in my life." Asriel murmured. "It's like this place was made to call me back."

That sent a shiver down my spine for a moment.

"To be honest...I think there's always been a piece missing from here." Frisk replied.

"Until now." I heard her add.

There was no debating it. This was Destiny's Plan finally unfurled and finally taken shape.

Sub-Entry 113: "Humans and Monsters Together at Last":
I hadn't expected things to work out so well, so quickly. I mean...in only five years the integration of monsters and humans seemed like it had few if any hitches.

If you took Dr. Light's dream of a world where robots and humans lived and worked together in peace and harmony and substituted monsters in place of the robots...well...we were looking right at it.

"It's astounding." I uttered.

"Gonna do the Time Warp, boss?" Violet prodded.

"The what now...?" Papyrus asked.

"Never mind." I shrugged it off. "You're on thin ice, rabbit." I growled.

"I'm glad." Asriel said as he admired the scene before us. Frisk gave him a pleasant smile. "It feels like Miranda with humans and non-humans working together as equals. In harmony."

I knew there was no way it was a perfect synergy. I knew there would be problems and issues and probably blips to overcome...but for it to come this far so soon? That was a true miracle.

If I channeled a little of Lupe and looked at this new dynamic as one living being, it was a city with streets like blood vessels and its citizens its blood cells delivering nutrients to the system of life and progress. But living body also needed its immune system. Like had happened in the past and what could happen in the future...who would be the white blood cells and antibodies protecting this new life from disease and corruption?

I realized at that moment...I was thinking just like Asriel; he always did like his superhero metaphors. And the one I just described seemed to echo a lot of something I'd once heard from a world I now classified under "Phantom 2040". Yes...UCIAT even had history with the 24 generations of the Ghost that Walks. Fascinating, isn't it?

But really. Was I worrying too much that something could come to Undertale, unexpectedly and try to tear all this down?

Once, even I would have considered that just worrying too much. Then Pit reminded me of the story of the Puzzle Wizard that invaded the video world, Tetris. A world so far from the rest of the VideoLand alliance that it never joined in the fight against Mother Brain and the League of Chaos...or Darkness...or Evil. Whatever they called it. In fact...they never even heard of Mother Brain until she came for the power of the Sacred Square.

Still...I think Undertale was pretty far off anyone's radar in our database of most wanted to attract attention. I was banking on that. Really banking on that.

Yet, that really was a worry for the future and not for now. For now? I had to recall the words of many an Earth dimension's own 16th President of the United States and ponder the question of whether this union could in fact endure. For longer than four score and seven years ago.

Man I was name-dropping a lot of my research in this moment. Maybe because I couldn't calm my brain down after everything that had only happened in a day and a half.

"You noticed it, haven't you, Arcade?" Sans asked me out of the blue.

"Hmm?"

"Humans and Monsters together.  Not fighting but cooperating.  Understanding each other."

"It's what we all worked toward.  But...I don't feel right taking credit for it.  I think someone else kickstarted it.  Right?"

"Heh.  Humble as ever, Arcade.  Y'know it's pretty big of you to shine the spotlight on the kid."

"I know what...each iteration of a True Pacifist Ending entails.  Each Frisk makes a choice and creates a different timeline but still True Pacifist.  I know...this version of them chose to be your Ambassador between Humans and Monsters but...I can't say I know much more beyond that."

"Well, let me get you up to speed, my wolfy friend.  You see the kid had quite a bit of explaining to do when we first made our presence know.  There were rumors, there was folklore, and there was a lot of fear in the face of not understanding each other but..."

"But young Frisk was able to put such a positive spin on the situation, that the humans couldn't help but acknowledge and accept us!  Nyeheheheh!"

"Yeah, the little punk worked her non-existent tail off between school and taking on an official role as ambassador once all the legal crap was pushed through the local governments, and the state governments.  Eventually to the federal government.  Right now the kid's working on taking it world-wide."

"And I thought I was the over-achiever." Asriel joked.

"Birds of a feather flock together." Violet snickered.

"It was quite the spectacle, darlings.  A red-letter event that put our naaames in liiiiights!" Mettaton finally spoke up. "We owe everything to our rising starlet here."

"Oh stop." Frisk was noticeably blushing at all the praise.

"Hey.  If you got it, flaunt it!" Vi chuckled.

"Such wonderful advice! You goooo, girl!" Mettaton agreed with Vi.

Oh brother...

"It must have been hard work juggling a school life with such grown-up issues and the likes."

"I had help from both monsters and humans to walk me through all the complicated stuff.  Mom and Dad were instrumental in guiding the transition from a city kingdom to democracy and such.  I mean...I understood the fundamentals going in but--"

"I get ya." Azzy nodded.

I had to wonder how the rest of the group was doing back at the house.

Scott and Callie said they'd take the tour another day with the others.

Antoine would certainly occupy his time comparing his sword-style to Asgore's. With Toriel watching both like a hawk, of course. Mama goat didn't like bringing violence; even sparring, to her household.

Lupe on the other hand would help Toriel with Flowey.

And Team Acorn and Usagi wouldn't stray far from the homestead but would be willing to do a little exploring out of the house. Stretch their legs, get some exercise...do a little training.

Drew on the other hand...? No idea, actually. I think he needed some alone time. He did hear about a marina on the outskirts of town near a body of water. Boats were his thing. Also pretty sure he'd look for a gym to lace up his gloves and make sure his boxing skills didn't rust. Doubt he'd find a way to scratch the itch of being a demo man around here. But maybe he'd make use of his sound magic for something. He did know how to rock with those speaker orbs of his and Sally had been helping him put on shows back home.

"Hmm."

"We've made great strides but...another few years and who knows where we'll be?" Frisk was optimistic.

"Can I bring up something important?"

"Yes, son-in-law. What is it?"

"When do we eat?"

Laughter. All around.

Sub-Entry 114: "Grillby's New Location":
I guess I had to agree with Jon when I actually had to wonder if breakfast was so long ago in the day. But y'know...even I got to points where my appetite was reminding me it existed. Though it was certainly not omni-present like Jon's seemingly was.

Still...I was getting nostalgic over the last time I had anything from Grillby's.

There it was. Honestly? It was channeling a little of Happy Days with its new malt shop appearance. I almost anticipated Arnold, in all his Pat Morita glory, to be there, too. Heck, was pretty sure I could replicate Fonzie turning the juke box on and off with my electric powers. For now...I'd anticipate having to tell Violet to "sit on it" for whatever came out of her mouth.

"Of all places..." Papyrus deadpan was as evident in the dryness of his tone as it was in his narrowed eyeholes.

"Well, I know when I'm outvoted but this is not a very healthy choice for a meal, you know."

"All things in moderation, my friend." Asriel patted him on the shoulder.

"I suppose it is okay this once, Smaller Asgore."

Azzy was starting to like the nicknames Papyrus had for him. I guess he had already considered Asgore's past water under the bridge. I mean if you can't look up to your father, then who can you look up to?

Wisdom had tempered this notion, as Asriel also knew that parents were no more perfect than he was...than any of us were. We all made mistakes. We all tried to make amends for them.

By the time Mitzi had caught up with us in the company of Muffet, Gadget, and Rotor.

Though I was surprised that Gadget had built an entirely new vehicle out of stuff that Toriel and Asgore were keeping in their basement and some spare parts out of each of our cars. Little sister just couldn't help herself. It wasn't about showing off...it was just that she had to keep that mind-bashingly high I.Q. occupied or she'd get a level of bored that we dreaded when Violet reached that point. Only with 100% less mischief and about 75% more sadness and anxiety. And believe me....I did not like seeing little sister sad. Honestly, it was too much for any of us.

I could only imagine how Goat Mom would take seeing Gadget in tears. I sure couldn't bear it on those very rare events. My little sister, the original cinnamon roll.

"Ah-hu-hu-huh. Isn't this just tantalizing. Little old me going to my competitor's place."

"Just...consider it good sportsmanship.  Personally I've always consider competition overrated." I shrugged it off. "Competition, in my experience tends to get out of control eventually and break friendships."

"That's where I see things a little differently, Commander." Sally mused. "Competition, where I come from, is how you earn respect and strengthen friendships. I'm from the school that makes friendships out of rivalries."

"Except when they're fleabags like Team Kopy Kat?" Vi prodded.

"Tread lightly, rabbit girl.  But you're not wrong." Sally huffed.

"Oh my!  Things are getting a little intense and quite juicy." Mettaton had almost a cat-like smirk.

"See what you started?" Bunnie slid her gaze to Violet.

"I know, right!" Violet fist-pumped. "That's how you stir up excitement.  By stirring the pot."

"Was that a cooking pun, Vi?" Mitzi rolled her eyes as she parked the CMD-X.

"Come on, Aunt Vi. You got better ammo in the joke tank than that." Asriel snickered.

"Well...here it is." Frisk put her hands in her hoodie pockets...wait a minute, where did she get the--

"Heheheheh."

...matching hoodie. Of course. Dunkle Sans to the rescue. Throughout this whole adventure Sans and Frisk always seemed like they were in the background. At least in our AU. But based on the sheer number of AU's where it was all about the two of them...in some cases the two of them shipped together...maybe we were one of the rare ones evening out. At one point some of us would say Sans was a bit overrated...not out loud, of course. And not in his presence. Then again, there was a lot we didn't say about Antoine out loud and in his presence.

We all agreed whatever we had to say about Al Dente, however, we could say to his face or behind his back. He often did the same to us when lecturing Violet about getting out of UCIAT and back to her responsibilities.

Then he'd get arrested for trying to force some of his own "security" measures on some poor sap.

Back on topic...

"Sans!  You didn't just give the human another of your unwashed hoodies again?  The last time, there was ketchup literally dripping from the pockets!"

"Well, I guess one of us was caught--"

"DON'T."

"...red-handed!"

"SAAAAAAANS!"

"You have to admit, I made it easy for the kid to treat themselves to a hand-wich!"

"OH MY GOD, SANS!"

"Did you want me to pack-et it in?"

At this point Goat Son and Frisk were holding back their laughter...unsuccessfully.

"Don't encourage him!"

"This is all gravy." Violet grinned ear to ear.

"Hey.  You going to spend all day out here joking around or are we going to eat?" Jon was already holding open the door.

Well...in we went.

I had to say...Grillby's venue had grown larger. But not ridiculously so. It still had that feeling of home.

The first thing I heard...was that familiar jukebox. Still loaded up with all the extra tracks I had installed on it when I had repaired it.

Mitzi was quick to notice some of her own discography I'd snuck in there.

"Hey.  You think anybody asked about who the artist was?"

"Not sure if I want to toot my own horn.  My band days are behind me but...it would be nice to be noticed." Mitzi was on the fence about it.

"Darling, you have to reach out and grab that shining star!  Once a idol, always an idol."

Mitzi was pink in the cheeks but she was giggling. I could tell Mettaton was certainly making it hard for her to resist going back to those days.

The second thing I heard, disregarding the conversation between us, was Grillby immediately call out to me.

"Dr. Arcade. Your usual?"

"It's been seven years, my friend...but you still know what I like.  And of course...whatever each of my friends wants."

"Don't even think about getting all of our tabs, Commander.  As much as it's appreciated.  And you'd better not say our money's no good here, Grillby." Sally grinned.

"Of course.  You may be friends but I still have a business to run."

"Darn.  Was there a chance we could have gotten our meals gratis?" Violet joked.

"No." Grillby said plainly.

"Just ignore her." I advised as a I had a seat at the bar with the Major and Vi to my left and Asriel and Frisk to my right. Everyone else got booths or tables.

"Ah you know, Grillbz. Put it on my tab." Sans shrugged, hands in his pockets.

"......."

Some things never change. On big bottle of ketchup for the skelly.

"Just a milkshake. It's probably the healthiest thing on the menu.  With all due respect." Papyrus kept that uninterested tone.

"Hey, Grillby."

"Ah, Miss Mitzi."

"Tried my pizza recipe yet?"

"It's quite popular. But I'm still a long way off from making it actually commercially available.  I'd have to start a completely different franchise and...I would rather not reach too far for the stars."

"A monster must know his limitations, yes?"

"Yes, Master Rabbotou. Call it a fear that I'd stray too far from being a family business.  My father kept it small and his father kept it small."

"I hear that." Mitzi acknowledged.

"Eh, it's all the same to me." Undyne shrugged, indifferent.

Alphys just kept quiet. She didn't really have anything to contribute. Someone that intelligent really should have more thoughts on diet and nutrition but...I don't think the weeb lizard was going to change any time soon. She'd probably been raised on the unhealthiest of instant foods for ages, now.

Then again, what was it we were all eating at this fast food cafe?

Grillby got our orders and the meal conversations commenced in full swing.

"Gotta say I love what he's done with the place.  Really speaks to my inner Henry Winkler."

"Who?" Mettaton asked.

"TV actor from a few decades ago.  Played a character known as Arthur "the Fonze" Fonzarelli.  Ask Violet to load up some old video clips of him in his role.  Might be inspiring.  The guy's character really defined what was cool in the 50's, ironically in a show made during the 70's.  It is true what the say about trends coming back ever 20 years."

"Oooh!  This sounds like useful advice.  I'd better hang onto all my own fashion statements so that I can make a retro comeback in another two decades!  As for this Fonze person, I'm intrigued.  Tell me more."

"Wellll..." I'd noticed that the Juke Box had stopped playing probably because someone hadn't put in any money in the machine and selected a song or two.

I described in avid detail what I remembered about the old show and the Fonze's persona and his trademarks. And oddly enough Mitzi was humored enough to play along. Even up the part where I elbowed the juke box and snapped my fingers. As if on cue she practically fell into my arms in a dip like we were dancing.

"Eyyyyyyyyyyyyy." I couldn't resist saying with a thumbs-up.

"Splendid darling! This person sounds like he's bubbling with charisma."

"You think that's awesome I can't wait to introduce you to the other greats of cinema.  You're going absolutely eat up John Travolta in his prime.  And you'll be wishing you had been around for the era of David Bowie."

Was this even a remotely good idea for Violet to continue encouraging Mettaton to become an even bigger star using a lot of celebrities, alive and deceased as a template? We were going to live to regret this.

All the while, my son-in-law hadn't stopped stuffing his face and was quickly ordering seconds.

Oh boy.

Before I knew it, I'd inadvertently started a 1950's sock-hop right here in the cafe.

Honestly, I was starting to expect teenage Biff Tanen to bust in with his old gang, pull the plug on the juke box and chastise George McFly, reminding that he didn’t' want to see him in here again.

Good grief.

But really...we were all having fun. A lot of it and getting good eats.

By the time things settled down and the rest of the team had regrouped to banter and gossip...

I had a one-on-one with Grillby.

"They're really alright.  Sometimes they get a little rambunctious."

"I can imagine. The Prince and the Ambassador are certainly enjoying themselves."

"Yeah, I think they're good for one another.  I think they were always meant to meet like this sooner or later.  Though...to what ends has always been...something I've hesitated to jump to conclusions on."

"Hmm.  You think they're going to--"

"I'll be honest. Our AU wouldn't be the first I've seen...chemistry between a Frisk and an Asriel.  Though where it goes from there...has varied.  And not always for the best.   Many a times it's...had complications and/or baggage.

"I see."

"Well...we've gotten off topic.  What I really wanted to talk to you about is congratulating you on the new location. It suits you."

"It really does."

"It feels so much like something out of Mitzi's era, that I can't help but think of home."

"But you clearly don't want to.  Yet."

"Yeah...I feel like if I bring it up too soon, I'll spark the feelings of homesickness too early. We still have quite a lot of time to spare before we have to cross that bridge."

"If I may change the subject, I cannot help but notice you brought my friendly competitor with you."

"I promise I'll make sure she doesn't steal any secret recipes or cooking secrets."

"I wouldn't expect her to sink to that level.  She may be a bit money-hungry but I know she's not desperate to cross any professional lines."

"Well, I do notice you have a few dessert items of your own."

"But not enough to be a bakery.  Though she has a few items that fall outside of the sweets category, as well. So...maybe we just maintain each other's balance."

"Maybe."

"So...what are your plans from here on out?"

"Well...to be frank, Mettaton has something big planned."

"Ah yes.  It's been advertised a lot.  His big homecoming."

"If it's half as big as the things Violet does back at home, we're in for something we won't forget any time soon."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Both?" I shrugged.

"Your Violet must be a handful."

"You have no idea. My third in command is a firecracker. No pun intended."

Grillby raised what I could only guess was an eyebrow. Being a being made of fire, in a bartender outfit and glasses made him no less expressive but still kind of vague in ways.

Inevitably, we did pay our bills and thank him for the grub.

It was only a few hours before we had to meet up at the outdoor theater. And it wasn't long before much of town had the same idea.

Sub-Entry 115: "Mettaton's Homecoming":
I think we all just knew that Mettaton was going to make a big deal over being back in town again. How he managed to keep it low-key and under the radar for even one day was truly impressive considering his ever-expanding popularity.

Every town needs its hometown hero.

While I was hoping that would be Asriel, some day...Mettaton was a tough act to follow in any sense.

Of course Mettaton would set that bar high this day with a huge welcome back concert advertised days in advance for today. Nothing was ever a surprise when you went as big as him. And yet...it always was a surprise how big it would go.

Who would have thought a sleepy town like this would be big enough for its own outdoor concert hall? The Hollywood Bowl has nothing on this!

It didn't take long for the event to get very packed. Humans and Monsters alike were elbow to elbow in eager anticipation of Mettaton's return.

What I didn't expect was the backstage passes. What I should have expected was yet to come, but...that would be spoilers.

Front row seats, eat free, no pay. I think this was of course Lady Destiny's quirky hint that turning down excess generosity wasn't going to be as easy as I thought. Sure we all footed our own bills at Grillby's despite some of us offering to get the whole shebang before hand...yours truly included.....but we were going to be wined, dined, and not fined for an evening out that was going to make memories.

"I gotta know how much he's racked up since he started touring." Vi was shameless.

"Knowing him, of course he'd kiss and tell you of all people."

"What?"

"It's a figure of speech, Usagi." I rubbed my temples.

"Oh.  Of course."

Was that a second or two of jealousy? Huh...guess he did see something in her besides being the same species and fur color.

In all seriousness, it did seem a bit much. I was assured by Burgerpants himself that he could afford it.

Boy oh boy was Mettaton still running that cat ragged. Though...I was beginning to suspect that maybe Burgerpants couldn't live without it. He said never meet your heroes. He'd definitely filled my ears with complaints and whining. But if he hated it so much...? Or did he?

I didn't really know what to make of it. Maybe he was a sucker for punishment. Maybe he was so in over his head he didn't see any other life.

I mean the guy's what...19? Early 20's? And he still thinks he's a total burnout long before he can even see retirement on the other side of the hill let alone get there.

Yet...I don't think Mettaton could ask for a better go-fer. Go for this...go for that. His own personal assistant for everything.

At least Burgerpants had moved up in the world...somewhat. It still beat working a register and doing absolutely EVERYTHING to maintain MTT Resort; even the last-second changes made on a whim.

Sequins and glue, buddy. Just remember that. It could always go back to sequins and glue. On that same note...eww. I really hope that's what we weren't eating when getting food back at that place.

"Duuuuude!" Yup. M.K. was there not far from us, though not in any of the V.I.P. seating, close enough to hear him.

Violet had let it slip that we were going to be the guests of honor. But to what ends and how much Mettaton dared reveal about us was still up for grabs. It could be a mess if put in the wrong context and it could compromise our security if too much was leaked. Plus...there was the whole matter that we were in fact aliens on this world.

Asriel assured me he had a talk with big, boxy, and rectangular while he was in his energy-saving mode and the overgrown floating calculator with arms guaranteed we could trust him.

"What kind of show are we even in for?  I mean...I know his cousin, Blooky and Shyren and a few others have experience with music so..."

"I hope there's some laser lights and special effects!" Gadget was easily dazzled by flashy things. Maybe that's why Mettaton left an impression on her, too. Not just because he was a ghost inhabiting a robot shell.

"Heh.  If it can hold a candle to Technopolis concert shows, I'll consider myself very impressed." Sally gave a devilish grin with her arms crossed.

"Hmm." was all Bunnie had to say.

"I'm more concerned with why they said they'd prompt us to head back stage after the intermission...?" Rotor pulled at a tusk.

"Isn't it obvious? We're going to be made part of the show." Willamina replied. "I'm in the pop star biz and I've seen this thing time and time again.  Whether it's Make-a-Wish Kids or someone who really wants to put a long-time friendship in the spotlight for the world to see. And still other reasons.  Heck, I've even done it before as special dedications."

"Y-you mean...we 'ave to perform?  In front of all ze' people?  B-B-But what are we to be doing?  We 'ave not rehearsed anything!  Sacre bleu cheese!  We are doom-ed to look-eeng like fyoo-ells!"

"Calm down, Antoine. Being in front of thousands of people is no big whoop." Mitzi assured. "Thought you are right about us not rehearsing a routine or being given sheet music or knowing what we're even supposed to say."

"Maybe it's one of those unscripted things.  Think he's cruel enough to catch us in a reality show where we look like total losers on stage?"

"Oh no!" Gadget covered her mouth.

"Shut up, you." Willie thwapped Honey over the head.

"C'mon.  Have more faith in him than that.  And if you've got it...flaunt it!" Violet squatted down and immediately started twerking.

"Do not do that out in public." Bunnie growled.

"It's just like that can-head to put you guys through this." Undyne growled, showing a lot of fangs.

"Guys.  All we have to do is be ourselves." Asriel's common sense cut through the proverbial noise.

As the stadium filled up it was getting harder to hear each other over the crowd. Even with those of us with enhanced hearing.

"Don't know about being a media spectacle, boss."

"It brings up all the attention I used to get back home in Neo Arcadia..." Callie shrunk down in her seat a little. "Every day I'd get paparazzi-ed and pressured into talking about my next big research discoveries."

"The crowds I remembered from Vorostov weren't exactly welcoming.  After the tribunals, my own countrymen spent all their energy admonishing me and throwing balloons filled with...waste liquid in them.  The ones that weren't spitting on me and hurling rocks."

Filled with...? Ewwww. Also...yeah...it was well-documented how the Vorostov Conflict was essentially Scott O'Conner's Vietnam War, to dig up an unpleasant comparison on the many Earth realms out there.

"You poor man..." Frisk's heart-felt sympathy was welcome but...

"It's all in the past." Scott brushed it off, still a bit of bitterness about it all, remaining.

A lot of overlapping sentiments lost in the blur of it all.

We neared the moment of truth as the spotlights came on and the fog rolled out followed by the lasers and special effects. The giant wrap-around jumbo-tron monitors were lit up with graphics and the speakers were booming a lot of synth build-up before the big entrance.

"Ohhhhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeees!  Are you ready, Newest Home to be Dazzled by True Glamour!?"

The crowd swelled with cheers and applause.

"Then make way for the one and only...!"

As his boxy form drifted out he sleekly made the transformation to his EX form, using a mecha-morph that had me thinking "Holy Transformium!" and then cursing Michael Bay's name in like of the blockbuster that was Age of Extinction. Though...I could also attach the Last Knight to that, as well.

Wait, what was my point again? Darn it! Mettaton's entrance was really that distracting! To the point I was kinda losing my focus. You'd think it wouldn't be this hard to form a coherent thought but...that's a Mettaton EX show for you. Putting the Extra X-cellence in his efforts to give us the absolute peak of entertainment value. His words, not mine, mind you.

"Monsters and humans; one and all...I bid you welcome as I make my fabulous return to the place I am proud to call home!"

And wow what a pose! The flexible arms and the modifications to his legs sure made it easy to really go all out. What I was witnessing was certainly beyond human and monster. Yup. I had to admit. There was no elegance quite like a machine that had refined his craft in every calculable sense...but also integrated more heart that I'd seen in a lot of non-ghost performers.

Hashtag: the talent is REAL.

Though, he certainly wasn't doing it alone. I could see Napstablook at the turntables, mixing it up and Shyren providing the choir oohs and ahhs.

How the heck DID she pull of that many layers of polyphony with only her one voice? How was she making it sound bigger than a John Williams orchestra but with acapella voice?

Let me tell you what...Violet and Gadget were both eating it up. And when I saw Sally smirk then outright grin? Yeah. I knew Mettaton had sold it. He was selling and we were buyin' it.

Of course there came the acknowledgement of his crew before he dove right into what became the equivalent of a concerto but in vocal form; complete with a whole dance routine with special effects.

Not since UA's first years had I seen a show that made the most of this much extra special effects set to a rockin' sound had I seen and heard something this epic. I mean...just yapping about it doesn't do justice. Describing it? How could I begin to? It defied description. Nothing I could put in these logs could do it justice. You'll just have to take my word for it.

"Wowee!  He is truly a performing genius!" Papyrus was really into it.

Out of all of us though...Sans was the only one who managed to fall asleep in his seat. Even Jon was staying awake and...barely remembering to stuff his face, all the while. It was, in Paul "Triple H" Levisk's own catch-phrase (if I may borrow it)...just that good.

I could see Frisk resisting to urge to clap in mid performance but with the crowd already with the same idea and cheering up a storm...who'd notice?

"This is awesome." Asriel finally said.

You'd think that my attention would be good and centered on Mettaton or all this distraction around us. Yet...in the moment, I'd been grabbed by a thought that I had at that point when taking in just how everything in our unique AU had culminated to create this moment. How our Asriel was in a life where he was happy. My thoughts mirrored the words of Uwatu the Watcher: "Time....space...reality...it's more than a linear path." Somehow in the voice of Jeffrey Wright.....I wasn't asking "what if..."...I was asking "what has...". And honestly? I couldn't think of this journey up until now in any other way. This. This was our sacred timeline. By my perspective...we weren't the variants; everyone else was. Arrogant? Maybe. But...I'm sure every variant outside of our AU...ever other AU had their moment that they would say or think the same.

Wow, that got weird and somehow meta.

While I was expecting a glamourous concert that gradually turned into a rock opera, I wasn't expecting that rock opera to segue into a variety show that showcased all of Mettaton's talents. Even to the point of somehow turning a short cooking show segment into a daredevil stunt-show. Just...how? How do you bake a chocolate cake......which I feel was peaking into another AU's timeline, somehow...and somehow incorporate break-away glass made from sugar and corn syrup shattered by stuntmen ninjas into the recipe? After smashing it into fine dust...he found a way. I'm going to leave it to the imagination where the flamethrowers and fire hoses dispensing milk came in.

Did I mention the size of the cake, by the way? Eheheheheh. Guess. Really, just guess.

I suppose the best way to conclude such a segment is for Mettaton to dance his way up a rapidly-assembling spiral staircase up and around the cake until he reached the top and use the rocket jets in his feet......a modification I'd no DOUBT be asking Alphys about, mind you...to light the sparkler candles on the cake before ending on a wonderous flying pose, using the wings borrowed from his NEO body that Alphys supposedly destroyed. Obviously she recycled it.

"What a finish!"

And that was only act one. We had no idea what we'd be in for when act 2 and the finale rode in like a wrecking ball.

Oh wait. Spoilers.

Say what you will about Mettaton, but he knew how to go big and then go even bigger. I think Violet did in fact meet her match. Which made me shudder at the thought of what would happen if these to collaborated. The world...ANY world...was most certainly not ready.

We were of course hustled backstage to meet up with the robot man and many of us were primed and ready to shower with praise. I'll give you a couple guesses who the first was.

All the while Alphys was brought in to check up on general maintenance and ensure everything was running smoothly.

"...and could you tighten the number 3 valve, Alphys darling?  I can't have my sarapatel piston slipping while I'm on stage!"

"R-r-r-right away!"

Why do I feel like he just made an Inspector Gadget movie reference?

"This is all seriously over the top!" Honey was sold.

"This is all great and all, and the back-stage passes are nice but...why did you ask us back stage? What are you planning?" I couldn't help but ask.

"My dear doctor, your kindness and generosity to all of us must not go unrecognized and unrewarded!"

I knew where this was going.

"You're not going to uh--"

"I HELL yeah. HELL YEAH!" Violet fist pumped.

"Language, Violet!" Frisk scolded.

"We've driven off THAT bridge before." Bunnie crossed her arms.

"So have we." Frisk looked over to where Undyne had gotten into an argument with backstage security before chasing after the walkie-talkie man with a Water Spear.

"You really should at least get them tasers." Drew pointed a thumb back to the poor guy.

"Yeah, stern warnings didn't work so hot in Demolition Man." Honey joked.

Shame on her for referencing the 1990's movie with Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes, by the way. Although, these days that movie might be tacky enough to be back in style for whatever reason. I know some of us wouldn't care if every restaurant became Taco Bell. Yours truly...not one of them. Hey, I gotta have my pizza, chicken, burgers, and baby back ribs.

"Pretty sure a lot of monsters would frown on that.  I know at least one in the audience." Frisk implied mamma goat Toriel.

"Come on, big brother! It would be rude of us to turn down at least waving to the audience and thanking them for being so supportive!"

"On the other hand maybe they're just waiting to throw rotten tomatoes at us." Honey wisecracked again.

"Nah.  Pretty sure they're flushing themselves down the toilet with how little their reviews match up with ticket sales and audience scores."

Violet's going to get us in trouble for sure.

"I have no idea what you're talking about.  But rest assured, this is more than just some publicity stunt for ratings nor is a trifling money-making scam.  Oh no, darlings.  You have my word this is on the up and up and I do not all who got me here much less treat them like stepping stones.  You deserve your moments in the spotlight."

"But not all of us are performers.  Some of us have talent like Mitzi and Willamina as vocalists in major musician roles or have dancing and theater talents like Miss Felicia."

"Oh go onnnn!" Felicia pawed the air with a silly cat grin.

"Yeah, some of us don't have to do much to make fools of ourselves." Vi jabbed.

"Escuse se moi?" Antoine protested.

"I think Frisk is right.  All we have to do is be ourselves." Asriel shrugged with hands in his pockets. "Not sure how I'm going to explain my existence but...I'm sure in time we'll iron it out.  Right, Volt?"

I sighed and agreed.

You know what? What the heck. Let's do this.

"Two minutes to curtain call, sir!" Burgerpants showed up with clipboard in hand, eye rapidly twitching as he had been running this way and that the WHOLE SHOW. Even beforehand. He hadn't stopped once in order to keep up with Mettaton's continuously increasing demands.

"Well, that's my cue to get in position."

A brief explanation and the world record for briefest rehearsals got us on the same page. We took our places behind the curtain as Mettaton took center stage. The curtain rose and the spotlights came down as we prepared to meet our destiny...

Sub-Entry 116: "Having the Time of Our Lives"
I didn't expect to journey outside of town but when the words "amusement park" came up, Papyrus and Gadget were practically star-eyed. Sally could already anticipate the roller coaster rides and Jon was about to whine us into a guilt trip over hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels and cotton candy.

But what I didn’t' expect was how gung-ho Frisk was about it. Who knew even in her young 20's she was still gaga for the midway?

"C'mon, Honey. Tear your eyes away from that TV set and get moving!  You're going to be left behind!" Willie scolded.

"Alright, alright! Just a couple more minutes of watching the news of Mettaton's big show!  I want to catch my good side!"

And Honey ducked in time to avoid getting Willie's flip-flop to the face. This was becoming a reoccurring gag. Seriously, Willamina must really invest in thong sandals to have this many to keep tossing at her co-racer partner. Team Acorn had the wonkiest of friendship dynamics, y'know?

"Violet, I KNOW you're not trying to get Alphys hooked on Friday Night Funkin' or whatever re-skin of whatever iteration of Parappa the Rappa mixed Dance Dance Revolution that mobile game is you're playing."

"Shame on you for channeling Conroy Cat, Commander." Violet said as she walked past and blew a raspberry with the tablet in hand.

"What are you talking about, Vi?"

"Look it up, fool! You'd think you'd never watch MeScreen videos..." She grumbled. "You're dating yourself again referencing something like that.   At least compare it to Umm Jammer Lammy!"

"At least I didn't call it a Flash game!  Even I'm up to speed that Macromedia Flash is dead!"

That earned me a second raspberry. To be a fly on the wall for the conversation that spawned this throw-back in-joke line? You'll just have to use your imagination. That said...

I don't really get the appeal of rhythm games...but I think Violet just ruined them for me. And probably made the next best thing for Dr. Alphys.

Good grief, I know some decade someone's going to read these logs of mine in an archive and dismiss them as a product of the times. Uh...yeah. Kind of the point of a time-traveler making a record of his life experiences in another time, place, and dimension. Wow...I'm getting a little defensive lately. I think I still haven't gotten over a lot of pent-up issues. I blame Adonis for many of them. He'd give ANYONE a complex.

Right. Back on topic.

So to...whatever amusement park we were off to...didn't really get the name. I just had a feeling I'd see Mettaton product placement. Gosh, I hope he didn't just buy up the whole park and have it retrofitted to his image. That's kind of something I'd expect on this world and become part of its canon. That is...if the game were still going but...in this case it was more or less sewing its own identity.

"Should we bring the inner tubes?" Rotor was hoping it at least had a water park. He mostly kept to himself as far as our unique personalities went but...it was no secret that he loved sea food and water parks.

I looked over to Frisk who gave a thumbs-up.

"Tubing is in, Rotor!"

"Yes!" A fist-pump sealed the deal. And I think that got him in good graces with Undyne, for transparent reasons. Hey, she made her home in Waterfall. And if you were in the know of the origins of her own name...well, need I say more?

"Ready for this, Major?"

"Just a replay of my outings to Little Tokyo, Edoropia.  Vi's week-long birthday blowouts always feature time at her family's royal amusement park." Bunnie was aloof about it.

"How about you, Toriel. Are amusement parks even your thing?"

"I admit I am most certainly not as young as I used to be.  But it makes everyone else so happy.  How could I say no to being invited!"

"Plus you have to be in order to keep Asgore out of trouble, yes?"

The most uncharacteristic of devilish smiles from Goat Mom. "Gorey thought he was so clever looking after Frisk when I had to go out of town for things.  His way around making sure the house wasn't a mess was to take our child out to the amusement park and gorge themselves on junk food there."

That made me chuckle. It reminded me of another AU where Toriel begrudgingly allowed Asgore visitation rights after the um...messy official divorce and won favor by a day at Six Flags or something like that.

"Never a doubt who wears the pants in the family."

"Even if they are just sweat pants.  I do take an interest in this wonderful thing I discovered called Goat Yoga..."

That. Made me double-take. Like son like mother. I could practically feel Asriel's smug grin behind me as he caught ever word. Aren't throwbacks fun? Someone has to think so when they come at my expense. Though I wasn't really losing anything. Just having a knee-jerk gag moment.

"Namaste, Lady T.!" Sally said as she passed by us.

"Namaste, Lady Acorn!"

"Just Sally!" She called back.

A giggle in response.

"So...um...up for some dad talk?  Y'know...rap with me for a bit?"

And of course Asgore had to ruin it with a bit of cringe. Even for Scott that had to be some kind of cringe. He of course drew Asgore away from the rest of us as I had noticed the glare from Toriel. If she'd been on our world long enough, I'm sure it would have been a full-blown anime throbbing vein in the forehead.

We loaded up in the cars and headed off to wear the GPS pointed us. Though for some of us extra large...and by some of us I meant Asgore...he had to take the train.

"Oh my!  A train that flies!?"

"Don't spread it around, man." Jonathan huffed.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" Felicia prodded before yanking the whistle cord a few times which NO DOUBT got people looking up into the sky for a bird or a plane or a Kryptonian raised in Kansas, who was wearing blue and red tights with his underwear on the outside and a matching cape.

"I can't wait to see what the parking fee for this rig is." Rotor joked.

"We're probably going to have to take up more than a few spots.  Hey, Commander, you ever get those magnetic induction rail projections working for areas that...y'know...don't have train tracks?"

"You know I did, Jon. You know I did."

"You heard the man, Felicia."

"It's also make it pretty hard for anyone to put a BOOT on it."

"It can still be ticketed."

"Yeah...Violet, you prepped in case we have to pay for parking violation?"

"Yeah, but is anyone gutsy enough to ticket a train?  I sure wouldn't want to be the one to explain to the police chief."

"Enough clowning you guys." I got everyone back on task.

"Yeah, there will be plenty of time to do that at the park." Jon followed up, watering down my moment of authority.

"We have a plan for making the most of our day?" Bunnie asked.

"Or are we just going to do this willie-nillie?" Sally followed up.

"Hey.  Remember the last time we went to an amusement park together?  What worked then works now!  Buddy up if you want to but every man, woman, and goat for themself!" Asriel laughed.

Oh, you. So be it then.

And we did get to the park as planned and...we will skip over the parking scenario. Yeah, we got it worked out.

Once inside...

"And they're off." I watched Team Acorn, Goat Son, and Frisk head straight for the biggest roller coaster.

Jon not-so-subtly started hitting every food kiosk  he could. I warned him that if he gorged too early, he'd be sorry once he hit the rides.

"What rides--" He got out before Felicia dragged him toward the "drop zone" attractions.

"Oh no!"

"I warned you, son-in-law. "

Lupe, Pit, M.K. and the Dreemurr parents started off nice and easy with the carousel.

Rotor, Undyne, and Drew were off to the water park.

Antoine ended up being left at the petting zoo. He didn't take it personally...for long. At least Lupe promised to meet up with him after the carousel.

Papyrus got the idea to get his brother, Gadget, and Alphys into games of Lazer tag as a challenge to their skills. He immediately regretted it having Sans on his team and Gadget on Alphys'.

"Sans!  The point is not to stand there asleep and make yourself an easy target!"

"Sorry bro.  I guess when it comes to a partner your brother just a--"

"Saaaaans...!"

"Las-er bones."

"OH MY GOD!"

It however worked great for Alphys who was a klutz with marksmanship to be partnered up with little sister who was a crack shot and made short work of the other players. Let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks Gadget is just a brain with no physical ability. Need I remind...she surfs and skates.

"I don't believe I have to remind you that I'm disappointed in you, brother."

"Sorry, paps. But if we would have won, would that have made you...beaming with pride?"

"...I can't even, with you." Papyrus narrowed his eye sockets.

"G-g-g-g-gosh! That was s-so exhilarating!  I really f-freed the beast!"

"You we wonderful, Miss Alphys!"

For the record, out of their combined team score? Alphys scored one lucky shot when she dropped her lazer tag light gun and the rubber guard caused it to bounce with a little spin. It went off and just happened to score a lucky hit on Papyrus.

He was a good sport about it though, mistaking it for a trick shot.

Bunnie, Violet, and Usagi of course had to visit the obligatory themed castle at the center of the park. Why is it so many amusement parks, without naming names,  need to have a themed castle? I guess it's iconic; whether it has princesses in gowns out front for photo-ops or dragon-turtle beasts known for spitting fire and throwing sledgehammers at plumbers.

Too subtle?

The remainder of the group, Scott, Callista, Muffet, and anyone that slipped my mind did their own thing.

Me? I went straight to any fast-spinning rides. From anything resembling a witch's cauldron or tea cup to the Gravitron. Just to put my resistance to vertigo and dizziness to the test.

I still got it.

I went right back in line multiple times as a couple of human riders quickly made the same mistake Jon did...and paid the price. What a waste of food and drink. Not going to go into the details, but I'm sure anyone reading this most certainly can follow where this is going.

Changing the subject...who can say how much of the morning vaporized before we all met up by lunch. Time does really fly when you're having fun.

I couldn't help but smirk as I saw Mitzi carrying a large stuffed animal or several with the use of her Green Constructs to serve as makeshift hands and clamps. Someone lucked out at the Midway.

"Some prizes for Nermal's collection?"

"And some for me."

Mettaton had even scored a rather plush version of his sexy rectangle self. I think mainly he wanted to check the product quality and make sure his image wasn't being cheapened by knockoffs and low-quality imports. Though Alphys claimed that imports tended to be higher quality. Then again, her imports tended to come from the Land of the Rising Sun and were mostly resin kits, manga, and anime tie-ins and...that kind of merchandise was practically a monopoly so did it really count? What's my point again...?

Right. Lunch time and group re-grouping.

"What's for lunch? Anything but hot dogs."

"We know, Aunt Sally. We know." Asriel mused.

Frisk cocked her head, looking confused. Sans kept a blank but amused look.

"Miss Acorn doesn't like hot dogs?" Frisk was practically raised on them on her number of runs through the Underground...plus there was the hot dog stacking challenge...

"It's complicated."

"If I may be "frank", "further" investigation is required.  I guess to some "brats" who "met" with bad experiences with roller food just think they're the "wurst"." A wink followed.

"You did NOT just say that, brother!" Papyrus whirled, his skull practically steaming.

"I hear ya, skelly boy. In the game of culinary convenience, there are losers and there are...wieners!"

"ARGH!  NOT YOU TOO, LADY VIOLET!" Papyrus whined.

All the while Asriel was grinning like a look and chuckling all the way.

"Best meal conversation ever." I heard him snicker.

"We actually got pizza on the way here." Mitzi set down the boxes. "Nifty little place over by the log flume ride."

"Burgers are where it's at!" Jon had a tray absolutely loaded with them. How much did he spend?!

"Nuh-uh.  Fish is better." Rotor sat down his tray of fried fish, shrimp, and such.

"Hmmph." Bunnie quietly snapped apart her chopsticks and dug into her sushi rolls. "Mmm."

Rotor did a double-take when he saw Undyne with a tray loaded up with sushi.

He raised his finger to ask if Undyne had...any idea what sushi was....then lowered it, feeling like the fact that she smelled LIKE sushi was probably a lead-in to an answer he didn't want.

I'd spring for something a little more expensive in the upscale family restaurant to the left of the main street area.

"Is that lasagna?" Asriel asked.

"Dad left an impression."

Wow, did I actually just call Garfield "Dad"?

A smile as Asriel dug into his pizza.

And once the meals were eaten and we were well-filled...we re-shuffled our groups and went at it again.

And we kept that up, hoping that the day would never end.

Sub-Entry 117: "The Day Begins to Wind Down":
Time really does make fools of us all.

A werewolf with all the time in the world still can't stop the hands of the clock from moving. And the sand in the hourglass was running out steadily. Before long half the day was up and once we reached dinner time, three quarters was over.

This time we all grouped to head to the same restaurant.

Only problem is agreeing to what we were going for.

Some of us...

"I vote for this "Oktoberfest" thing.  If that's anything like--"  Drew started before Jon cut him off.

"No, no.  we gotta eat big.  Just so happens there's an all-you-can-eat buffet in action land."

"Nuts to that!" Honey stuck her tongue out. "We're going some place with ice cream for dessert."

"Gotta...milk it, don't ya?" Sans prodded.

"We should all think healthy!" Papyrus interjected. "While I do agree ice cream is a good source of milk, it isn't exactly the best thing to fill up on after a healthy meal."

"You're such a straight-arrow you bonehead!"

"D-Don't noogie the skeleton!"

Oh brother.

Asgore and Toriel and Asriel all looked each other before Asgore attempted to get everyone's attention with a loud clearing of his throat. When that didn't work...

* KA-FWOOOMP*

...yeah, Toriel summoning burner jets in her palms that ignited like a flamethrower experiencing a sudden surge in its oxygen and fuel injection while Asriel lit up a pair of Taiyoudama; one in each palm.

"Now that we have your attention..."

Frisk giggled before announcing.

"We'll vote."

And vote we did. In the end, Frisk was the tie-breaker for Asriel's suggestion.

So...we chose and we feasted. No need for details. All you needed to know was...it was the best theme park food we'd ever eaten.

"Compliments to the chef."

"Yeah, let's drop in a few suggestions to Grillby when we get back."

"We'll call it...bench marketing." I shrugged. "Though...it is technically going to be one-sided if there's only a one-way exchange of info."

"Doesn't that kinda make it corporate espionage?" Violet crossed her arms with a smirk.

"You have to put a naughty spin on everything." I wrinkled my nose.

Pit had been really quiet until Frisk thought to ask him what was up.

"It...it just kinda reminds me of this adventure Rock and I had during our N-Division days.  To make a long story short, Rock had decided to spear-head this quest with three challenges to it.  And one of them involved an amusement park known as the Pleasure Zone.  It was all great fun and all...in fact that was just it.  It was too much fun.

Like...it was designed to be a temptation to get us all to completely abandon our responsibilities by tempting us with our greatest desires. Like Dr. Light with a laboratory beyond imagination...Samus watching the entire Space Pirate race and Ridley with them be found guilty by Galactic Tribunal and sentenced to execution for the genocide of her home colony...even the Game Master was tempted with wall-to-wall video games from his world."

"I assure you, young angel.  This park is not designed as such a trap." Asgore pat Pit's head, gently but firmly. Kind of a thing to see considering how oversized his hand was in comparison to Pit's body. No fault of his own, but Asgore could make anyone feel a little small.

"Mmm." Bunnie and Usagi nodded as they finished off their teriyaki chicken.

"You know...my first experience with a theme park was fifteen years ago.  When I was...still very timid...still hadn't come out of my shell. And...still traumatized from 100 years of isolation."

Asriel recounted his time in Miranda.

"The Ultra Crew Institute took me to Gravitron Park in Neo Arcadia.  I wasn't sure what I was in for but Sally encouraged me to try it out.

I...felt like I immediately regretted my decision in the few milliseconds I had to think before the Asteroid Coaster took me on a ride I'll never forget.

When it was over it took a bit before I came to my senses and I just had this feeling like my life flashed before my eyes. Felt like I could have "fallen down" just from the shock but...I was still breathing and my heart was thumping and I'd never felt so scared and so on edge.......and so alive in my life."

"You begged to go again." Sally shrugged.

"Good times." Vi agreed.

"Oh my!" Toriel seemed intrigued.

"We tried to provide an environment he could feel safe in...but more than that...that he could have fun, too." Callista assured.

"We did the best we could."

"And a fine job you have done." Toriel seemed to have finally given her approval. She hadn't really said much but by this point...it was obvious that she accepted Asriel's surrogate family.

On top of that, it seemed that being with a surrogate family...even one that was human and had little to no spark of magic...it was still enough for Asriel's growth to resume. I think he had been tired of being 10 years old for 100 years.

Which made me all the while a little down about Flowey. He was stuck in a form that I didn't know if it was aging. If there would come a point that Determination wouldn't be enough to sustain him. What if some day the will to live was finally bested by the laws of nature.

Organic matter dies and decomposes. That's the natural order. Flowey was born of the first Golden Flower. It came from the outside world. So if it was neither human nor monster...?

"I bet you're worried about Flowey.  Aren't you, doctor?"

"I am, Frisk.  I mean...I couldn't imagine him being in better care than Azzy's.  For more than just the obvious but...

Frisk looked down, her eyes hidden by shadow.

"I don't like to think about when people...go."

"Yeah. It's...it's a sad thing. I've...certainly watched more people come and go in my existence than any person has any right to.  And compounded with that is that I'm a time-traveler so..."people in your life are never really gone" takes on a new meaning when you can just crisscross timelines and re-insert yourself into their lives."

"We've...had this discussion about time and space before.  Haven't we?"

I nodded.

"You still think about the reset, don't you?"

"I look at it now like someone who's kicked a dependency or addition for so many months or years. Someone who sees and hears the tempting call but...you've made up your mind.  It was for the best."

"Asriel didn't even find out if he COULD use RESET.  We just...padlocked it, more or less.  Then when he got old enough...when he understood his powers better...the thought occurred to him that he could undo that lock at any time.

To draw upon an anime reference, it's a lot like the boy from the Hidden Leaf, Naruto Uzumaki. For years, as a "jinchuriki" or one possessed by a Tailed Beast ...his body served as its prison and he was taught that it was a bad thing if that seal were ever undone or loosened.

But...as he matured...he was given the key to that seal as his destiny required him to finally make use of that power."

"I don't know how I could ever need to use the reset.  It's caused so much trouble.  It was the reason Sans couldn't trust me until--"

"Until you, Asriel, and I proved that this would be the timeline that wouldn't eat itself.  It wouldn't be rolled back."

"Yeah."

"Yeah, what's with all the serious talk over there!  This is supposed to be a fun day!" Undyne hollered at us.

"Right.  Let's not bring everyone down."

"Yeah."

"I'll second that." Asriel whispered to us. He'd been listening in. It was just as well. this concerned him, too.

And eventually dinner wound down, too.

With that...

"Okay.  All groups shuffled and everyone buddied up where applicable?"

"We're good to go." Mitzi gave a thumbs up as she and Frisk stood by with Alphys and Pit.

"One three and break."

We all overlapped hands and--

"Three!" And off we all went to use up the rest of the day.

What started as the morning hours quickly turned to dusk and before long it was time to retire back to the Dreemurr household. With prizes and keepsakes in hand, those of us awake enough to drive did so. Those who didn't were already fast asleep.

While it was indeed dark out by this point, there were still hours left in the day.

Sub-Entry: 118 "Friends Forever":
Asriel had managed to sneak away to some time in the park for some bro-bonding or...whatever it was that best friends were expected to do when they just needed to tune the world out and reflect on what made us friends in the first place.

"I almost expected Jon to be sleeping on a bench nearby by this point."

"Would have kind of ruined the outing."

"No abandoned quiches, either."

Only now did the both of us get that inside joke.

A long bit of silence under the stars.

"Stars are still the thing Monsters look up to.  They same closer than ever.  They're still being wished upon, even now.  After seven years of not being here to see it."

"But you saw it in another form.  In another place."

"Yeah.  Yeah, I did.  Home is where the heart is and my heart is twinkling ever so under this perfect night sky."

"I'm amazed how little light pollution there is.  This is like the night sky you see in rural country with no street lamps, no buildings lit up, no nothing to water down the darkness."

"Tomorrow the sun will come up.  While not the first instance of it I've seen...or the first of it I've seen on both our worlds..."

"It will still feel like the first time."

"You know me too well."

"I have to know you. That's how a friendship is even possible."

He smiled.

"You know...it only seems right that history repeats."

"Oh?" I wasn't sure what he meant.

Asriel retrieved a box.

I...had a weird feeling where this was going.

"When I was last in this situation...it was under glowing rocks...phony stars.  It was with a best friend as we had a view of Castle Dreemurr in the distance."

"Yeah.  You had...a discussion about..."

"About...that."

"Older and wiser, now. You...understand the what and the why."

"Not entirely.  I still don't have much to go on when it comes to Chara's past.  They...well, they took it to the grave and I don't see them parting with that information now that they're a Soul Reaper."

"You...haven't asked--"

"If there is a way, she'll find it.  She'll find a path back here.  Even if she doesn't...she'll still be remembered."

Asriel pulled his heart-shaped locket out from under his shirt.

"The other one's right here." Asriel pulled out the holding case where Chara's remained."

He put both away.

"At this point in my life...it would feel weird giving one of these away.  So...I opted for something else besides a locket with a music box in it."

"Asriel..."

"It may not have a music box but it still contains mechanics." He handed me the box.

"Open it."

So I did. And my eyes widened.

"It's a...!"

"I compromised. Not a heart-shaped locket...but a heart-shaped pocket watch.  Seems more appropriate for a friend much older than me."

My jaw had dropped and my eyes were getting misty.

"You...did this for me?"

"And...got myself a matching one." He reached into his pocket and pulled a matching one.

"If I were still of the monster species, yours would have been upside-down to represent--"

"Yeah.  And yours right-side-up to represent--"

We think too much alike.

I opened it up. Engraved inside was "Best Friends Forever"

I felt like I was going to break down and cry.

"Asriel...this is the best gift."

"I'm glad you like it. Now...it just seems right.  Not guided by naivety anymore.  This is a real moment.  Proof of a real friendship."

"Best friends."

"Best friends."

"Now and forever."

"And destiny, fate, nor death will sever this bond."

"You still have a way with words, Azzy."

"I guess I get it from Asgore."

"Your capacity for speeches will serve you well."

A nod.

Silence until Asriel caught sight of it in the night sky.

"A shooting star!"

"Make your wish."

In silence, Azzy repeated it three times in his head.

"Keep that under wraps and close to your heart.  Pretty sure the superstition holds as true as it does for birthday candles."

"It was kind of hard to know what to wish for.  After all, my biggest wish has come true already."

"Just the fact that you have a new one right here and now means you're not done wishing in life. Not by a long shot."

"It's even better now that I have a lot of people I can potentially share the same wishes with."

"You're so sentimental."

"I get that from you."

"Heh."

So we continued to star gaze until we figured someone would be missing us.

Inside we went and from there we officially called it a night.

Sub-Entry: 119: "Home Has Never Looked More Inviting":
What had started as one or two days out had built into a week. But even after a week...some of us were remembering that...we had our own home to get back to. And who knew that homesickness would creep up that fast?

Drew was starting to think of his fleet of boats. He'd gotten several over the years through UCIAT. They'd need maintenance. They'd need the barnacles scrubbed off of them. They'd need an inspection by his team of shipwrights. Yeah...he'd been promoted a lot of times in our operation and carried pretty good-sized clout. Enough to have a whole marine staff.

Scott and Callista had a lot to think about when they got home. Retirement from parenthood left them both with...empty schedules. It would only be a matter of time before retirement from employment was an option and...well, we'd cross that bridge some day. By then Callie's hair would have probably turned white...and Scott would still look the same thanks to his quantum makeup.

Antoine would have to seek students for his next season of classes. You know...Asriel never did beat him in a duel.

Honey and Willie were debating how many more years...how many more seasons Team Acorn would have left in the tank once they were back. So many trophies and awards over the years and so big was each of their trophy rooms to hold them all.

Lupe, for a moment, considered offering Flowey an opportunity to see new territory and have a home in Gaea's Navel Nature Preserve. But one look from the ex-murder flower told all. The answer was no. He made his choice and...now he was debating who he was going to spend the rest of his days with. The Dreemurr household? The Skelebro's where Papyrus would most certainly try to offer him encouragement to be a better person? Perhaps...bury the hatchet with Alphys? The little yellow flora hadn't given a response but...we'd probably find out soon enough.

Pit and Gadget seemed oblivious to what was on my mind; and it was reaching a boiling point that would soon reveal itself. To them...it was all about getting home and returning to duty or letting the good times roll again. Respectively. Pit pondered reconnecting with Rock again. Gadget had catchup to do now that Monterrey Jack had sent her a letter telling he set up a nice home away from our home but within Gadget's comfortable driving distance.

Jon was chomping at the bit to get back to Miranda where it was the only place to get one of his ungodly big mega-burgers. I think Beefy Burger called it the "He-Man Deluxe XL"...a burger so big the buns were the diameter of dinner plates. I mean it was bad enough when he was making 5lb patties the standards...but this was beyond ridiculous even for a werewolf my size at his hungriest.

Elektra would put him on the treadmill for sure and Velaska would make sure he wasn't getting out of it if she had to handcuff him to the machine...though he could probably easily break out of them at his strength.

For someone who was the smartest in the room, I don't think Violet had any idea what was next. She just had too much on her mind with getting back to Miranda's cyberspace to post all kinds of videos and such she collected on Undertale.

Bunnie? Hard to say what was on her mind. Out of all of us...she was the one that knew. She had been preparing for this point since sun-up. It was a nice distraction for her, but...the name of the game now was "inevitability". She could see it in my eyes...and in Asriel's.

We didn't want to drop the bomb on everyone at a moment like this. Yet...our time was up.

We spent our time loading up...giving hugs, bro-fists and such.

Asriel hadn't let go of Frisk's hand the whole time. Nobody noticed the obvious until Violet finally spoke up.

"Yo, Goat Son. Get your rear in gear and start packing. Brooke's going to raise cane if we stay away for much longer.

Asriel let go of Frisk's hand as he approached me.

"Aunt Vi...Violet...I thought you'd figure it out by now."

"Figure what out?"

My throat got a lump in it at that moment.

"I'm not coming."

Sub-Entry 120: "It's Time For Saying..."
Dread. I think that was the word I used to describe this inevitable moment.

"...C'mon, Goat Son. Stop kidding around." Violet was the first to speak up.

Asriel didn't answer as he and I faced each other.

"Commander, talk some sense into him."

"You heard him, Vi. He's staying in Undertale." Sally broke her silence, realizing it as well.

"But..!"

"Violet...don't make this any more difficult than it has to be." Mitzi said, her eyes hidden by the shadow of her hair bangs.

"You...you guys can't be serious!  It's Asriel! He's one of us!  He's--"

Violet felt Bunnie's hand on her shoulder. It was firm but it was gentle.

"Violet...he'll always be family.  But right now he has a life ahead of him.  He need to figure out where he belongs.  If you love someone you have to be willing to let them go.  If you care about him, you'll let him discover his place in the world on his own.   And if I had any sense, I'd mind my own business." .

"Come on...don't Super Mario Bros. the Movie me here..."

"Vi. Don't." Bunnie insisted.

"It's...it's just not fair..."

"I know.  I know." Bunnie of all people knew that Violet never dealt well with losing friends. Didn't matter if it was to mortality or to a hard falling out.

It was coming back to us all. It had been said once before and now it was hitting us all with the loudest of explanation points.

"When you find your family...you'll give up everything to help them."

That was the sentence that Violet had no choice but to accept that she was beat. She couldn't talk us out of this. She couldn't throw a tantrum even remotely big enough to make use reciprocate. There was no bribe in her family fortune big enough to make us reconsider.

For the rarest of times...it actually struck her completely speechless. She couldn't even annunciate words to convey what she was feeling.

Asriel and I just...shared the moment.

"It's going to be a new adventure from here on out.  For both of us."

"Yeah.  I'm..sure they'll assign me to something else before long.  And...I'll probably meet some new people.  Friend.  Foe. Indifferent."

Asriel nodded.

"You're going to--"

"Yeah.  I'll send for my stuff in time.  I'm sure you and...Scott and Callie will know how to handle it by then."

"Yeah."

"You know...I had time to think about the whole meta...thing.  Wondering if we do or don't really exist.  If this is all just someone's story and we're not really the ones weaving it."

"Pretty deep thing to ponder."

"Y'know...it just doesn't matter.  I've had the time of my life and my life is going to continue on.  What other Asriel can say that?  What other Asriel can be content with their life instead of miserable or...in a weird, creepy relationship with Chara?"

"I'm glad our AU has never had a timeline like that."

"Don't be too sure. A lot of unstables were deemed unviable for the game and...just because they were identified as such--"

"You sure took to my research like a fish to water.  No disrespect to Undyne."

"Yeah.  I know what you mean."

A pause.

"I did finally thank you for saving my life.  It's...good to not feel like a bad person...to feel like I deserved my fate. Just think...it all started with me reaching out and taking your hand."

"And letting me show you the way.  Yeah. Unreal.  It really is unreal."

"So..."

"So..."

"I guess I should let you guys get back to your lives."

"Well...I guess I should let you get back to your life journey.  Discover if this timeline is going to work out."

"It kinda has to. I don't know if Destiny or Fate can generate a new one with the game broken."

It'll need someone watching out for it. Its future will need a prince."

"Yeah.  That's me.  Prince of this world's future.  What a lot of responsibility to take on.  But no clear path to walk.  Not even sure what it is I'm expected to do from here on out."

"Azzy...it's your life. Do with it as you may.  No one will judge you for it.  This isn't being entitled...this is what you've earned. It's yours.  You earned it square."

"Scrooge McDuck approved." Asriel commented on my use of the phrase.

"I think you're going to be okay." I said as I glanced to Frisk. "You have someone to help guide the way.  And for you to guide theirs.  At the very least you have a strong friendship that feels like it started much earlier than it actually did."

I avoided saying they could almost be childhood...interests. But...I was still jumping to conclusions. That was up to them to decide. That was up to destiny and fate to determine if it would even work out.

The longest of pauses.

And then there came the longest hug in the world.

There would be no saying "I'll miss you" or "We'll come and visit" or anything else that would lead to a long, long, long goodbye.

No. This was all that was needed.

"Ultra Crew Institute Action Team...it's time to return to base.  It's time to go home." I turned and slowly walked away...not looking back.

One by one...it set in to each of my crew that this was happening. This was real. There was no going back. I was serious. So was he.

I didn't want to think about when or if we'd see each other again. To do so would make it harder than it had to be.

Waves and goodbyes...cheers and overlapping commotion from all in attendance as we loaded up the vehicles and pulled out of the driveway. But one car was left behind.

It was still his. The sweetest of sweet sixteen birthday presents. He'd probably trade it in sooner or later when the time came to drive something more practical. Time to settle down and such.

It was okay. That was the circle of life for machinery, right?

Before my train of thought could finish, we were already long out of the driveway and headed out of town.

Our path out of town was unobstructed. Once out of the city we prepared the return sequence.

It was building up inside me until I couldn't take it anymore. I had to let it out in some form. So...I linked all our satellite radios...searched through my playlist and found the pop music group from the 1980's known as "Tahiti". They had...composed an entire soundtrack in honor of my mentors in New York and...one track stood out among them all.

I sighed a deep sigh, locked in my choice and hit play. The one I had chosen...was "Remember Home".

No sadder, more appropriate song to let it all out to.

"When today is yesterday,

Will tomorrow look as bright?

As you turn and you walk away,

Into the cold and rainy night,

When you give all you have to give (All to give),

Will you then?"

For the briefest of moments, Bunnie closed her eyes and bowed her head...quickly returning her gaze to the road.

"Will you remember all the laughter? (The laughter)

'Will you remember all the love? (Will you remember?)'

Will you ever be needed?

Will the memories ever be enough?"

Gadget bawled her eyes out...who could blame her?

Pit wrapped his wings around himself, looking down at his feet as he tried to keep a vision of Asriel fresh in his memory.

"What's the use of you going,

When your heart is left behind?

You don't feel the cold wind blowing,

As you sadly say goodbye."

Sally grit her teeth as she cringed, holding back the tears.

Willie let Honey rest her head on her shoulder, knowing she was covering up her weeping eyes.

"Will you remember all the laughter? (The laughter)

'Will you remember all the love? (Will you remember?)'

Will you ever be needed?

Will the memories ever be enough?"

Callista folded her arms and tried to keep her lips from quivering.

Scott looked over briefly, as to not take his eyes off the road for long. He reached and arm across and hugged his wife as close to him as he could without being distracted from the path ahead.

"Now, time won't ever heal,

Just how bad you feel.

When you go, remember home."

Lupe covered her heart with both hands, letting the tears run down her muzzle.

Mitzi just couldn't bring herself to do anything besides look melancholy. She knew the pain of saying goodbye all too well and each time hurt as much or more than the last.

"Will you remember all the laughter? (The laughter)

'Will you remember all the love? (Will you remember?)'

Will you ever be needed?

Will the memories ever be enough?"

I was the last to break when I mouthed the last two words of the lyrics.

(Come Home.)

I said the words...but knew he already had.

This was...this was real. This was final.

The speedometer hit 88 right at that moment and from there...we exited his world...and...his life.

What hit the hardest was...now we both knew each other's wish...and both had come true.

Funny...wishes shouldn't be this sad.

Like the Muppets once said during their breakup in Manhattan...it's time for saying...goodbye. *sniffle*

Now...it really was his story.

New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. - Lao Tzu

End of Part 1

Chapter 13

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