Papyrus managed to convince Endogeny to shift Doctor Gaster out of the shed. The barebones shell of the skeleton brother’s former Underground house had become the new jail.
With it came access to electricity and the space to set up the scientist’s latest invention. It’s like a home movie theater, except with a ton more complicated mechanisms than you could comprehend.
You thought that you’d witness the magnificence of the great Former Royal Scientist Doctor Gaster live. Except… you accidentally walked in front of him as he was transporting what appeared to be a large power supply unit. It dropped on the floor and, well, you might have broke something.
You apologized as profusely as an anime character, complete with constant bowing.
“I-it’s alright, Child of Mercy,” Gaster replied. The skeleparents stopped your dipping too. “You wouldn’t know the limitations of magical telekinesis.”
Papyrus, Mom, and Dad stared at the machine. It’s hard to gauge the damage if it’s all contained in a faded case.
“SHOULD… SHOULD I USE MY SAVINGS TO BUY A FRESH NEW ONE, UNCLE GASTER?” asked your tall friend.
“Oh dear boy, please don’t waste your budget. I did ask you to search the scrapyard after all. Cost issues. The bane of all projects.”
After a long, drawn-out sigh the goopy scientist picked up an electronic screwdriver. “I suppose we won’t know if it’s salvageable until I open it up. Papyrus, please escort the Royal Family back to their homes. I do not want to keep them waiting.”
“OKAY UNCLE GASTER!”
Any shortcut shenanigans had to be done three times. Papyrus can’t escort more than one person through it at a time. Something about ‘tunnel size’, or so he tried to explain.
You saw Mom whispering to your tall skeleton friend. He’s ultra delighted. At first you wondered what that is about, but when you got home you understood.
Mom told Papyrus to escort Dad to your house! After the flower incident, she finally welcomed Dad back. Usually he’d had to tag along with someone else to even get past the door.
“SAFE AND SOUND!”
Again, you apologized to Papyrus for breaking the equipment.
“IT’S FINE FRISK. EVEN IF IT WON’T BE FIXED TODAY, IT’LL BE FIXED TOMORROW! I’M VERY SURE OF IT.”
He looked up towards the sky. The day grew brighter as dawn rose from the horizon. “I SHOULD PREPARE FOR MY PATROLS NOW.”
Did he… sleep? At all?
“NOPE! I HAVE NOT SLEPT FOR OVER TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, BUT SLEEP IS OPTIONAL!”
“It’s not optional, Papyrus! Even if you’re a skeleton.”
Here’s the infamous Mom-glare: feared far and wide even amongst the strongest of Ebott. It’s enough to make anyone quake in their boots.
Mom then continued: “You need rest so you can help Doctor Gaster, especially if he requires extra parts. What if you collapse in the middle of nowhere?”
“UH… ERM… YOU DO HAVE A POINT, YOUR MAJESTY.” Nobody dared to object to Mom.
A proverbial lightbulb lit up above your head.
You remembered there's a spare pillow and blanket in the cupboard. Should you get them for Papyrus so he can sleep at his old home?
“Why yes,” Dad nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Off you go. You soon returned with the goods and handed them over to your friend.
“THANK YOU, FRISK!” Turning to Mom, he asked, “BUT YOUR MAJESTY, HOW AM I GOING TO EXPLAIN MY ABSENCE TO UNDYNE? I DON’T REMEMBER GETTING HER PERMISSION.”
She returned a cheeky smirk. “About that, just leave it to me. Consider this official business.”
The amount of thanks heaped on you and your family should be quantified by the mountainful. Wasting no time, Papyrus vanished into a shortcut.
“Asgore, could you take care of breakfast?”
You gasped. This is the first time Mom ever asked for Dad’s favour since… forever!
“Y-yes, dear,” he exclaimed, teary eyed. “I will!”
“Don’t get too sappy now. I don’t want you to drop anything. Good kitchen cutlery is costly.” Then she went off to make a bunch of phone calls.
No breakfast can go wrong with toast and scrambled eggs. And snails. This house thrives on snails.
You helped Dad open the can of snails and tomato puree with an electronic can opener. Then you helped out in the seasoning department, just in case Mom starts to nitpick on Dad. At least she’ll have one less issue to complain about.
Your eyes glanced at the knife rack. It immediately filled you with discomfort. Fortunately this meal won’t have use for them.
That morning, you sat together at the table as a full family: it’s just you with your parents and no one else.
You… never had the chance before. Never dreamed of that chance.
If only Cenna was here, it’ll be perfect.
Midway in your breakfast, Mom reminded you of something important. “Oh, Frisk. Next time if you see someone lifting an object with magic, don’t walk in between them. You’ll block the flow.”
“That’s right,” Dad chipped in. “Skillful monsters like Doctor Gaster can channel their magical power over a short distance. It’s like making an extension of your arm.”
Whoops. That explains what happened back there. Can Mom and Dad perform that stunt?
“W-well, I can,” said Mom. “But I'm not very good at it.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
She used a square of tissue paper as an example. With magic, she made it hover just a centimeter over the table.
“Now, if I try to move it…”
The lightweight paper just flopped over and floated down to the floor. Any hold over it was far too fragile. “In the end, I prefer to use my hands.”
What happens if Dad tries?
“It’ll just catch fire,” he admitted. About as sheepish as a real sheep.
What about Sans then? He can turn people’s SOULS Blue and use some really awesome telekinesis. Makes everything look so effortless!
Mom and Dad stared at each other.
“Remind me of something, Asgore,” said Mom. “Didn’t Gaster once experiment on Seer Magic? His first project while his parents were still alive.”
“Oh yes, he did,” Dad replied. “He was very deep in his studies ever since his Awakening.”
“But he never completed it, right?”
“Indeed. Their deaths were too much to bear. He switched fields after their passing.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Sans took what’s left of that research and continued it.”
You’re lost and confused, as though you landed in the middle of a network of spaghetti roads.
Mom then said, “Oh Frisk, I’m sorry. You see, Doctor Gaster had always been a scientist at heart. He noticed his people’s looming extinction and thought it would be a waste if the knowledge died with him. So he tried to preserve the Seer’s legacy by artificial means.”
“Tried, was the word.” Dad frowned. “His mother fell down from illness and grief drove his father insane. Very tragic. That event broke his spirit in more ways than one.”
Mom said. “He almost killed himself.”
“Yes. I will never forget that day, Toriel. Never.”
What did he do?
The atmosphere darkened a notch, as if clouds flew across a sunny sky...
Dad began his story. “The poor man attempted to break the Barrier without a single Human SOUL. One day, Toriel and I found him standing in the middle of his construct. He surrounded himself with fake Seer Aspects. It contained every colour that he didn’t have.”
So, it’s everything minus Orange and Cyan? Including the legendary Red?
Your parents nodded. Mom then explained, “Gaster inherited plenty of exclusive information since his parents were founding members of the Seven Sages. He thought that if we could never get a real human SOUL, why not replicate one? Alas, it was impossible: a wrong theory that will always remain wrong.”
Sliding a finger on his face, Dad said, “Have you noticed the ridges? They’re scars from that incident, Frisk. His failed attempt backfired and split his face in half. We… weren’t sure if he’d survive. It was quite a precarious moment.”
“As King of the Dreemurr Nation, it’s my personal responsibility to care for my people. Directly or otherwise. So I took some leave to attend to Gaster’s injuries.”
Mom placed a hand on her chest and nodded. “In the meantime, I managed the office. It was a unanimous decision. Asgore had better knowledge of long-term wound care than myself.”
Oooooh, that explains why Doctor Gaster was so furiously loyal to Dad.
…It’s kinda sad. It doesn’t sound like he ever truly moved on from that incident.
You tried to change the subject by noting that the food is getting cold.
“You’re right,” said Dad. “We should finish our meal.”
Mom then said, “I think it’s better for Frisk to live with you for a while. I won’t be home for long periods of time, and I don’t want to put them in any more risk.”
“Alright, dear. I’ll do my best.”
That’s fast. You expected maybe a few more months before she entrusted you into Dad’s care. Then again, these are dangerous times to be alone. It’s the most practical course of action.
Since you’ll be there for at least a few days, Mom helped pack your luggage.
All important items? Checked.
Not gonna elaborate on the checklist. You’re feeling a bit too tired for that.
Then, you phone buzzed like heck. The local chatroom stirred alive in activity.
StrongFish91:
OKAY PAPYRUS!
Explain to me right now why the heck TORIEL endorsed a project by Doctor Gaster?
You know.
The guy who’s supposed to be BEHIND BARS???
ALPHYS:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GASP omg really really really?
can i join pls?
plsplsplspsplsplsplspls
StrongFish91:
I…
I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Sorry Al.
FabulousMTT:
Oh my~~ sounds like you sweethearts are having an exciting time.
ALPHYS:
how are you mettaton? :o
are you okay D:
FabulousMTT:
Splendid, thank you for asking darling.
The Magi hired therapists for dear Blooky and Shyren. Maddie too, maybe.
Lots of hugs and comforting meals for everyone. They even brought some board games to play! Just to keep our minds off the problem, you know.
StrongFish91:
Papyrus!
Paaapyyyyyrruuuuuuussss!
FabulousMTT:
Some indignified riffraff tried to badger us. Arrested pronto without incident~
My precious family had a good night’s sleep considering the chaos. Oh, and Burgerpants is fine. There are no incidents of violence in his town.
StrongFish91:
PAPYRUS ANSWER ME!!!
You told everyone in the chatroom that Papyrus is sleeping in his old Snowdin home, near Doctor Gaster. Mom sent him to a compulsory snooze.
FabulousMTT:
Ah, so our primadonna noticed our darling’s tendency to skip his sleep.
ALPHYS:
wow pap’s actually sleeping for once :O?!
StrongFish91:
There was one time where he didn’t sleep for THREE DAYS!
And he was as hyper as heck.
Not to mention effing DELIRIOUS!
I was like.
Dude.
You’re going off the rockers.
Go home.
SLEEP!
ALPHYS:
should we make a new chatroom?
i don’t know if he set his notifs off.
don’t wanna wake him up :(
FabulousMTT:
I think we’re fine since the cinnamon roll didn’t answer his phone at all. Maybe the skeleparents are holding it for him?
ALPHYS:
O_O;;;
does that mean they can read this chat?
and.
gaster-sensei too?
StrongFish91:
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Mister and Misses Skeleparents please let Papyrus sleep!
I apologize for my outbursts!
I’ll be quiet now.
ALPHYS:
GASTER-SENSEI! please let me help you!
OTL OTL OTL
onegaishimasu!
You received a private message from ‘CoolSkeleton95’. It’s under Papyrus’ name, but the speech patterns clearly belonged to Doctor Gaster.
It said the following: ‘I think Doctor Alphys’ mechanical knowledge will be of great assistance for the project. If it is not too much of a trouble, could you deliver my request to the Queen?’
What if Mom declines?
‘Her Majesty understands the circumstances better. If she thinks Doctor Alphys should remain in the world above, I will obey.’
Mom locked down the luggage and grabbed the handle. “It’s ready, my child.”
You passed Doctor Gaster’s request. She pondered.
“I’ll allow Doctor Alphys to be his assistant only if Papyrus escorts her home afterward. Either that, or she camps Underground under Endogeny’s watch. I do not want her to be outside of the designated safety zones.”
That’s oddly specific.
Mom frowned, glancing left and right in uneasiness. “Frisk… I have a strong feeling that Doctor Alphys might get hurt if she remains on the Surface. Call it a mother’s instinct. If anything happens to her, you can imagine Captain Undyne’s rage. Someone could get killed.”
Wait. What?
Was that a dejavu…?
You asked Mom about the matter. When did she first feel this weirdness? And is it still strong?
“It’s fading now, but I had this huge spike of concern on Sunday. Perhaps it’s because everyone’s on high alert. I was so relieved when I heard that they had evacuated out of the Lab.”
You held your breath for a moment. If that was not Mom’s instincts and a real dejavu, it meant that Alphys got hurt in the past timeline. And Undyne? Probably suplexed a building.
…Or worse.
The worrying can wait. Right now, you just need to move to Dad’s home.
When the warmer seasons arrive, he will have the most beautiful house in the entire town. Once, you had seen the myriads of flowers of Ebott bloom in this season during a school trip that’s compulsory for those from foster homes.
It’s been a long, long, long while. The beginning of your Underground adventure began after that.
You can’t remember what’s it like to attend a human school anymore. How much ‘time’ had really passed for you?
Come to think of it…
…You can’t remember when you had your latest birthday either.
You were born in Spring, at the end of the long-delayed season, after the Trial of the Crimson Hall. And…
Another buzz then freed you from your thoughts.
Its Cenna! You added her in the Ebott Gang group chat when the patrols began. Let’s see what she had to say.
HotAndSpicy:
Yo! What's this I hear about that ole goopy doc doing an experiment?
ALPHYS:
gaster-sensei wants to try to materialize papyrus’ seer visions.
very complicated determination sciences.
but we might just learn a thing or two about those gungnir people.
HotAndSpicy
Oooooh. That sounds like fun.
Not to mention we’ll finally have the full story for once.
Count me in folks!