The infirmary was dark, save for his own glow-lantern and the presence of a fire elemental. From memory, Papyrus recalled that this place had four beds: two at each side of the wall.
On a normal day, this room saw nothing more than scrapes, cuts, and headaches. Not even broken bones. The children may be rambunctious, but they never got seriously hurt. The teachers themselves actually made up most of the patients, Queen Toriel included. They complained often of backaches, headaches, and migraines.
However, today… the infirmary had to treat very different injuries: those that involved the struggle between life and death. The lone roll of standby bandage and the remaining stock of gauze was completely used up.
At least, after all of that, Sans was declared stable for now. He just needs to rest.
After placing down his lantern by the side of a pillow, Papyrus tucked his brother in. Watching his sleeping face made him contemplate.
AT FIRST… I WANTED TO SCOLD SANS. HE DIDN’T NEED TO ENDANGER HIS LIFE! ISN’T HE MY ONLY REMAINING GENUINE FAMILY MEMBER? SHOULDN’T HE TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF BETTER???
BUT THEN, HE COULDN’T RECOGNIZE ME AS ‘PAPYRUS’ ANY MORE. MY CHIDES WON’T MAKE ANY SENSE. IT WON’T HELP HIM EITHER.
SIGH… SO MUCH FOR BEING A GOOD ROLE MODEL. DIDN’T I DO THE SAME? …I WAS NOT CAREFUL WITH MY OWN HEALTH EITHER.
Papyrus turned around. To the right were Grillby and Lady Lucidia. Red fire roiled across the man’s body, inflicting much agony. To the left was a bed sectioned off by medical curtains. Gaelic should be in there with the unknown stranger.
Lady Lucidia asked: “Can you release it?”
“…No…” Grillby replied. “…I can’t absorb it either… This fire… is trying to fight against my body…”
“Sir Grillenn, tell me, did you suffer any strange effects? This data will be useful no matter how minor.”
The elemental tried his hardest to recall. “…I… think I saw flashes of their lives… But I can’t remember them… They’re like dreams…”
“Feedback acknowledged. Please hold still. I will attempt to seal its influence.”
Lady Lucidia conjured many tiny needles of bone magic. Papyrus recognized that it was the same method used to treat him. With her magic and her smarts, she worked on inserting an Arcanagram on Grillby’s back. The magical star glowed and all the red fire was transferred there.
Curious, Papyrus walked over to see the result. The gathered flames were shaped into the image of a single open eye, surrounded by skeleton code.
“WOWIE!” he said, “IS THAT A MARK?”
Shocked, Grillby instinctively tried to touch that location on his back. “…A Mark?!…”
“Please do not panic.” Lady Lucidia explained: “I’ve forced the foreign Fire of Humanity into an anti-DEMON spell. This allows its influence to be confined. The corrupt Determination should no longer trouble Sir Grilenn as long as the seal is in effect.”
Both men breathed a sigh of relief.
“As for extracting the contents, I will have to rely on the Chronograph later.”
The Chronograph? Papyrus lifted his hand and offered: “I CAN HELP--”
Lady Lucidia glared back so hard, the ends of her curls started to rise. She said, “Have you not learned your lesson? Do you want to cripple yourself like your brother?”
The biting snappy temper shocked Papyrus. She was never this harsh before. Backing off, he uttered an apology. “UM. N-NO… I’M SORRY.”
The woman wanted to respond, but she instead lowered her head and muttered to herself. Her nerves were still frayed from the attack.
Meanwhile, Grillby put his clothes back on. Papyrus thought it’s best to distance himself for a bit.
At first glance, her temper may not appear to be part of her ‘Kindness’, but she was actually only angry because she cared. It’s similar to how Papyrus wanted to lecture Sans after the battle.
SO… THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BLATANTLY IGNORE PEOPLE’S WARNINGS. IT’S ACTUALLY MIGHTY EMBARRASSING. ONLY A SHAMELESS PERSON LIKE SANS COULD SHRUG IT OFF!
…I’M SURROUNDED BY MANY KIND PEOPLE, WILLING TO PUT UP WITH MY NONSENSE. I SHOULDN’T HURT THEM ANY MORE.
Just when he thought so, Gaelic exited the impromptu confined space on the left.
Keeping his voice low, Papyrus asked, “HOW ARE THEY?”
“They?” Gaelic blinked twice. “The pronoun ‘she’ be the word ye seek. The lass sleeps in bindings, if ye must wonder. ‘Tis for her sake. Escape will only cause more hurt.”
“MAY I SEE HER?”
The other skeleton shook his head. “Nay. Not until yer duty has reached its completion. Ye should hurry elsewhere. The chefs be waiting in the kitchen, awaiting thy command.”
Suspicious, Papyrus rubbed his chin with a squint in his eyes. “IS THAT HOW YOU REALLY FEEL, MISTER GAELIC? IT FEELS… FORCED?”
The snakey skelly tried to shrink. Arms crossed, he hunched more than usual. “H-how can ya tell?”
“YOU SOUNDED A BIT TOO FORMAL THERE. ‘THY’? ISN’T IT… REALLY ‘OLDSPEAK’?”
Gaelic drew a long sigh. “Mighty observant, aren’t ya? Alright, ah give. The sting o’ M’lord’s disgrace still be feelin’ raw. Yet despite so, M’lady and M’lord still trust ye. Enough to twist the cosmos for yer sake. If that be what they choose, ah shall consider yer folly water under the bridge.”
“Besides…” He glanced at his own feet. “The Grandmaster oft reminded me to forgive. Seventy times seven, as the Scriptures say: full, complete, and generous. If ah could tolerate yer heretic o’ a brother, then it be unfair fer me to bear a grudge on yer name.”
Warmness filled Papyrus’ chest. A great weight was lifted off his shoulders and thrown into the deepest part of the ocean. He always gave forgiveness to others, yet this would be his first time receiving it himself.
In response, the young skeleton hugged his senior tight. “THANK YOU MISTER GAELIC! THANK YOU SO MUCH!”
Poor Gaelic grunted from the bear-grip hug of The Great Papyrus. “Aye, aye. Off ye go.”
“YES SIR! I SHALL LEAVE EVERYTHING IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS, NYEH HEH HEH! ALSO MAKE SURE LADY LUCIDIA ATTENDS THE FEAST. SHE’S A VERY IMPORTANT GUEST THERE.”
Papyrus heard a slight gasp from the woman in question. She started searching for the nearest mirror, reminded that she was required to personally attend the event.
“…I’LL GET GOING NOW.” The youngster sped straight out of the infirmary before the awkwardness intensified.
The canteen had seen better days. There were bullet holes everywhere, nevermind the rot of Sans’ Karma. Definitely not a place to host a feast.
In addition to that, the group of chefs gathered around with their handphones. They whispered among each other, worried and perturbed.
One of them spotted Papyrus. All heads immediately turned towards him, expecting a leader to step up in these trying times.
Papyrus started to sweat from the nerves, but he did his best to remain steady.
“HOW’S THE KITCHEN?” He asked.
Other Chef Human, the most experienced one of the bunch, said: “We still have gas and water, at least. For ventilation we could keep both doors open. But, it’s too dark to keep cooking.”
Work can’t continue without the ever important light. Still, Papyrus can’t let them stand around idle either. The more they stare at their phones, the worse their morale will fall.
The youngster thus made a decision. “WE’LL GREET OUR GUESTS TOGETHER! THE KING AND QUEEN HAVE THE BEST FIRE MAGIC IN THE LAND! THEY CAN HELP US WITH OUR LIGHTING PROBLEM.”
The chefs agreed, glad to have a distraction from their predicament. Their representative said: “Sure, let’s go meet them.”
Papyrus and his whole team of cooking experts thus went to the school porch. There, he found that the entourage had just arrived.
Aiden and Frisk were out of their respective vehicles, looking towards the direction of town. Police sirens gradually faded into the distance.
Mettaton being Mettaton, reported the scene with absolute glam: “What’s this? A timely rescue from our neighbour’s dashing law enforcement? What a disaster we have just averted! Chaos and thrill is fun only in a safe environment, baby. I don’t want any bystanders getting hurt for real~~”
HMMMM… SO IT WASN’T ONLY THE SCHOOL THAT GOT ATTACKED. COULD THAT EXPLAIN THE HUGE VIBRATIONS? THEY ALMOST KNOCKED OFF MY PLATES!
“See?” Said Frisk, “You didn’t need to summon that lightning storm! The police nabbed all the bad guys before they could even take action.”
Aiden replied, “If they were a little slower, we would have been dead.”
“Okay, point taken. But shouldn’t we take shelter? This rain is really cold.”
“Not yet,” The man looked upwards in the sky. “The Vampire and the Grandmaster are late.”
“Eh? I know Mezil would be… but isn't The Grandmaster in his car?”
“He’s not. My people kept a watchful eye on those vehicles, and they couldn't see anyone other than the driver.”
That sounds like trouble. Papyrus stepped forward and asked: “EXCUSE ME, IS THERE A PROBLEM?”
“Papyrus!” Frisk exclaimed. They ran over with a sense of urgency. “Come check the cars with me. Apparently the GM isn’t here.”
“WELL, THAT'S A DOOZY. HE’S OUR MOST IMPORTANT OF IMPORTANT GUESTS! MAYBE HE JUST FELL ASLEEP FROM THE LONG JOURNEY?”
Frisk rubbed their chin with a loud ‘hmmm’. “Maybe. Let’s go wake him up.”
The two hurried towards the Magus Association’s entourage. Along the way, Frisk signed to King Asgore to keep Mettaton busy.
The convoy consisted of three black cars and a… cargo truck? Did they need to transport something? A large gift, perhaps? Maybe a prebuilt house! Or their materials, at least. Indeed, a house would be a very welcomed gift.
Frisk first asked for permission. Under the bodyguard’s supervision, they checked the first car… and immediately shut the door.
“NOT THERE?” asked Papyrus.
“Nope.” Frisk shook their head. They proceeded to the second car. Still nothing.
And then, at the third and final vehicle, they beckoned to Papyrus over to their side.
There, in the middle of the back seat, sat a red spade. It’s the Grandmaster’s Mark.
It glowed bright, unleashing its power. In a blink, the Grandmaster himself appeared. Dressed in his distinctive uniform, the man laid on his side. He had to hug his staff and curl up his legs to fit.
Noticing their presence, the Grandmaster said, “Oh dear. It appears that I’m caught red-handed. Hello, dear children. We meet again at last.”
“GADZOOKS!” he exclaimed, “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??? PEOPLE THOUGHT YOU FORGOT ABOUT THIS GRAND DAY!”
“Well…” The masked man faked a cough. “Let’s just say that mustering up a backup force took longer than expected. Rainy weather is not conducive for speedy wheels.”
Frisk’s face lit up with delight. “Aha! So, you’re the one who called the cops.” Tilting their head, they then asked, “But, why did you have to spawn sideways?”
Lifting his finger, the Grandmaster explained: “It’s easier to have others presume that this old man took an impromptu nap. It boggles the mind less, therefore deflecting any suspicion.”
Both Papyrus and Frisk looked at each other before bursting into a chuckle.
Yelling a little louder for all to hear, Papyrus announced: “PLEASE GRANDMASTER, ALLOW ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE! YOUR LEGS MUST BE TIRED FROM BUNCHING UP FOR SO LONG. NO DISRESPECT, BUT IT’S DANGEROUS TO SLEEP WITHOUT SEATBELTS! AN UPRIGHT DOZE IS FINE. MY BROTHER DOES IT ALL THE TIME.”
Such was the publicly accepted story. Frisk and Papyrus then assisted the Grandmaster out.
Two steps later, the young skeleton found himself distracted by the numerous ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of the crowd. Their vision gazed upwards towards a strong magical presence in the sky.
An incredibly well-dressed fellow carried Cenna in his arms, slowly descending from his flight.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
Radiating magic with his presence alone.
“…WHO IS HE?!?” Papyrus exclaimed, “IS THAT A NEW GUEST???”
Frisk answered, “That… is the one and only Tsunderjudge. He actually became young again after absorbing a ton of magic.”
Papyrus needed three whole seconds to register that sentence. “WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST HOUR?!? I FEEL SO OUT OF THE LOOP!!!”
“Long story,” the kid replied. “Ask Alphys or Mettaton for the recording later. Can I leave the GM to you? I gotta go greet a certain tsundere.”
“WHY OF COURSE, MY HUMAN FRIEND. LEAVE IT TO THE GREAT PAPYRUS, NYEH HEH HEH!”
And so the little human hurried over to the heat of action.
Papyrus wished to walk faster and catch up, but he felt the Grandmaster hold him back.
“Walk slow, young man,” said the masked one. “This may be the only time we can have a private chat.”
The elder whispered to his ear. “Young Papyrus, I hear that you overexerted yourself. Mayhaps you had your past locked behind chains? Blink once if yes, blink twice if no.”
The bloke was in awe. Such wisdom! Papyrus blinked once in response.
“Do you worry that our guests might trip you with invasive questions about your origins?”
Another blink.
“Are you under pressure to keep secrets? An advice from someone more keen on social repercussions?”
It was a reluctant single blink.
“Are you under pressure to lie?”
Blink twice.
“Good. Lying will only trap yourself, more so when you’re surrounded by friends and family. Heed my advice, young one: do not fret about your missing years. Everything you need to know is already in your skull. Offer only what you’re able, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’re much more resourceful than you realise.”
Papyrus tilted his head, unsure.
“You’re of Integrity, young one. Your identity is intact even though you can’t remember the past. Besides, the biggest changes in your life are all quite recent. As far as our guests are concerned, your shared history is only about a month or less.”
The words clicked together. They jolted a circuit, causing his mental light bulb to shine bright. The Grandmaster was right. So very, very right. The new perspective shook off any remaining doubt.
Papyrus tried his very best to not burst into thankful joy, as it would attract too much attention.
The elder responded with two warm pats on the youngster’s hand. “You’re welcome. Go forth and keep your wits about you. The Almighty will handle the rest.”
At long last, the grand meeting happened. Every invited guest and their tagalongs gathered at the front of the school. Not even the cold rain could stop them.
Well. There will always be some exceptions. Poor Cenna was so chilled, she resorted to hugging a Vulkin for warmth. And even then, she was still shivering. King Asgore hurried to shield the newly-elected princess from the rain with his grand cape.
Papyrus saw an opportunity to divert the attention. If left alone, Judge Thyme and Aiden might start yet another glaring competition.
“WELCOME!” said Papyrus, “I HUMBLY INVITE EVERYONE TO FIRST TAKE SHELTER. IT’S NOT GOOD FOR YOU NON-ICE TYPES TO STAY OUT IN THE COLD FOR TOO LONG.”
“THOUGH… MAY I ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE? WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM OF THE BESTEST CHEFS, EXCEPT THEY CAN’T WORK WHILE THE POWER IS OUT. THE KITCHEN NEEDS LIGHT TO COMPLETE THE FINAL TOUCHES. ANYONE WITH FIRE OR LIGHT MAGIC WILL BE OF GREAT HELP! PREFERABLY THOSE WITH KITCHEN EXPERIENCE.”
Many monsters -- Queen Toriel included -- raised their hands or appendages. Though, Aiden himself proposed something even better.
“How about I restore the electricity for you? Grant me access to your power distribution unit, and you will have all the energy you need.”
Papyrus was now at a crossroads. Should he accept Aiden’s offer, by extension the Gungnir’s goodwill? Or should he let the monsters handle it by themselves?
After doing some thinking… Papyrus thought it’s best to make his guest feel welcomed. The monsters wouldn’t mind, right? They’re quite open minded folk.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
He asked to make sure: “ESTEEMED MISTER AIDEN. IN YOUR CULTURE, IS IT ALRIGHT FOR THE GUEST TO HELP OUT?”
“Yes,” Aiden replied, “On the farm, the volunteers are valued. Better if they have the skills for the task. However…” The warrior glanced at Mettaton. “I would prefer to not have that celebrity follow my every footstep.”
Papyrus turned towards Mettaton, clasped his hands, and showed his best wide-eyed begging face. Instant pressure for Mettaton to be at his most generous.
The boxy bot caught the drift. “Of course, sweetheart! Who wants to look into some electrical hubdub when we have a gathering of sparkling stars? I’m covering the Feast of Fantasy, baby! Not the Technical Guide for Electricians. Where are we having the feast anyway?”
“WITH SUCH A HUGE SURPRISE CROWD OF MONSTERS, I THINK IT’S BETTER THAT WE HOST THE FEAST IN THE SCHOOL’S AUDITORIUM. THE ORIGINAL CAFETERIA SITE IS TOO SMALL TO FIT EVERYONE.” And also too damaged. But the public didn’t need to know about that.
King Asgore agreed with the plan. “I will help arrange the chairs and tables. I believe we have spares lying around for future exams.”
Smiling, Queen Toriel added: “We also have other classrooms to borrow from. Please leave that to us.”
And so, the ceremony began. Once inside, Papyrus first introduced the important guests to each other and to the chefs. Those who preferred to shake hands shook hands, while those who preferred to bow bowed in respect.
Some of the Magi recognized ‘Other Chef Human’ as a cooking celebrity. They nerded out, taking photos and asking questions. They even introduced him to Mettaton’s livestream. Papyrus imagined the internet abuzz.
Once the introductory formalities were over and done, everyone parted ways to complete their respective tasks.
For Papyrus himself, this meant escorting Aiden to the power distribution unit. Two of Aiden’s men, as well as Undyne and Alphys, accompanied him.
“ALPHYS?” asked Papyrus. “I THOUGHT YOU’RE HELPING METTATON.”
“U-um…” She twiddled her claws. “Mister Aiden may not be familiar with our electrical systems. I have Doctor Gaster’s number too. B-but I don’t know how we can fix the power if The Core isn’t functioning…”
“THAT’S FINE. WHAT ABOUT YOU, UNDYNE?”
Crossing her arms, Undyne said: “Just making sure you’re safe, Paps.”
“YOUR CONCERN IS MUCH APPRECIATED. LET’S GO GET THE POWER BACK! FIRST WE’LL NEED TO DETOUR TO THE OFFICE TO GRAB THE KEYS.”
“Is it a standard padlock?” asked Aiden.
What a peculiar question. Papyrus scrunched his brows. “ACTUALLY… I THINK IT’S A PUZZLE LOCK THAT MAY OR MAY NOT REQUIRE ELECTRICITY…”
Aiden turned around, saying: “Then all I need to do is catch the clouds.”
An even more puzzling response. The monsters shrugged at each other before following the man.
Through one of the side doors, they ended up at the playground. This was where Grillby, Gaelic, and Sans fought the nameless girl. Fortunately, the sole obvious casualty of the incident was one of the swings. It could pass as standard wear and tear.
“Oracle,” the foreigner said, “Do you know what happens to spent magic?”
“IT JUST… VANISHES, RIGHT?”
“Wrong. The remains bind to the elements and the earth. In large enough quantities, they make a land enchanted like your former home. At best, useful herbs will take root. At worst, the land mutates. Likewise, the lightning over our heads is no ordinary storm. Since it’s clear that your town utilizes some sort of enchanted electricity, this method should work. Cover your ears.”
The man lifted his arm towards the sky. The image of a lightning bolt flashed in his palm, and a second later the sky responded to his call.
An actual bolt of lightning then struck the caster.
“AIDEN!!!” Papyrus cried out, fearing that the man had died.
But it was very much the opposite. Aiden emerged from the strike brimming with power. His eyes had turned yellow, reminiscent of Cenna’s Ascension.
“Holy fish!” Undyne exclaimed. “You alright???”
“Yes, I can control my powers much better when I’m calm. Now, I’m ready for anything.”
He wasn’t joking about the ‘anything’ part. The puzzle lock was instantaneously solved by the cheat of electrical currents. Then, after doing some careful reading, Aiden cast his Mark magic deep into the power distribution system. Next thing Papyrus knew, the whole school came back online.
Doctor Alphys dropped her jaw. “W-wha? How? You made it look so easy!”
“I adjusted my Mark to dispense electricity at a certain wattage. Once your city’s power grid works again, it will send the energy back to the generator for redistribution. Don’t worry about any repercussions.”
“CAN ALL MARKS DO THAT?” asked Papyrus.
“No. Only mine -- blessed by the gods of the sky -- have the ability to manipulate electricity.”
“VERY COOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I SHOULD GET BACK TO COOKING NOW. IT WON’T TAKE LONG, I PROMISE! WE’RE ALMOST DONE.”
With the electricity restored, the kitchen team resumed their work.
As Papyrus was cooking a huge pot of spaghetti pasta, he shouted for status updates.
“HOW’S THE CINNABUNS, PASTRY HUMAN?”
“Out of the oven, sir!”
“IS THE QUEEN’S PIE READY FOR SERVING?”
“Going on the tray, sir!”
“THANK YOU! AIDE HUMAN, HAVE THE METTA STEAKS FINISHED RESTING?”
“Yes! Plating them right now!”
“WHAT ABOUT THE SPRING VEGETABLES AND THE CHEESEBOARD?”
“Ready to go!”
“SPLENDID JOB! OTHER CHEF HUMAN, HOW ARE THE DUMPLINGS COMING ALONG?”
“They need about 30 more seconds in the oil.”
“AND THE KETCHUP AND THE HOT DOGS?”
“They’re a bloody banger! Your dad’s recipe, is it? It’s giving me ideas for my own spin.”
“I’M GLAD YOU LOVE IT. I’LL MAKE SURE DAD KNOWS ABOUT YOUR HIGH PRAISE, NYEH HEH HEH!”
“He’s that Gaster fellow, right?”
Papyrus raised an eyebrow. “OH NO, UNCLE GASTER IS A VOLUNTARY HOST IN KEEPING MY PARENTS ALIVE. THINK OF IT AS… A TREE! YES! HE’S THE TREE TRUNK, AND MY PARENTS ARE THE BRANCHES. ONE DAY WE’LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESTORE THEIR REAL BODIES.”
“Uh. Okay. Was not expecting such a complicated family situation.”
‘Complicated’ was indeed the correct word.
Papyrus’ noodles completed their boil. By means of telekinesis, he lifted the bundle of pasta out of the hot salted water. He then placed them into a special pot of sauce reserved for the VIPs. It had a slightly different recipe from the sauce meant for the general visitors.
THERE! THE FINAL BATCH OF PASTA… IS DONE!
The fried dumplings had also finished their sizzle. They should cool enough by the time they reach the auditorium.
The kitchen assistants helped load up the VIP servings onto a borrowed serving cart, though with so many different varieties of food, not all of them could fit. Three more human assistants helped carry the remaining items by hand, with one person dedicated solely to a big jug of Muffet’s Spider Cider.
THAT… THAT’S A LOT OF FOOD TO BALANCE.
Last but not least, on an empty plate, he placed down seven pieces of heart-shaped colour paper. Each corresponded with an aspect of the Human SOUL.
When Papyrus pushed the food cart out of the kitchen, he encountered his former co-workers: the staff for the school cafeteria. This space would originally be theirs on a regular day.
They gawked at the sheer destruction of the unfortunate canteen. He heard the monsters mutter ‘oh stars’ and ‘good heavens’ between each other, both afraid and awed by the aftermath.
The skeleton thought it was best to distract them with his usual jolliness. “HELLO, HAVE YOU COME TO HELP?”
The whole group snapped out of their shock. Relieved to have an excuse to put the nastiness behind, they immediately turned around to offer their assistance.
“Definitely!” they said, “We’ve heard everything from King Asgore. You should have called us. You’re way understaffed!”
“THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. COULD YOU HELP THE CHEF HUMANS TAKE OUT THE BIGGER SPAGHETTI POTS?”
“Sure! You go and give the personal treatment to the VIPs, okay?”
After the introductions, Papyrus proceeded to the auditorium.
There, Team Frisk had managed to set up four long impromptu dining tables, made up of classroom desks and chairs.
Four lanes of seating were prepared for the regular guests, both invited and impromptu. Papyrus had a feeling that townsfolk would turn up at the prospect of free delicious food. It’s free seating for that very reason. No numbers or reservations: if they can fit, they can sit.
Despite so, Papyrus noticed that folk gravitated towards their own. That’s fine too: they’re free to hang out with whoever they want. By his logic, if the people could get together and eat from the same pool of food, they’ve already proven themselves open enough to at least tolerate each other.
Some of the Aratet -- being strangers in foreign land -- prefered to sit down by the side on a big, colourful woolen rug, facing each other.
WAIT A MINUTE. I DON’T RECALL INSTALLING ANY RUGS. AND DEFINITELY NOT WITH THOSE DESIGNS! THEY LOOK HANDMADE TOO.
DID AIDEN’S PEOPLE BRING THEIR OWN? OH WOWIE, THEY WERE WAY MORE PREPARED THAN ME! THERE MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH CHAIRS AND TABLES TO FIT EVERYONE! OF COURSE!
HOW NICE OF THEM TO GIVE AWAY THEIR SEATS TO THE LOCALS! WE’RE CERTAINLY NOT THE FLOOR-SITTING TYPES.
The true test awaited on the auditorium’s main stage: where the best chairs and tables were arranged for the VIPs. How appropriate.
According to the records Lady Lucidia provided, the Aratet Welcoming Feast featured seven distinct dishes. There were no courses in a way that Papyrus was familiar with. Instead, everything would be served at the same time. The ability to fairly share between so many people -- an activity that required much courtesy and thoughtfulness -- was the proof of a new friendship. ‘Sharing is caring’. Every culture believed so, be they human or monster.
“And heeeeere we are!” Mettaton announced, “All of our lovely lovelies have arrived. Behold, The Dreemurr Royal Family: King Asgore and Queen Toriel! The father and mother of our whole nation: the pillars of our society. And let’s not forget their children. We have Crimson Keeper Frisk, Ambassador of Monsterkind. And our newly-elected Princess Cenna, Judge Vanquisher extraordinaire~~~”
Frisk waved at Papyrus from afar, excited. Also, their dark-skinned elder sister had changed out of her rain-soaked noir detective uniform for a classy evening gown! Good for her. One must be truly cold to hug a Vulkin, Papyrus thought.
“Joining them today are the Captain of the Royal Guard AND the Royal Scientist! Undyne and Alphys. Yes, they’re indeed an official couple. Marriage plans may not be drafted yet, but I’d totally sail their ship all the way on the grand cruise~”
“On the Magus Association’s side, we have a ‘full house’! Our mysterious masked mage here is none other than The Grandmaster of the Magus Association, Lord Berendin! Joining him is his daughter Lady Lucidia and his son-in-law, the now apparently-young Mezil Thyme. You’ve already met this couple before, dear darlings. They were gracious enough to entertain us with an inquisitive interview this afternoon. Missed it? Worry not! We’ll have today’s session uploaded tomorrow~”
OH! SHE MADE IT! I WAS WORRIED THAT THE FAIRY GODMOTHER COULDN’T SHOW UP ON TIME.
REMINDER TO SELF: CHECK OUT THAT INTERVIEW TOMORROW, NYEH HEH HEH!
“Who’s our handsome fire, you ask? Well, he’s Grillbz Grillenn. Like Captain Undyne, he’s a hero who saved many lives during the big fire at The Spire! His great deeds have won House Berendin’s trust, and so he’s here as their bodyguard. Did you know he was the one who personally protected Lady Lucidia? I witnessed it with my own robotic eyes! What chivalry~!”
“Last but not least, the living legacy of a thousand-year-old history! Aiden of Aratet! His lineage traces back to The Legendary Hero of yore: verified and proven! Therefore, he’s chosen as the rightful heir of Gungnir leadership. Joining him are his two young princes: Dayton and Niton. By the way, those are not their real names. I heard that their proper names are very, very long. And tongue-twisty.”
“Does young Niton’s cute face jolt your memory? If you’re in touch with the acoustics music circle, you might have already seen him! A few weeks ago, he performed live before other audiophiles like yours truly. With such talent, I see a bright future ahead of him!”
Papyrus must say, he certainly had fun listening to these MTT Brand Introductions.
His cart wheeled closer and closer to the stage. His bones started to feel the jittery mix of excitement, nervousness, and joy.
“And look who we have here, baby! THE star of today’s show! Without his tireless efforts, the Feast of Fantasy will become the Flop of Fantasy. It’s our town’s brightest sunshine, the cinnamonest of cinnamon rolls, the one and only GRRRRREAT PAPYRUS! A round of applause for him, please~”
The whole hall clapped at his arrival. Attention. Fame. Approval. The opportunity to make a real difference. It’s everything his younger self dreamed of.
THIS IS IT… THE PROOF OF ALL MY EFFORTS.
I! CAN! DO IT!
Plates, distributed.
Cutlery, set.
Everything's finally going according to plan, or so he thought.
Another problem soon presented itself: the Grandmaster and Lady Lucidia had their masks on. Without any creative workarounds, those two won’t be able to eat.
This won’t do, thought Papyrus. He thus said: “ALTHOUGH MASKS ARE ALLOWED, IT’S A GREAT PITY IF YOU CAN’T TASTE THE DELECTABLES. DO YOU NEED ANY EXTRA HELP? MAYBE A HANDKERCHIEF? OR A CARDBOARD CUTOUT?”
Lady Lucidia said: “Uncertain: as it is, the Grandmaster and myself are still considered confidential entities. Our identities are kept secret for our own protection.”
The Grandmaster added: “Ah, please don’t worry about me. I’ve attended my fair share of events where I had to maintain the mask. Carry on.”
Realising the predicament, Mettaton swiftly offered his input. “Fret not, my wonderful wonderfuls! I won’t stand by and let you starve. The happy crowd makes an ideal cover image for our MTT-Brand Podcast, baby~ My cam crew can go fuel up, while I will linger around for some sound-only interviews! The show continues without a hitch and you get to dine in peace.”
“Now without further ado,” Mettaton showed his hand towards the table. “We need to broadcast the main event, don’t we? I’m sure my viewers are dying to see the food revealed!”
The Grandmaster nodded in approval. “A fine compromise, good sir. House Berendin thanks you for your thoughtfulness. Shall we proceed?”
Papyrus wasted no time. This would be where he can put his innate magic to its fullest use.
First, he hopped onto the stage. Next, he levitated the whole cart to bypass the pesky and accident-prone backstage stairs. Then, he turned the SOULS of each of his human assistants Blue so they too can enjoy the convenience of a short flight. He made sure the floating process was secure and stable to prevent any accidental spillage of the edibles.
He raised his chest, put on his best sparkling smile, and began the introduction:
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT’S A PLEASURABLE HONOUR TO BE HERE!”
“I WILL ADMIT HERE THAT I LACKED THE MEANS TO FIGURE OUT AIDEN’S FAVOURITES. HOWEVER! I HOPE THAT HE COULD FIND A NEW FAVOURITE FROM TODAY’S DISHES! NYEH HEH HEH~”
Starting with… the appetizer:
“GRILLED SPRING VEGETABLES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ASPARAGUS IS THE KING VEGETABLE CROP OF SPRING. WE ALSO HAVE SOME LEEKS, RADISHES, AND MOREL MUSHROOMS.”
“FOR THOSE WHO’RE NOT TOO FOND OF VEGETABLES, WE ALSO HAVE A CHEESE BOARD. HERE’S A SPREAD OF FRESH CHEESE WITH CHIVES, WISTERIA WHITEBLOOM, MERRISON WASHED, BEREN CHEDDAR, AND EBOTT BLUE.”
“I’M TOLD THAT THE EBOTT BLUE IS FOR THE MOST TUROPHILE OF TUROPHILES. IT’S AN ACQUIRED TASTE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR THE UNACQUAINTED. AN ADVENTURE IN A SINGLE BITE!”
Papyrus placed a Blue Heart paper in between the two dishes. “THIS BLUE HEART IS TO REPRESENT THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAND. IF IT’S NOT FOR THE GOOD EARTH, WE WON’T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THESE DELECTABLES. NEXT UP…”
He placed down a big plate of hot dogs and a bowl of homemade ketchup. The blank sandwiched sausages were stacked into a tiered tower. “MY FATHER’S FAMOUS HOTDOGS. HE ONCE MANNED A STAND, SELLING THE HOTTEST DOGS OF HOTLAND. I TRIED MY BEST TO RECREATE THEM. HIS RECIPE CALLS SPECIFICALLY FOR ‘WATER DOGS’. THEY’RE NOT THE USUAL MEAT-IN-CASINGS FARE, RATHER THEY’RE THE FRUIT OF THE WATER DOG PLANT. THEY GROW PLENTY IN WATERFALL! VERY VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY.”
“WHAT MADE HIS CREATIONS STAND OUT FROM THE COMPETITION WAS HIS CUSTOM HOMEBREWED KETCHUP! EVEN KETCHUP HATERS MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR HIS SAUCE. AND, AS I HAVE LEARNED TODAY, IT TAKES A WHOLE TON OF PATIENCE TO MAKE A BATCH! THIS CYAN HEART PERFECTLY REPRESENTS THE EFFORT.”
And so, the Cyan paper heart of Patience was slotted on a little handle on the top of the hot dog tower.
“NEXT, A DISH THAT WAS INVENTED BY OUR VERY FIRST CELEBRITY! METTA STEAKS! IT'S ‘SALISBURY STEAK’ WITH METTATON’S FACE PRINTED ON IT. ALTHOUGH HIS ORIGINAL WAS MADE WITH MAGICAL MEAT SUBSTITUTE, I THOUGHT IT’S MORE APPROPRIATE THAT I PAY HOMAGE TO THE INSPIRATION.”
“WITH THE BEST OF LOCAL SPICES, IT’S JUSTICE TO YOUR TASTEBUDS!!!”
And so, the yellow heart was given to the Metta Steaks. Chin rubbing, squinting, and other expressions of confused doubt rippled among the guests.
“MAYBE… THE STEAKS DO METTATON JUSTICE BY RESEMBLING HIM CLOSELY?”
Awkward moment, commence. “SORRY. THAT WAS QUITE A STRETCH EVEN BY MY OWN STANDARDS.”
Judge Thyme cleared his throat to get some attention. “You’re doing justice by making sure the animal’s sacrifice is not in vain. Don’t you agree, Aiden?”
Aiden replied, though not without some opportunistic jabbing. “I see the Vampire knows gratitude, at least. Yes, it fits our values. Please carry on, Oracle. You still have plenty left to show.”
Papyrus counted his stars for that lucky break. At least the weakest link was done and dealt with.
Next up, his signature dish. He put down a large casserole pot, still warm from the stove. When he opened it, he revealed a magnificent concoction of spaghetti, tomato, cheese, and meatballs.
“THESE ARE THE PAPYRUS-BRAND SPAGHETTI MEATBALLS, REUNIONGHETTI EDITION! WHY LIMIT ONESELF TO JUST BEEF AND PORK WHEN CHICKEN CAN JOIN THE PARTY TOO? NYEH HEH HEH! I HAVE MADE PLENTY OF FRIENDS WITH THESE NOODLES.”
“STILL, MAKING NEW FRIENDS CAN BE SCARY. THEY CHANGE DYNAMICS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. YET, I BELIEVE IT’S ALWAYS WORTH A TRY. SO… I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER DISH TO REPRESENT MY IDEA OF BRAVERY THAN THIS HUMBLE PASTA.”
Papyrus placed the orange heart at the base of the casserole dish. Frisk and Cenna grinned at Papyrus with discreet clapping motions.
“NOW, A SPECIAL REQUEST: DEEP FRIED DUMPLINGS!!!” The big bowl of fried dumplings was placed down, resting on a cooling rack at the base. Large spoons were compulsory for hygienic scooping.
“I LEARNED THAT THESE TASTY PARCELS HAVE A VERY BIG SIGNIFICANCE FOR AIDEN AND HIS PEOPLE. THEY’RE A CELEBRATION OF A GOOD HARVEST!”
“MANY THINGS MUST GO RIGHT FOR THIS DISH TO EVEN BE POSSIBLE. THE WHEAT MUST RIPEN FOR THE FLOUR, WHICH WOULD THEN BE MADE INTO DOUGH. THE MEAT MUST COME FROM HEALTHY LIVESTOCK. THEIR CROP OF VEGETABLES MUST GROW NICE AND PLUMP TOO.”
“AND THEN THERE’S THE COOKING OIL! LADY LUCIDIA SHOWED ME SOME VIDEOS OF MAKING OIL FROM SCRATCH. IT TAKES SO MUCH EFFORT! TO BE ABLE TO SPARE GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF OIL FOR ONE OCCASION IS INDEED A PROOF OF THE GOOD TIMES!!!”
“A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THE INGREDIENTS ALONE. THAT’S NOT YET COUNTING THE COOKING! THEREFORE, I -- THE GREAT PAPYRUS -- CONSIDER THESE DEEP FRIED DUMPLINGS TO BE THE EPITOME OF DETERMINATION!”
And so, the centerpiece gained a red heart.
Papyrus further commented: “THESE DUMPLINGS SHINE A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON GREASY FOODS! ALTHOUGH… NO OFFENSE, I STILL DON’T LIKE THE SOGGY BITS.”
“Oh dear,” chuckled the masked elder. “A good fry shouldn’t be soggy at all, more so when it’s resting on a cooling rack. It appears that you’ve yet to taste one made with skill. The dumplings here are cooked under a master’s guidance, are they not? You should sample one for yourself, so you know what standards you’ve achieved.”
“I WILL! THANK YOU FOR THE INSIGHT!!!”
“FOR DESSERT,” said Papyrus, presenting both plates at once. Other Human Chef warned him that time is of the essence for the fried foods. “CINNABUNS, AND THE QUEEN’S BUTTERSCOTCH CINNAMON PIE.”
The green heart went to the Queen’s Pie. “THIS IS THE ONLY DISH NOT MADE BY MY HANDS. NO ONE IN THE KINGDOM MAKES BETTER BUTTERSCOTCH PIE THAN QUEEN TORIEL HERSELF! THE CINNAMON IS HER SPECIAL TWIST.”
“WHENEVER I VISITED QUEEN TORIEL’S HOME, SHE WOULD ALWAYS PREPARE AN APPLE AND SOME CHEESE SANDWICHES FOR ME. HER KINDNESS WAS THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED A MOTHER’S LOVE. I’M TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALLY THANK HER FOR ALL HER ATTENTIVENESS.”
Queen Toriel blushed from the attention. “My goodness, Papyrus. You flatter me. I do what I have to do, that is all.”
The purple heart went to the Cinnabuns. He explained: “THERE’S A BUNNY LADY IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD WHO SOLD THESE BUNNY-SHAPED BUNS. SHE HAD GROWN QUITE A FOLLOWING ON THE SURFACE, AND FRISK STILL BUYS THEM FROM TIME TO TIME. I ADMIRE HER PERSEVERANCE IN PREPARING THESE EVERY DAY FOR SALE, BOTH UNDERGROUND AND ABOVE GROUND. THIS IS MY ATTEMPT IN RECREATING HER RECIPE.”
“AS AN EXTRA TREAT,” The tall bloke presented the jug. “MUFFET’S SPIDER CIDER. IT CLAIMS TO BE MADE FROM WHOLE SPIDERS, BUT IT SMELLS LIKE REGULAR CIDER. IF THE THOUGHT OF EATING OR DRINKING SPIDERS IS NOT TO YOUR FANCY, THEN I WON’T FORCE IT UPON YOU.”
Both of the Aratet boys stared at it with uncertainty. The elder brother mentioned, “I-I’ve eaten spiders before. They’re sour. And bitter. I can’t imagine them as juice…”
But the younger brother offered his glass with a curious gleam. He insisted despite the concerned protests from his brother.
One spider cider for the teenage prince, coming right up. Receiving his juice, the boy grinned in satisfaction. Some things just cross the language and culture barrier.
“AND, THAT IS ALL FOR TODAY’S FEAST! PLEASE HAVE A GRRRREAT TIME! EXTRA ROLLING ON THE ‘R’ FOR EXTRA EMPHASIS!”
Just as Papyrus was about to leave, King Asgore asked: “Will you not join us, Papyrus? You are the one who invited Mister Aiden and his family. Your presence would be sorely missed if you do not attend in person.”
The suggestion made Papyrus bug his eyes out.
OH NO!!! KING ASGORE IS RIGHT! AS A GOOD HOST, I SHOULDN’T LEAVE THEM ALONE WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY DON’T PERSONALLY KNOW.
“BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS? MAYBE THEY STILL NEED MY DIRECTION?”
Just as he mentioned such, the crowd was stirred alive by the presence of food. Four big pots of pasta goodness had arrived. The chefs and the cafeteria staff had plenty of experience managing a crowd, as evident by their orderly and timely lines.
The King smiled. “I have made all the necessary arrangements, so you should not worry about anything from this point onwards. Come, take your seat.” He gestured to the reserved chair, situated between Mettaton and Dayton.
Papyrus was both touched and honoured by the King’s thoughtfulness. “ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYONE.”
While he settled down, Dayton himself scooped out one piece of fried dumplings and placed it on the skeleton’s plate.
What a surprise friendly gesture! “FOR ME, YOUNG HUMAN?”
“Yeah,” said the kid. “You made it. So you should get the first bite.”
“VERY WELL, IF YOU INSIST!”
Papyrus took a bite of the deep fried dumplings.
The crispy crunch of the dough snapped into flavourful pieces of aromatic savouriness. They soon joined the succulent yet loose crumble of perfectly cooked ground meat. The medley of spices, onions, and meat united with the crust’s toasty wheat. So many ingredients went into that thing, that Papyrus had trouble remembering them all.
What amazed him the most… was the lack of ickiness. Greasy food had always insulted his senses with their slippery slip and soggy sog. How nauseating. The pinnacle of un-health! Yet… this deep fried dumpling was nothing like how he anticipated.
It was delicious in the truest sense. Papyrus thought he went to cloud nine for a moment. The Grandmaster was completely right!
When he opened his mouth, he exclaimed the following: “IS THIS… IS THIS THE TRUE FORM OF DEEP FRIED FOODS?!?!?”
And the whole table burst into various forms of chuckles and giggles. Even the most serious fellows -- Aiden and Judge Thyme -- showed a subdued smirk.
Mettaton waved his finger. “And now you know, honey~. As our honored guest had mentioned, knowledge of proper technique makes a huge difference! If all you’ve experienced was some third-rate frying skill with low-grade oil, of course you’d think that all deep fried foods result in equivalent disgustingness!”
Somewhere in the background, Grillby’s flames tripped for a moment. He must have felt the figurative knife of accidental criticism stab into his heart.
“Anywhom… Your Excellency, dinner is officially served. Am I correct?”
“Why yes.” The Grandmaster nodded. “You may now switch into podcast-mode. Do what you must do.”
Turning towards the camera, the glambot announced a short commercial break for the livestream. Then he signalled to the crew to point the camera towards the big non-VIP crowd. He also let them free to get their hard-earned dinner.
No longer watched by the anonymous internet, the entire table dropped their fronts and relaxed their shoulders. The Grandmaster and Lady Lucidia took off their masks.
“Finally!” said Frisk. “Being on camera for so long is suuuuper tense. Come on, let’s eat. I bet everyone is starving.”
With how enthusiastic they grabbed their morsel of choice, they were indeed ferociously hungry.
Still, there was one person he needed to satisfy more than anyone: Aiden of Aratet. He and his people were the biggest skeptic against monsters and magic. This feast was originally his idea of a trap. But, had Papyrus managed to subvert that trap with pure deliciousness?
With great anxious anticipation, the young skeleton watched his guest taste a dumpling…
The man chewed in deep contemplation. What went through his mind? Was he comparing it to other dumplings that he had eaten? Perhaps his own mother’s cooking? Wife? Or was he analyzing the quality of the vegetables and meat? He owns a farm, does he not? Plus, he apparently graduated from an agricultural school. Aiden wouldn’t stand for cheap city-slicker goods.
After swallowing it, the man stayed quiet. He then proceeded to sample the rest of the offerings, starting with Integrity and ending at Perseverance.
Papyrus clutched his cutlery so tightly, he thought it would leave hand-marks in them. His skull started to grow damp from sweat.
Finally, Aiden pronounced his verdict:
“You’ve done well, Oracle. Enjoy the feast you’ve worked so hard to create. I know I will.”
Imaginary fireworks launched at the back of Papyrus’ mind. He did it! All that insane planning and maximum gambitting paid off. A part of him couldn’t believe that this whole endeavour was real.
Asgore clapped his hands. The others soon followed suit, congratulating Papyrus for a job well done. Frisk added two whole thumbs up to the mix.
“Bravo, Papyrus!”
“Yay!”
“This is history in the making, baby~~~”
Dayton whispered to Papyrus while his father was busy. “You did it! You managed to impress my dad! I can’t believe this is happening.”
The other brother nodded while slurping on his noodles, genuinely pleased with his meal.
Looks like the Feast of Fantasy was off to a grrrreat start!