Pinkie Pie's Baby Cake Cuisine

“They’d like that, he thought to himself, dreaming of the next time he’d get to enjoy himself, and dreaming of a large brood of dittos all made from beautifully delicious human babies.” Pinkie Pie read aloud, tilting her pink head as her dark pink mane flopped to the side. Her blue, bright eyes gazed at the story in her hooves as she intriguingly read through the story, chuckling as she read through the end of the tale, finally closing up “The Ditto Dinner” and leaning back in her chair at Ms. Muffet’s cafe as the soft smell of baked goods wafted through the air. The pink Earth pony had been enjoying quite a fascinating read!

“So who wrote that one?” Ms. Muffet inquired, sitting on a chair behind the store countertop, eating curds and whey. No, really. Curds and whey. She was trying to go on a diet, since it was swimsuit season. Her black hair was neatly tied into two ponytails at the side of her head, her purple skin was practically glowing, and her many eyes gleamed and glistened like black gems as she looked up from her bowl, one of her many hands dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.

“This was written by ‘The Saint’.” Pinkie Pie remarked, holding up the giant large-texted tome and smiling with a little chuckle. “He does a lot of odd stories, but I was so drawn in by this. It was all just so...cute and sweet!” She admitted as she leaned back in the wooden chair, the remains of a cupcake on a little purple plate at the circular table she sat at.

Just kidding. There weren’t any remains, Pinkie Pie LOVED eating cupcakes whole. There wasn’t even a wrapper left!

“Gives me ideas.” Muffet chuckled as she finished up her own bowl and put it away to the side on a little table to the right, shaking her head back and forth before rising up and dusting herself off with her many hands. “Perhaps I’ll make a “Ditto Cake”~!” She sang out, doing a little twirl over the purple and white-tiled floor as Pinkie rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“...you know...this gives ME an idea.” She murmured. “Cake...cake-cake-cake…” She mumbled softly.

“What?”

Pinkie clapped her hooves together. “I’ve got it! I’ll be right back. Think you could help me when I get back?” She inquired. “I wanna make some very special little cakes.” The pink Earth pony asked the spider baker as Muffet tilted her head to the side and then shrugged.

“Yes, I suppose I could! What did you have in mind?” Muffet inquired as Pinkie made her way outside of the bakery with a cheery wave of her hoof, nonchalantly making towards Sugar Cube Corner just down the street as a gentle zephyr breezed over her face. She headed inside, giving Mr. and Mrs. Cake a cheery wave. “Hey Mister and Missus Cake! Are the kids in the back today?”

“Oh, yes.” The two Earth pony bakers nodded in agreement, Ms. Cake giving a little bow of her blue head as Pinkie Pie grinned cheerily and clasped her hooves together, giving her a smile.

“Wonderful! Could I take them out to Ms. Muffet’s bakery?” She asked cheerily, the two Cakes nodding at once.

“Just be sure you have them back by dark.” Mr. Cake said, gesturing with a thin limb at the clock as Pinkie nodded in agreement, heading into the back of the store, the two toddlers looking up from the blocks they were playing with, Pumpkin Cake’s adorable little horned head cheerily smiling up at Pinkie, baby blue eyes twinkling brightly as her poofy orange hair bounced up and down as she clapped her hooves together. Pound Cake smiled happily, floating up in the air on his tiny little wings, his eyes like deep brownies as he immediately raced over to Pinkie Pie and hugged her.

“Awww, I missed you too!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, giving the little Pound Cake some petting over his head as she lifted Pumpkin Pie up and gave her a little hug as well as she put the two on her back. “Come on, Baby Cakes! Let’s go have some fun at Ms. Muffet’s.” She offered, the two little dibbuns cheerily smiling as she trotted out the back entrance, heading back to the Spider Bakery as Ms. Muffet looked up, seeing Pinkie bringing in the baby ponies.

“Oh! Wait...do you mean you want…” She began to say, tilting her head to the side as Pinkie cheerily nodded, lifting the Baby Cakes up and putting them on the counter as Muffet clasped all her hands together and beamed. “Oooh, Cake Cakes!”

“Yep!” Pinkie proclaimed.

“I’d be happy to make that for free if you’d let me enjoy them later.” Muffet offered as Pinkie gave a little bow.

“Of course! You don’t mind, do you dearies?” He asked the two Cake children as the tykes shook their heads. No, they didn’t mind, they loved Pinkie Pie and Ms. Muffet, they were always so nice to them!

Muffet got to work, mixing up the dough as she added just the right amount of sugar and flour in a large bowl, her various spider assistants bringing over various little sprinkles, eggs, and other ingredients to add to the mix whilst Pinkie Pie got a special little frosting dispenser that was in the shape of a baby bottle.

“Chocolate or vanilla?” She asked the two Baby Cakes as she sat down at the table she was at before, putting two jars next to them as the Cakes chose their flavors, Pound choosing chocolate whilst Pumpkin chose vanilla. Smiling in delight, Pinkie Pie filled up the baby bottle frosting dispenser with the vanilla frosting first, and tenderly lifted Pumpkin Cake up as the orange-haired little filly cheerily took the bottle in her stubby little hooves.

Pumpkin Cake murred, taking in deep gulping swallows, eagerly guzzling down as much vanilla frosting as she could as Pinkie gently swayed her back and forth in her arms, cooing sweetly. Bit by bit, Pumpkin Cake’s little tummy began to plump up quite nicely, going from a faint little bit of chub to looking like she’d swallowed up a bocce ball! Bit by bit, her belly expanded more and more, growing and growing, getting good and squishy and jiggly as Pinkie Pie giggled and poked it slightly with her free hoof.

“Oooooh, jiggly!” She remarked, Pumpkin finally finished up all the frosting, having eaten her full as Pinkie put her down on the table, now filling up the baby bottle with CHOCOLATE frosting as Pound Cake clapped his little hooves together. He beamed in delight as Pinkie lifted him up into her arms and she gave him the bottle as he began to suck down the frosting as hungrily as he could. Glug-glug-gluuuug! Some chocolate frosting eeked out the sides of his mouth and Pinkie wiped it away with a little napkin, chuckling a bit as his own belly began to nicely fluff and puff up.

Soon, the both of them were all set, now lovely little Chubby Cakes! Pinkie chuckled at the sight as she put the baby bottle frosting dispenser away, and brought the two Cake children over towards the countertop, Ms. Muffet holding out a bowl of dough, ready to apply it to the little ones. The spider baker began gently unwrapping each of the little ones diapers, throwing them away as she wrapped a dough wrapper around the two, applying a careful layer of sugary frosting to their backs and arms and legs, giving a cute little dollop on their noses as they giggled.

After adding the sprinkles, making them almost look like little doughnuts, the two Cakes were finally ready! Smiling happily, Pinkie Pie clasped her hooves together as Ms. Muffet reached down into a nearby drawer, pulling out a faintly glowing stone that was in the shape of the mighty Monster Kingdom’s Delta Rune...a Lazarus Stone, a powerful, intensely useful magical artifact.

What did it do? Well...it could bring back the dead if you drew on somebody with it. It had been quite handy in the days of old during the Monster Kingdom wars against humanity when things had FIRST started, and had led to stalemate after stalemate, and even a few victories for the monsters!...but then somebody had gone and lost their few stones they had. Or at least, so went part of the legend. Many a monster insisted that a human sympathizer had tossed them away. Naturally, the monsters blamed Gerald.

Be it his ancestor, or the 'mon himself...nobody likes Jerry.

But at any rate, thanks to the stone's recovery, the two little fillies were ready for the final touches. Smiling lovingly, Muffet and Pinkie gave the two little kisses on their foreheads before Muffet added the last of the frosting to their heads, then easing them down into the oven she had nearby. She slid them gently inside, putting the magical oven on the proper setting as soft, tender warmth bathed over the two. The two Baby Cakes smiled happily, letting the gentle heat engulf them bit by bit, drifting off into peaceful, easy slumber as they began to slowly close their eyes and enter sleep.

Bit by bit, the frosting on their bodies hardened enough, making them into little “cakes” as they were finally fully prepared. After about half an hour, Muffet pulled the two out, waiting for them to cool as she blew some of the heat wafting up off their adorable little forms with her many clawed hands. Giggling a bit as they finally reached the right temperature, she handed Pinkie Pie little Pound Cake as Pinkie’s jaws leisurely opened wide.

Pinkie Pie tenderly eased the little Pound Cake down, down into her the waiting, hungry, pinkish abyss that was her mouth. Deeper and deeper down Pound Cake went, sinking further and further onto a big, plushy tongue as Pinkie moaned in delight over the flavor she was experiencing. Pound Cake was juicy, sweet, the Earth pony couldn’t believe how GOOD the little filly felt as she slid down into her jaws!

Soon, she was gently engulfing the sleeping infant’s chest, giving it careful, gentle, loving licks over little Pound Cake’s head before a firm, but tiny little push that sealed him away. With a final big old gulp, little Pound Cake was now sealed away within Pinkie Pie’s gut as she rubbed over her slightly bulging belly. “Mmmmm.” Pinkie Pie murmured, a soft tinkling sensation bathing over little Pound Cake as the stomach walls massaged him.

Now it was time for Pumpkin Cake! Pinkie Pie grinned happily and opened up her jaws, easing the little babe into her waiting gullet, further and further. Pumpkin Pie was still fast asleep, sinking down into the waiting pinkness of the Earth Pony’s hungry gullet. Her tongue bathed over little Pumpkin Pie’s face with careful swirling, and then another lick over her chest.

With another gulp, her chest and stomach slid into Pinkie Pie’s gullet as the Earth pony’s eyes closed in ecstasy. She softly moaned, savoring the sweet flavor of the little filly. Giving another, final GLA-GULP, the babe was tucked away inside the waiting belly of Pinkie Pie. She murred and moaned, rubbing over her much larger-now, bulging belly. She sighed happily, sitting down on her chair, patting her hooves over her swollen stomach and enjoying the sensation of the little Cakes in her tummy.

Pinkie Pie burped a bit, a loud BRA-BOOORRPP ringing through the air as her hooves rubbed over her big, gigantic belly with her hooves. She grinned happily, looking down at her stomach as Muffet tilted her head. “Well?”

“WONDERFUL!” Pinkie Pie said. “So, so good! I’ve GOTTA do this again. But once I’m finished, you should enjoy them too.” She offered, Muffet clasping her hands together and smiling in delight as Pinkie Pie’s belly softly churned and massaged its prey from within. Bit by bit, her belly slowly but surely rounded out, becoming a perfect, majestic sphere as Pinkie Pie sighed and patted her belly once again...as a faint glowing filled the table right in front of her and…

POOF! The two Baby Cakes plopped onto it, smiling happily and clapping their little hooves together as they hopped over to Pinkie Pie and poked at her big ol’ belly, Muffet giggling.

“Oooh, you like that, don’t you?” Muffet inquired with a laugh. “Uhuhuhuhu! Well don’t worry, cutie-pie Cakes. You’re gonna get to see that a lot more often. Won’t you like that, dearies?”

Their smiles told Muffet everything she needed to know.

Chara, the Loved

"You may live."

Those three words echoed in Chara's mind. What Sans had said down in that Judgement Hall had been a miracle. But then so was his life. He was alive, whole...and free. His eyes were blue again, no longer read, and his True Knife was now ion a mantle, no longer part of him save as a symbol of a heroic battle.

Now some time had passed, and Chara was laying in bed, one of three in a big bedroom in his Goatmom's home. That would soon be four it seemed, given what he had heard, and Chara could not be happier. Not with the news, not with his life, not with... anything. He was.... reborn.

More tears fell as he realized that, as he realized he had a second chance to make a new life. His old was gone forever, and apparently the powers that be had given him a fresh start.

"Morning, Chara." Asriel mumbled, turning to the side sleepily, Chara smiling.

"Morning, Goatbro." Chara said, winking. Both looked at the still sleeping Frisk, and winked. Carefully, they crept out of bed, and began to sneak up on it, ready to pounce their favorite lovable brother. They gave a wicked grin as they got ready to pounce...

As from behind the bed, Sans popped up. "boo."

Asriel and Chara screamed and fell backward, Walking Frisk up with a start as Sans gave a cute chuckle. Bad enough it was Sans, skeleton and all, but the whole hollow eye treatment made it worse.

"SANS!!!" They shouted, as Sans chuckled.

"what? i was feeling FRISKy today so i dedicaed to use my amazing CHARActer and give you two ASRIEL of a shock as possible." He smiled, giving the typical Sans shrug after three very bad puns.

"AUGH!" Chara said, shaking his head, but unable to keep from smiling.

"come on kid, you're smiling." Sans said.

"I am and I hate it!" He sighed, and stood up. "A perfectly good scare and it gets botched. I even had my creepyface ready!"

Chara smiled and did it, his smile with wide eyes from ear to ear actually creepy under most circumstances... but only really with his old red eyes. Nowadays it just looked funny, and Chara liked that. Frisk chuckled as suddenly the group broke out in laughter, content it would be a good day.

*****************

After breakfast, The three went their seperate ways as it was a day off from school. Asriel went off to go hang out with the royal guard, wanting to train to be one himself. Frisk was off to see the CMC, to help others find their purpose in life.

Only Chara was undecided. Usually on days when he wasn't going to school he would wander Ponyville, waving to everyone he saw. Some recognized him as a hero and a few little colts and fillies would trot up to him and hug, wanting to hear his story. Chara wasn't sure how to take that really, given his past, but he let his heart eventually ease into it since he did do something that heroic. After all, there are some forgiving souls in this world, and it helped a lot.

He knew that from going to the Crystal Empire and seeing the stories now present of Sombra's better acts, but that is a story for another day.

On this day, his journeys took him down a different route than usual, as he wandered right into the castle. While he was often here to see the library or to talk with the Mane Six, today fate seemed to be guiding him elsewhere. His wandering took him right into a magic lab.

And there, working hard on her spells, was Starlight Glimmer.

The lavender unicorn with a purple mane, a line of light powder blue in the middle of a tuft that went ofver her one eye beautifully, was working on some new spells, ones she had gotten from the archives of the Underground. Chara admitted he had fallen for her hard, but she was a pony and he a human, and that was a relationship not meant to be. But on the other hand they had a kinship tighter than most, so maybe what they had was, if it could be believed, one step better.She turned and saw him, and she smiled.

"Oh, Chara! How are you doing today?" She asked, smiling with a blush. Chara also blushed at her words. He rubbed his hands together nervously and chuckled.

"Not too much, just kind of wandering today. Asriel is off with the guards to fight timberwolves on the borders, and Frisk and the CMC are helping some beanie wearing colt to get his cutie mark." Chara walked in, eyeing the book. "I actually wasn't sure what to do."

Starlight smiled. "Well, I could use a test subject for a bit. You mind?"

Chara smiled, beamed even, at the question. "Not at all!"

Starlight smiled. "Ok, these are simple transformation spells I found. I guess they were made to use on humans and such, but work on anything. It's a variant on ones I do with Twilight except the objects are fully sentient."

Chara giggled. "You're up to something."

"Sort of. Fluttershy wanted to be a tree once, so I decided to give her the chance to be one for a day or so to help with some of the migrating birds. But doing so under normal circumstances is too dangerous. So I am trying to perfect this one." She stepped back. "Okay. What do you want to be?"

Chara blinked. "Huh?"

Starlight smiled. "Come on. Something you wanted to be."

Chara blushed. "Oh boy...." His first thought, being a growing boy, was not exactly proper, but being a swimsuit for Starlight would be really cool. But he thought more, and had a better idea.

"Um....this might sound weird, but can I be...a saddle?"

Starlight smiled, raising an eyebrow as she did so. "Really? You're boring. I would have thought you would have said a bikini." Chara blushed beet red. Starlight loved to tease Chara about his fantasies involving her, and kept it up. "Or.... perhaps a cupcake, with lemon filling, my favorite?"

Chara blushed and hid, making Starlight laugh. "On the other hand.... I'd love to wear you as a saddle. Or give you something you would normally need a saddle for."

Chara looked as Starlight smiled. "I'm sorry... I know it's wrong to... but I..."

"Who says it's wrong? Yeah we likely will not ever get smoochy-snuggly... but I think we have something better than that, where we can just hug, be together, and... you still know I love you."

Chara froze as Starlight nodded. "But... what about you and... doesn't he...?"

"This is Equestria, not Earth. Besides we're best friends. I"m.... not really the whole marrying type. reformed villian and all." She shrugged. Chara understood that easily, and the two returned to the matter at hand. "So... what will it be?"

Chara smiled. "A picnic basket.... for a day out on the Equestrian countryside."

********************

A few moments later, Chara was smiling as he and Starlight went on their picnic... well in a sense. Chara had been successfully turned into a big picnic basket, with green and yellow paint like his favorite shirt, and stuffed full of goodies. Chara felt like he had just eaten a whole thanksgiving feast, but it was a good feeling, if a little weird. better still he was being carried by Starlight, who trotted to a nice open patch of grass amongst some trees on Ponyville's outskirts.

It was a lovely day for a picnic, and after unpacking for such, Starlight spread the blanket and turned Chara back to normal. Then the two shared in the fresh cucumber sandwiches they had made, as well as cold lemonade, fresh baked cupcakes from Pinkie Pie, apples from Sweet Apple Acres, and to top it off a wonderfull custard made by Toriel. By the end of it, The two were stuffed ful, relaxing by one another on the blanket, pointing at clouds and saying what they look like.

"Chara," Starlight said, "I'm about settled. You ready for that ride?"

Chara blinked. "Really?"

Starlight gave a chuckle. "I wasn't lying when I said I was going to give you one. Hop on." She stood up, straightening up. "And don't worry, I used a spell to help in case you have been snacking on pies again." Chara stammered as Starlight gave a big laugh. Chara watched as Starlight crafted some reins for him, taking a rod in her mouth. Chara got on, taking the reins, settled on Starlights back. "Hold on." She said around the rod as she began to walk, then to trot, then slowly going into a full gallop over the grass, Chara wide eyed and excited.

"Yeeeeee HAH!" He shouted, almost as if it came naturally, which it had! He watched as the country blazed by, and the two rode into the grassy beauty around Ponyville, Starlight smiled, giving a determined look as she sped on, giving her friend the best ride of his life, speeding up to a jump and going for it as he screamed out, hands in the air.

"WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" He shouted, the two landing hard and laughing. "That was amazing!"

Starlight said nothing, but smiled, letting her friend lean close and hug her around her neck. She sighed and stood there, then began to walk back to the picnic sight to pack up for home.

As for Chara, he was soon falling asleep on her back, contented and happy. He felt as if the world had given him something better than he ever had, and he did not know how to say thank you.

***********************

That night, Chara sat at the dinner table, Everyone having fresh made cheese ravioli (Not By Papyrus, sorry.) and sharing what they did today, Asriel speaking up.

"And then BarkBark just gave a meanacing growl at the Alpha, and the rest of the timberwolves and they took off with their stumps between their limbs!" Asriel said. "Undyne was so proud he got to have fresh fertilizer for dinner."

Frisk blinked. "Ummm.... isn't fertilizer...?"

Toriel interrupted. "What about you Chara? What did you do today?"

Chara smiled, as he looked at his sleeves, still with some light purple fur on them.

"I had a picnic."

Everyone looked at him, and when they saw his look, they all smiled. Chara was grinning ear to ear, staring at the fur.

It didn't once look creepy.

*********************

In the castle, Starlight smiled as she set the last book back, heading off to bed, but smiling as she put another icepack on her back, still slightly sore. But it was worth it. Her day had been better than she hoped, and not just because the spell worked. She smiled as she recalled the picnic, the ride, and one last thing.

She looked in the basket one last time and saw the daisy he had picked for her on the way home, as a thank you. Fresh daises in the wild were a fine treat for ponies, but Starlight knew this one was not for eating. She would press it and save it, and keep it as a reminder of this beautiful day.

"Goodnight Chara." She whispered to the Flower, climbing into bed, and going to sleep.

And accross town, in a small cottage, a little boy who knew he was loved looked out the window at the castle, smiling and sighing.

"Goodnight Starlight." he whispered, as he too climbed into bed, and feel into a wonderful, happy sleep.

It felt good to be loved.

The First Days

Starlight looked about the park in Ponyville as monsters and ponies played. Huey, also known as Monster Kid, was acting a little like Diamond Tiara's puppy, catching things with his mouth. The act made Tiara chuckle, and her friend Silver Spoon shake her head with a chuckle. Nearby, Chara and several fillies were racing, per Undyne's gym instruction, the tyrant of a teacher making them work those muscles until Bulging Biceps would be jealous. Near a hayburger stand, Aaron was flexing for some ponies, who swooned at the seahorses form. The whole of the sight was rather invigorating, and it showed just how far monsters and ponies had come.

She returned to the book she was reading, a work in progress that Twilight and she had been compiling. Starlight was proofreading it, and had moved through a few words already detailing how Asriel technically made first contact as Flowey, and had been nommed by almost every pony in Equestria. The events that followed helped him to get a new soul, made from pieces of the strongest souls in Equestria and Asriel's own memories, still embedded in the flower.

She smiled as she read on.

"Shortly after Asriel had reunited with Frisk in Snowdin, the two traveled.....no, that doesn't sound right... the two embarked on a combined journey that would lead them into destiny for nboth Undertale and Equestria..."

****************

The two emerged from Snowdin, passing a shocked and delighted Papyrus, as Sans soon stopped them. He looked pretty pleased with himself, though for reasons he had yet to tell the duo.

"heyas." He said, leaving his stand. The two noticed then that no one else was around, and Frisk was afraid. The last time he said that was...

"Hi Sans." Asriel said, meekly. The Skeletons eyes were hollow, and he gave a sigh.

"kid, I don't know if your being funny or not, but people don't come back from the dead easily. yet I can tell you haven't hurt anyone. so I am a little confused kiddo. how is he here?"

Asriel stepped forward. "It's my doing, Sans. I was stuck as Flowey until Pinkie Pie..."

"Pinkie Pie?" Sans said. Asriel nodded.

"Yeah, she ate me up again and again and again and again and a..."

"i get the point." Sans said. Frisk now noticed Sans was not talking in his usual, laid back form.

"Are we in trouble?" He asked nervously."

Sans sighed, snapped his fingers, and made a Gaster Blaster appear. The two eeped.... and watched it fade, Sans chuckling.

"not at all kiddo." Sans said. "i already knew about pinks. truth is, after she took you to her Ponyland, i followed through a shortcut, and found this pony named starlight. she was dead set in wiping stuff out. but i showed her how good a human could be, how good, and how important, one soul really is."

Asriel blinked. "Starlight?"

Sans nodded. "i'll show you. just go through that door, and be sure to give her a hug. she kinda needs it."

Chara and Asriel nodded, going through a door that miraculously appeared behind Sans, and saw a light purple pony with a sad face. Sans was behind her (How he managed that the two had no idea!), and it was clear she had been through Hell.

Frisk smiled as she looked at him. "Well, I'm going to hug the Hell right out of ya." He said, he and Asriel hugging the pony, who sobbed into their chests. Behind them, Sans smiled and nodded.

"ok, i need to stop horsing around." He said.

*********************

Several days later, after returning to the underground, Asriel was reunited with his mom and dad, who were overjoyed that their boy was alive again. He told them all about Equestria, and how to get there, and how it would be a better way to reach the surface. Asgore pondered this, looking to the six souls who had died. Would their death be meaningless now?

Even as he said this, Toriel spoke up. Perhaps because of the SOULs was why she spoke up.

"I vote yes. These ponies gave us our child back, so I say we help their society in any way we can."

"WELL PUT, CLONE OF ASGORE! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, VOTE YES AS WELL!"

Sans shrugged. "bro, you realize as a trainee you don't get a vote right?"

Undyne chuckled. "Well I sure say yes, these ponies sound weak and need someone to make them tough for battle. And that is my specialty!"

Alphys shuddered as she posed, a slight trickle of blood coming out of her nose as the scientist watch the fearsome fishlady flex.

Asgore spoke up. "Still, I think we best send an ambassador. Frisk, you have befriended many of our number, and I think it would be the best choice if you were our ambassador to the ponies. Will you do it?"

Frisk nodded, Asriel nodding. "Gladly. I have a little practice."

At that, Sans chuckled. No one besides Frisk got the joke, but both he and Sans knew they had done this a few times. Soon plans were made to send Frisk to Equestria to meet the leaders and unite the populations. Frisk could only hope for the best.

*********

Meanwhile, in Equestria, Starlight had become the new pupil for Twilight, and after events in the Crystal Empire had settled down (including the Crystaling of a new baby alicorn), the focus was on the impending arrival of the monsters. They knew it would come sooner than later, and were waiting for their arrival. Twilight was key in preparing for it, but the limited information they had made preparations... less than what was hoped.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohnoohnoohno..." Twilight said as he rushed around the library, examining all kinds of books on ancient monsters. "How do I even greet them? Will they demand a sacrifice? If so who.... ok Pinnkie Pie was the one who kept eating that flower so maybe her... no I can't do that.... wait, what is this in here about monsters who eat our dreams?! Oh Luna will be so mad... oh nop what am I going to do?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?"

"TWILIGHT!!!" Spike shouted, taking hold of her face. "Snap out of it! The last time you tried to do this with a new race was with Yakyakistan. They don't know us yet and we don't know them! We have to show what WE are about and we go from there, okay!?"

Twilight took a deep breath. "Ok.... your right Spike. I just need to focus on our presentation. Everything will be fine. Just a bunch of monsters... from the underground.. who no one has seen before. . and whose prince every pony in Ponyville had as a Sunflower burger... oh we are so dead."

Spike facepalmed as Applejack walked in. "Sorry ta bother ya Twi but we gotta guest. Says he is representing the monsters."

Twuilight gulped. "Ok.... ok... I can do this. We can do this." She turned to Applejack. "Gather our friends in the main hall, we will meet him there. Spike, send a letter to Celestia, telling her how we have begun delegations."

Spike blinked. "How do you spell that?"

"Just tell her the monsters are here."

"Oh, ok." Spike penned it out and sent it off, while Twilight went to the main hall to meet the monster representing them. But when she and the others entered the main court, what they saw was NOT what they expected.

He was a small boy, a human, about ten or so, with a blue and purple sweater and a brown skin tone. His eyes were narrow and almost Asian, and he was smiling at the ponies. They just stared in wonder. THIS was their representative?

"Hi." Frisk said, coughing. "Ummmm.... on behalf of King Asgore and Queen Toriel, I am here to establish relations with the citizens of Equestria."

Twilight blinked, as Applejack spoke up. "Naw I reckon that was a plum polite way ta intro your race kiddo."

Twilight chuckled. "I agree. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of friendhip. These are my friends. The orange one is Applejack."

Applejack tipped her hat and smiled.

"Next to her is Fluttershy."

Fluttershy edged closer, pokig the boy slightly, smiling sweetly. "Your so cute." She said, Frisk blushing. Twilight sighed but kept her smile as she motioned to the alabaster pony next.

"This is Rarity."

"Delighted little one. I must say though your outfit is quite adorable, brings out your inner child."

Frisk smiled. "Well, I have worn worse... I actually for a bit wore a dusty old tutu."

Images of Frisk in a tutu flooded Rainbow Dash's mind, and she began to snicker. Twilight shot her a nasty look.

"The snickering one is Rainbow Dash."

"Heh heh, sorry kiddo, but the idea of you in a tutu... it's just hilarious! But as for me I am the best flyer in all of Equestria, and am well known for my Rainbooms. Maybe someday you can see one!"

**************

At this point Starlight paused, recalling a certain incident, looking up as she saw Frisk playing with Scootaloo. If only Rainbow had known then what was to happen...

****************

"And I think you already know Pinkie Pie."

Frisk blinked as the pink pony bounced closer. He was first to speak.

"So... you ate my brother?"

Everyone froze, blushing. But Pinkie Pie just took it in stride.

"Yeah I gobbled him up and he was so sweet and salty and tender but he was a flowr then he was a goat but now I dont eat goats but goats eat ponies so if I am not careful he may eat me and why are you a human and hima goat oh are you adopted that is so cool that means your parents were chosen by love and when you have love you have it all and you need a party I need to make one for you and your friends and your family and your..."

"PINKIE PIE!" Everyone said at once, poor Frisk dizzy as she had spun about him the whole time, bouncing like a ball. She paused and looked, Frisk's eyes swirling and dizzy as could be. Pinkie blinked.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? I was just curious!"

"Sorry, but Pinkie Pie we haven't even let him say his name!"

Pinkie Pie blinked. "Oh YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She leaned in close to his face. "What's your naaaaaaaaaaaaame?" And she playfully licked his nose. "Mmm! Butterscotch and cinnamon!"

Everyone gasped as Frisk chuckled. "Yeah, mom's baking. It's a wonder I am not a big ball as much as I eat. Anyway my name is Frisk. Frisk Dreemurr, son of Asgore and Toriel Dreemurr, brother to Asriel Dreemurr, aka the God of Hyperdeath, Lords of Undertale."

Everyone blinked. Finally, From the back Starlight spoke.

"Now THAT is a cool intro."

Everyone chuckled as Frisk saw Starlight again. He smiled as she extended a hoof. "Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's student and former villian."

Frisk blinked. "Former?"

Starlight chuckled. "Yeah, Twilight has this way with her friends of turning things good. Just ask Discord or Luna or even Chrysalis. We all were former problems for Equestria... but now we are friends, both to this land and to each other. Of course I also have a certain skeleton to thank."

Frisk smiled. "Yeah. That would be Sans, and I have been there myself. But I know what you mean about having a lot of friends now. Every monster down in Undertale wanted my soul. But they are not bad monsters. Truth is... they are all my family, and I love them. And... I know you all will to."

From behind them, steps could be heard, as filing in were several monsters, young and old. The ponies gazed in awe at them, so varied and wonderful. A fish woman in armor with a toothy smile and an eyepatch. A laid back skeleton in a blue coat and slippers. A dinosaur in a labcoat with a geeky smile. A spider lady covered in pastry dough. And towering above them all and many more, two large bipedal goats, one in golden armor and royal robes, and the other in a blue robe and having a warm, almost heartwarming expression. Frisk smiled as they and many more walked in, Papyrus forcing his way through as he went.

"Everyone. I want you to meet my friends and family. Please... will you welcome us to Equestria?"

Twilight smiled some as out walked Asriel, shyly, but finally standing by his brother. She smiled some.

"I personally vote yes."

"Me two, these guys look awesome!"

"I reckon Ah say yes too."

"Yup yup YUP!"

"Oh it would be divine, and given how they look I am already inspired to make new creations for them!"

".................. please stay."

****************

Well, the rest was history. Celestia and Luna arrived soon after, and formal relations were opened. The monsters were allowed to move to Equestria, and were welcomed with the biggest, grandest party Ponyville had ever seen, put on by Cheese Sandwich, Pinkie Pie, and Mettaton. It lasted a whole week, and in the midst of it, new homes for the monsters were made, including a lovely little home for Toriel and her kids.

But that party was going to just be the beginning of a wonderful relation between monsters and ponies. In the time that followed, the two races grew and will always grow together, because of their friendship.

And Friendship, as everyone knows, is magic.

*************

Starlight finished the initial chapter on the monsters and ponies, marking any mistakes, eager to tell the tale. It was going to be a big one she knew, one perhaps that should include the author involvement, and all the adventures that led to Chara's rebirth. But what to call it?

"How about..... Undertales of Friendship?" Starlight wrote, finishing her final suggestion to Twilight. Somehow it felt right calling it that. Se stood up and put the chapter away, looking to the park. There were fresh water sausages on the grill, and Starlight could sure go for one of Sans' specialties.

"And the best part of the story..." She said to herself as she walked. "It really happened."

Falsely Accused Frisk

Frisk was determined not to let this...IDIOT...get away with anything. The brown-haired, green eyed Asian-American half breed was panting heavily, chest falling and rising as he peeked his head over the fallen-down crystal table he was sitting behind before ducking down again. TA-SEWWWW! A bolt of raw, magical power shot through the air, Frisk cringing as he heard Bernard Braugh hissing in fury, the white-haired, goggles-wearing Earth pony angrily lowering the magical cannon he'd crafted. Frisk had to admit that the setup had been impressive. Nobody'd seen the ambush coming. The Crystal Empire had been celebrating it's bicentennial that week and Frisk had yearned to come and see adorable little Flurry Heart, Cadence, Shining Armor, and just enjoy an entire day's worth of beautiful crystal art, good food, friends, and lovely dances...

Topped off with, of course, the best fireworks display ever. The dragon capital of Hearthstone had worked out a deal with the Crystal Empire: in exchange for getting to engorge on crystals straight from the Empire's heart itself, the dragons would help produce some of the best fireworks you'd ever seen. Yet just when they'd all been sitting in the main courtyard, right in front of the Crystal Heart with Ember about to light the first firework, a special rock-based one with an almost magical core that, if you stuck a fuse into it, would produce FANTASTIC effects, well...

That was when the Braugh family had attacked. Bernard Braugh and his immense, huge extended family had been mostly a big fat nuisance all across Equestria, popping up every now and then to hand out pamphlets, loudly yell in the faces of stone-faced guards who were trying not to scream back, and to...of course...throw things at the Princesses. And really, ANY royalty. They HAAAAAATED royalty.

Out of nowhere, a firework had been turned right in the direction of the crowd, and Dr. W.D Gaster, who'd been unnoticed in the crowd until the very moment he was suddenly THERE, standing tall, proud and furious, had barely reacted in time. He'd raised a hole-filled hand up, the explosion blasting away inches from everyone's faces, knocking him back a few feet as other explosions rocketed through the city, Cadence's eyes widening as she saw HIM standing atop a castle rampart. Bernard Braugh, covered in bandoliers, wearing his big goggles, and remarkably spry for a 70 year old stallion, was ordering his many family members to swarm in, and above all...to GET the royals.

The Royal Guard had rushed forth. Tables had been kicked about. Frisk had leaped through the air, managing to tackle one Braugh who had rushed at FLURRY of all ponies, trying to snatch her away. "Oh NO you don't!" He'd yelled out, grabbing it by the ears and tugging the stunned, also-white-haired Earth Pony back before launching it through the air, making it land on one of the crystal tables. The table didn't break, but the Earth Pony almost DID, moaning at it's sprained back as Frisk leaped behind another table, avoiding a shot from Bernard himself.

"The whole damn political system is corrupt! All you're doing is protecting the plutocracy with your misguided Determination! You're defending a rigged system! We need elections!" Bernard proclaimed, the bandoliers bouncing off the vest he wore.

"Dude, seriously, nobody in the Crystal Empire actually WANTS elections." Frisk shouted back, exasperated. He'd seen Bernard spitting on Twilight's face and felt his blood boil. He'd almost punched Bernard right there, in fact, he'd had his fist pulled back and was inches from the stallion's muzzle before Spike had yanked him back one week ago. "They did three polls! Only, like, 20 percent were even remotely interested! All across Equestria."

"The rights of the minority are being trampled on by the majority! They can't be protected by the big money makers and shakers here!" Bernard snarled, firing at the table again as Frisk jumped out of the way and raced along the courtyard, towards him.

"You're just trying to force your beliefs down other people's throats with violence and hate speech, how's that not being the very thing you hate?" Frisk demanded. "Why is it so hard for you to admit that the monarchies here in Equestria actually work?"

"You're just too dumb to know any better. You're just a stupid human kid!" Bernard snapped, ducking expertly as Frisk's punch failed to connect...before a bone shot through the air.

"Catch!" Gaster proclaimed, Frisk grinning as he leapt up, Bernard blinking stupidly in surprise before Frisk caught it expertly and slammed it down hard on Bernard's cannon, snapping it in half. The Earth Pony stared stupidly at it, white hair flopping about in the wind before the rest EXPLODED and launched him backwards with an agonized cry. Snarling, he wheeled about...before seeing Flurry Heart, Cadence and Shining Armor trying to race their little darling off.

"Oh no you don't!" He yelled out, barreling at them, hooves held high, trying to grab them as they turned to see his furious face...but then Dr. Gaster's magic held him in midair. For a moment it looked like he was being held up by the scruff of his vest...and then he was forcibly launched through a nearby tree and into a yard over a wall, Frisk barreling after him with the bone Gaster had given to him, a furious, baleful expression on his face.

"How DARE you try to hurt her!" He angrily yelled out at Bernard, Gaster coughing and spluttering, for now big, thick dust clouds were billowing out from the exploded sections of city, almost choking all their lungs as he waved his holey hands about. He made his way over to the royal family, Cadence shielding her beloved little Princess Flurry Heart from the dust as Shining Armor nodded appreciatively at the good doctor.

"Thank you." He said softly. "It's good you were here."

"I am here, there...everywhere." Dr. Gaster intoned with a little bow. "Luckily for you, I happened to be more HERE today than-"

It was then that he heard a loud KRUCHA-KRAK noise, followed by an absolutely HORRIFIC screeching wail, and eyes turned in the direction of the cry. Gaster raced over in the direction along with Shining Armor, the two peering over the surface of the wall as the dusty smoke began to clear...

After about five minutes, long, sobbing wails filling the air and loud sniffling and stammering echoing through their ears...there it was. Frisk was there, standing in front of Bernard Braugh...

Who's left hoof had been completely twisted the other way by a horrific bone strike. He was essentially crippled.

"...F-Frisk?" Gaster asked. "What...what happened?"

"I...I don't know, I..." Frisk began to stammer. The way he was talking, it was pretty clear he wasn’t being entirely truthful. He wouldn’t even meet Gaster’s eyes.

"He broke my leeeeeg!" Bernard sobbed out. "Somebody help! I can't feel my hoof! I-I want him ch-charged with-with first class assault!"

"Frisk, this is...very serious." Shining Armor murmured. "...Gaster...take him to the local hospital. You're the one with the medical and science degrees, after all. I'll stay with Frisk." He intoned, people staring at the sight over the walls, murmuring and muttering to themselves as Gaster sighed and hovered Bernard away.

"You're lucky that the kingdom believes in very good socialized medicine." He grumbled, Frisk cringing as he covered his face with both hands.

"Shining, I swear, I didn't touch him!"

"Look, we'll settle this out. We'll have a hearing, we'll look over the evidence and get this sorted out. I'm sure he just bashed his own leg in, all we need to do is check for his hoof prints." Shining offered to the terrified little kid. "And I'll find a public defender to formally dismiss the case tomorrow at the hearing before me."

"Before you?"

"Of course, I'm acting judge of the Crystal Empire." Shining remarked cheerily...

...

...

...

... "...what do you MEAN there's no hoof prints on that bone?!" Shining Armor demanded to know, mouth agape, staring at Harsh Justice, the grey-toned unicorn sighing as he held up a small, snazzy metal clipboard.

"I analyzed it, sir. There's...no hoof prints on that bone Frisk Dreemurr used. Not a one." The newest public defender of the Crystal Empire remarked. "The ONLY prints whatsoever are from Frisk. Any DNA at all from Bernard Baugh can't be conclusively pinpointed to him picking it up with the tips of his hooves or the like. All there is is the large crack in the bone from where Bernard says Frisk slightly broke it on his leg." He added, hovering Exhibit A from off a nearby table and in front of Shining Armor, people in the gallery murmuring, whispering and muttering as Bernard sat at the Prosecution table, acting as his own attorney in this case.

Frisk moaned, burying his head in his hands. This was not good. There was no real evidence that Bernard had faked the injury. What was he going to do? All that was left if physical evidence wouldn't help him was witness and character testimonies.

And he knew that wouldn't exactly help his case. After all, the last words he'd angrily yelled out before racing off after Bernard had been a furious "How DARE you try to hurt her". ANYONE would think that Frisk had finally had enough of the Earth Pony and had allowed his anger to slip after seeing someone trying to hurt a little infant.

“Let’s call the first witness.” Shining Armor sighed then as he rubbed his temples with his hooves, Harsh Justice sitting down behind the desk as Frisk grumbled quietly, Spike the Dragon being called up to the witness stand. People hollered and hooted, punching at the air, grinning, blowing kisses and tossing flowers over at the little dragon as he nervously waved up at them. He finally took his seat, giving a bow to his many adoring fans. “Spike, I understand that you’ve seen Bernard Baugh threatening Twilight Sparkle, my sister?...what happened on that day?”

Spike cringed as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, Bernard was yelling outside of Twilight’s castle during a Q&A section when Twilight was answering questions about humans about a week after the monster kingdom first arrived here. She and Ms. Alphys were behind a desk and then Bernard started yelling about how, well...his whole “anti king” thing. Like “Oh we’re just going to keep getting oppressed by this new dictatorship you’re willingly letting in” and all that.”

“And do you remember what Twilight said?”

“Well, she said “Mr. Braugh, this is a Question and Answer session with new beings from another plane of existence. Unless you can phrase your complaint in the form of a genuine question in relation to the topic at hand, please leave because you’re being disrespectful and disruptive”.” Or at least, she tried to. Bernard kept jabbing his hoof at her and saying “You’re part of a rigged system” and all that as he got closer and closer through the crowd. Ponies were kind of moving aside because he was sorta shoving them and he was kinda...well...loud. And scary.” Spike remarked.

“OBJECTION. Calls for a conclusion!”

“Spike, a bit less...commentary, please. So they were moving out of the way and allowing him to come closer to the desk where Twilight and Ms. Alphys were? Then what happened?” Shining inquired.

“He...spat at Twilight.” Spike grumbled darkly, claws digging into his chair. “Frisk was sitting nearby and he didn’t much like that. He said “HOW DARE YOU” and rushed forward and was about to punch Bernard in the nose for that but Fluttershy managed to hold him back...and then held ME back when Bernard kept yelling at Twilight for being a “symbol of the oppressive rigged dictatorial system”.”

“Frisk, I’m surprised you tried to punch him so quickly.” Shining Armor confessed, looking confused as Harsh Justice rose up.

“Sir, this is NOT the first time Bernard had done this in front of Frisk.” He insisted, unfurling a scroll that stretched out loooooong across the room, finally flopping to a halt at the Judge’s bench, Shining Armor staring down in surprise. “In fact, Bernard Braugh had done this three times before. He’d thrown a tomato at Twilight when she’d been showing Mr and Ms. Dreemurr around Ponyville, and it had hit Frisk instead, he’d yelled at them inside of Ms. Muffet’s store, and had confronted Twilight and Frisk at Burgerpants’s restaurant in a particularly ugly scene.”

“Oh HELL YEAH it was ugly.”

Burgerpants had been quite happy to talk about all that had happened as he was called up to the witness stand, the cat-like monster putting out his cigarette as he leaned back in his chair, reddish fur bristling a bit as he glared at Bernard Braugh. “The guy was going on and on about how “Oh you’ve literally stolen the platform of my “Independence Party”.”

“Independence Party?” Shining Armor inquired as Harsh Justice “he-hemmed”.

“That, sir, is the Political Party that Bernard Braugh...well, attempted to make. He didn’t get enough signatures submitted in time to register as one for the Canterlot Parliament to consider him a functioning political party like the Green Delegation did about two years ago.”

“It’s a rigged system.” Bernard remarked. “We were supposed to get 50,000 signatures but they didn’t accept all the names I put in.”

“Because you had to submit them by May 30th, sir.” Harsh Justice groaned, rolling his eyes. “And then you had to present them to the Parliament. You were the only one who even showed up there. You had WEEKS to prepare.” He reasoned.

“We could have been accepted in with a simple voice vote! I showed up the next day with plenty of my supporters then.” Bernard snapped back, pointing accusingly at Harsh Justice.

Yes, it was true. If you wished to be considered a political party to be entered into the Canterlot Parliament that helped craft laws for the constitutional monarchy that was Equestria’s ruling body, you needed to either have 50,000 signatures on a petition sent in by May 30th, beginning in January...or appear with a quarter of that number for a VOICE vote done the next day on March 31st. Most people felt that was a decently low bar. After all, you could probably get a petition of 50,000 to leave Joseph Pony the Child Soldier-Using Zebracan Sociopath out in the Deep Jungles alone! The voice vote was a bit different, it required you to convince other members of Parliament to allow you to join in, but that wouldn’t be too difficult if you could just charm enough folks.

“80 of your supporters didn’t even show up! And you were very clearly outnumbered in Congress by every other party. None of them voted in favor of you. Maybe if you hadn’t spent months claiming they were illegitimate and rigged and beholden to special interests, you could have gotten them to allow you to join Parliament-” Harsh Justice groaned as he shook his head back and forth. He had spent ten hours straight last night researching Bernard Braugh’s shenanigans. The case was driving him nutty.

“I have video evidence PROVING our voices are loudest!” Bernard proclaimed angrily, holding up a video camera.

“Bernard, we’ve been over this in my chambers.” Harsh Justice groaned even more loudly. He’d studied that footage for 4 hours straight. “Of COURSE it sounds louder to you, you were filming from right in the middle of your delegation, of COURSE their voices sound louder, they’re closer to you!”

“That’s the same argument Twilight made.” Burgerpants admitted with a nod. “He didn’t much like that. He almost lifted up a chair and made it look like he was gonna bean Twilight over the head with it.”

“Hey, I never actually threw it!” Bernard Braugh muttered.

“Well thank you for clearing THAT low bar.” Burgerpants grumbled as he rolled his eyes. “Frisk said “That guy’s a big bully, why can’t he leave you alone” and Twilight says “He’s a frustrated pony that’s just lashing out in the only way he can think of. I don’t think he’ll ever be retrospective enough to realize his own faults”.”

“So Frisk had seen Bernard threatening Twilight before and was getting frustrated.” Shining Armor said as he leaned back in his own chair. “Did he ever try anything on Celestia? I don’t remember hearing about it.”

“He made this.” Harsh Justice said as he whistled, a laptop being brought in by Dr. Gaster, who became the next witness to take the stand as the good doctor snapped his bony fingers. The image was magically blown up for the audience in the courtroom, everyone looking on in shock. There was a large picture of a “Royal Hit List” with crosshairs at the top aimed squarely at a picture of Celestia, and listing off various ponies and monster friends of her, including Princess Luna.

“That...was version one. After a VERY worried and concerned Mr. Shinedown stopped by his home and flat out told him this could easily be interpreted as a threat towards the authorities, he changed the crosshairs to telephones and then said the whole thing was just about calling them up over and over. To essentially bug them into changing their ways.” Dr. Gaster commented. “...I’m not going to comment on how much I believe this. No doubt Mr. Braugh would raise an objection.”

“You were the last one who saw Frisk and myself before the incident occurred, correct?” Bernard Braugh asked as he rose up and walked over to Gaster as best he could, hobbling along. “Tell me. What do you remember? Be as vivid in detail as possible.”

Gaster frowned darkly. The skeletal man with holes in his hands closed his eyes and hung his head a bit, lines running up and down from his dark sockets before he spoke quietly.

“The air is thick and heavy with smoke. Frisk’s face is filled with fury, this much I can tell through the foul dust clouds choking the city and our lungs. He yells “ "How DARE you try to hurt her”, racing over in the direction you had landed whilst I made my way towards the Royal Family. Cadence’s face is filled with concern and fear and she’s wrapped her arms around Princess Flurry Heart to shield her from the dust. Shining Armor nods appreciatively up at me, thanking me for my assistance. He said “Thank you, it’s good you were here”.” Gaster went on, speaking slowly, deliberately.

“Yes...go on.” Bernard inquired calmly.

“I gave a bow to them, I say “I am here, there...everywhere. Luckily for you, I happened to be more HERE today than anywhere else.” Or at least, I tried to. Then a horrific sound fills the air, the sound of breaking bone and an awful, screeching wail. I race towards the sound with Shining Armor and I peer over the surface of the wall Frisk had leapt over, the wall Bernard had landed over, and then I saw...I saw Bernard Braugh was there.” He looked up at Bernard, frowning. “Your left hoof was absolutely twisted up by what had clearly been a bone strike.”

“That’s what I thought.” Bernard Braugh said, smirking a bit as he made his way back towards his desk. “No further questions.” He said as he gave Harsh Justice a big grin with slightly cracked front teeth.

“This all looks very, very, VERY bad.” Shining Armor admitted to Frisk as Frisk hung his head, Harsh Justice rubbing his chin behind his desk. He was looking back at the bone, then at Bernard, then at Frisk. “Councilor, do you have anything to ask of this witness?”

“No, I don’t think I do. There’s only one defense for charges this heinous. That’s the truth. So therefore...I am calling my own client to the stand.”

“This is going to be so embarrassing.” Frisk groaned as he covered his face, shaking it back and forth as he made his way to the stand and sat down in the witness box, biting his lip.

“Mr. Frisk. I know what you’re loathe to talk about. It was something I wasn’t keen on talking about for a long time either.”

Frisk stared up in surprise as Harsh Justice took in a deep breath and brushed his grey hair back. “I...have...a similar issue. So as someone who understands what you’re going through, I am going to ask you only one thing. Explain everything that happened immediately after you raced after Bernard Braugh and leapt over the wall.” Harsh Justice demanded to know as he steepled his hooves.

Frisk cringed as he rubbed the space between his eyes. “Alright, alright. See...there I was, bone in my hand, pointing it right at Bernard while he’s lying there, on his back, one hoof held up over his face. He’s begging me not to hit him, and I give him an angry glare, I was SO mad with him trying to go after Flurry Heart after all the other stuff he did. I felt he’d finally crossed the line, and was about to start really showing him the full extent of hanging out with Sans by using a few choice curse words when...well…”

Frisk slumped a bit in his chair and nervously managed to squeak out something barely audible. “I saw a butterfly.”

“...you what?” Harsh Justice asked, looking at Frisk, head tilted.

“...I saw a butterfly.” Frisk said more loudly. “It was being assaulted by the huge dusty wind clouds and looked positively terrified and trapped, lying near a rock to the right. So I tossed the bone down and ran over to it and cupped my hands over it. I made my way through one of the dust clouds and when I was sure I could release it safely, I put him in a garden over another small wall, then headed back towards Bernard. That’s when I heard the crack noise and him yelling. I couldn’t really see much, the dust was everywhere and I was rubbing my eyes, but when it cleared enough, his leg was broken and the bone was lying near him.”

Silence. Absolute...total...silence. Nobody said a word in the courtroom. And then…

“...you...couldn’t have broken his leg...because you were CHASING A BUTTERFLY?” Shining Armor asked, mouth agape as Harsh Justice shrugged.

“Well, the thing is, sir...Frisk is on the autism spectrum. Specifically, he has Asperger’s Syndrome. Those with such a learning disability have a tendency to lose sight of things and focus in on things they really, REALLY like. Almost to an obsessive degree. It’s as if they lose sight of the rest of the world. Attention Deficit Disorder is somewhat similar, though for Frisk, it’s less about being unable to sit still or being constantly distracted and more...well, he has a thing for butterflies and small, cute animals.”

“I’d sometimes run after squirrels and butterflies and stuff at the orphanage when I was supposed to be meeting with new potential parents.” Frisk mumbled. “My learning disability had a tendency to make it difficult for me to socialize with people. I mean, one of my biggest ways of getting the other kids to leave me alone was to try and kiss them.”

“You did that before you fell Underground? Intriguing.” Dr. Gaster mused aloud. “I wondered where the flirting came from.”

“Well then...if you didn’t hit Bernard, then...who did?” Shining Armor inquired, Bernard looking stupefied as he stared at Frisk.

“You’re not BUYING this, are you? I mean, he’s probably not really autistic!”

“Are you an actual doctor, Bernard? Because I’ve spoken with them and they’ve confirmed the diagnosis.” Harsh Justice intoned as Bernard grit his teeth in anger, wincing a bit as Harsh Justice stared at him, then at the bone. “...wait a minute.” He said. “...there wasn’t enough on there to confirm for hoof prints but there was DNA on here from two spots. One here, and one at the upper end of the bone.” He mumbled as he examined the crack in the bone weapon. “...I’ve got it! Dr. Gaster, summon another bone! This time, for me!”

Gaster stared in confusion, the audience looking about at each other before he shrugged and snapped his bony fingers. A moment later, a large bone manifested, and Harsh Justice walked over...and tried to pick it up.

With his TEETH.

KR-KRRKK. A barely audible sound, but it was there. Everyone, especially Bernard’s eyes, widened wide as Harsh Justice lifted the bone up...now showing slightly...cracked...teeth.

“Now I know what really happened.” He said, turning on Bernard. “You broke your own leg, didn’t you?” He glowered, spitting the bone down onto the floor. “You picked it up in your teeth and used it to break your leg so you could blame it on Frisk. And I think if we did a comparison of your dental records to this little indentation-crack area on Exhibit A…” Harsh Justice mused aloud as Bernard got more and more pale.

“Th-this is a travesty! The entire justice system’s corrupt! It’s illegitimate and ri-”

“GET. HIM. OUT. OF. MY. COURT.” Shining Armor snarled, banging his gavel down hard as bailiffs dragged Bernard out the back with a wailing cry, Shining Armor imaginary-rolling-up-his sleeves. “I am going to PERSONALLY put him in the dungeon for this myself!”

“You have a dungeon?” Frisk asked, looking astonished.

“We HAD a dungeon. I’d been using it as a wine cellar. Ah well. I need to cut back anyway.” Shining Armor sighed. “I’m sorry we doubted you, Frisk. Just because it looked bad, that didn’t mean we shouldn’t have given you the benefit of the doubt.”

“It can be hard to balance presumption of innocence with the rights of the accused.” Harsh Justice admitted. “The law insists we view both the accuser as credible until proven otherwise, yet at the same time, the defense is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. It is a hard, often conflicting way of getting justice. And the system is unfairly balanced in favor of the prosecution.”

“I’m just glad this time it all worked out.” Frisk said with a sigh. “Thanks for getting me off.” He told Harsh Justice, who gave him a calm smile.

“Well...it was my job.” He remarked. “Besides, I’ve...been in your horeshoes.” He told Frisk, leading him down from the witness stand. “I have OCD. It allowed me to become a great lawyer, but often at the expense of...social interaction. My obsessions blinded me, and it’s taken time to tone them down.”

“Does that mean you can do stuff like…quote Monty Python from memory?” Frisk asked, tilting his head to the side as Harsh Justice gave him a look...before grinning.

“Mr. Shining Armor, can I make a suggestion torture for Bernard Braugh?”

“Sure! What?”

…

…

…

…”Gloves. Moustache. Hankerchief.” Harsh Justice remarked, Bernard Braugh now tied to a table, looking around as Frisk, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Shining Armor and Cadence all stood around him, wearing green doctor’s garb, with Frisk putting a hankerchief-esque doctor’s hat atop of Harsh Justice’s head. Bernard blinked nervously before Harsh Justice held up a toy hammer, the others holding up similar instruments, Harsh Justice giving Bernard a big, goofy grin and saying in a loud, dumb voice, “I’M GOING TO OPERATE!”

“OPERATE!”

“OPERAAATE!” All of them proclaimed, bonking Bernard Braugh over his body with the various toys, over his chest, his leg, his stomach.

“...hello?” He nervously asked, looking around in confusion.

“Oh! We forgot the anesthetic!” Harsh Justice remarked in that same dumb voice, everyone calling out “Anesthetic” as Dr. Gaster burst through the wall, grinning as he held up a gigantic anesthetic gas container, lifting it up.

“I’m going anesthetize you!” He proclaimed, bonking Bernard Braugh over the head, knocking him out. “Ahh. The wonders of socialized medicine.”

Flutterbat 2: The Resurrection

Zecora looked over the worried Flutterbat, the zebra nodding as she spread some salve on her chest, trying to figure uout her friends recent ailments.

"Fluttershy, my dear animal friend, I fear your transformation was not at an end."

Fluttershy sighed sadly. "I knew it. I hoped my fangs were just a side effect of it all, but it looks like they are not."

Zecora nodded sadly, the two moving to get some apples. For a while now, Fluttershy had kept a terrible secret. Some time ago, during an Applebuck Season (shut up), Fluttershy had fallen afoul of a side effect of powerful mind altering magic. The result was that she turned into a pony/vampire fruit bat hybrid, dubbed the Flutterbat. Thankfully, her friends were able to change her back to normal, and the incident was forgotten by everyone, save for Fluttershy.

But she never was truly cured. For some time she would occasionally use her fangs to suck the juice out of an apple first, savoring how delicious it was fresh from the apple rather than processed even in the slightest, then nomming the remainder and spitting the seeds, finishing a delicious snack no pony could fathom the level of delight in. Doing this act also seemed to satiate her darker side, even for a moment. And i sure came in handy that one Nightmare Night.

Then, yesterday, she awoke to terrible news. One of Applejack's most prized trees in her orchard had been sucked dry, every last apple reduced to husks. The vampire bats were accused but they had stated through sign language (Alphys had gotten quite good at speaking to monsters and the monstrous with that), that they had no connection to it. Worse, given the empty husks by Fluttershy's bed she knew they were right.. .and who did it.

Hence why she was here, speaking to Zecora, a zebra well trained in tribal magic and shamanism. If anyone could help her it was either her or Twilight, but she was lax to see her.

"Zecora, is there anything you can do? Why did this happen? Oh what will I do...?"

Zecora smiled. "While I fear there is naught I can do, I do have some good news for you. Based on those bats, even as one, Your kindness inside was far from done. It seems you shared a treat you stole, so at least your evil is under control."

Fluttershy sighed. "So... I'm domesticated as a bat?"

Zecora nodded.

"Well, at least if no cure is found I won't hurt anyone... I hope. But... what will I do?!"

Zecora smiled. "Fear not dearest Fluttershy, no matter what you will get by. You have lots of friends old and new, and they will know just what to do."

Fluttershy smiled at that. It was true, with so many who loved her and cared for her, be they animal, monster, pony, or even a certain draconequuis, she knew even if she became full Flutterbat she would be loved. Not a bad way to "die" really.

"Ok.... I'm going to see Twilight."

Zecora nodded. "I will go too, friend in yellow, for while I cannot heal, I can keep the curse mellow."

Fluttershy smiled. "Thanks Zecora." She nodded, the two starting off for the palace.

**********************

That night, Fluttershy was not sure she was in good hands after all, as she was locked in a cage. True it was her request but...

"Don't worry Fluttershy, I made it so Flutterbat cannot get out but we can pass through." Twilight said, Starlight nodding in agreement.

"Still, I am actually hoping to see the transformation, and what triggers it. Maybe it can help us Twilight?" She suggested. Nearby, Toriel was preparing some delicious smelling apple dishes.

"Seems like it is worth the wait. And besides, by then Frisk and Chara will be back from Canterlot. I swear those princesses spoil those two worse than I do."

Alphys came in, along with a greystroked Undyne, something Alphys was unhappy about. Everyone looked as Alphys entered, fuming.

"Alph-"

"JUST SHUT UP." She said, eyes blazing. Undyne/Gaster sighed, of course possessing the scientists awesome wife.

"Look I was in a hurry, and was told to get you immediately. I had to think fast! If I knew what you and Undyne were doing I would have waited."

"ANd you SHOULD have!" Alphys said, slamming her books on a table. "We were up to 10 this time, and she was on the verge of 11!"

Twilight coughed, and Toriel snickered. Fluttershy then asked. "Eleven what?"

Gaster/Undyne sighed. "Well.... she was on the verge of o-" Suddenly his spirit was booted out, right into Toriel. "What?!"

Undyne, now herself, growled. "YOU JUST SHUT UP GASTER!!!"

"Ummm.. everyone.. .Fluttershy?" Starlight interjected. Everyone turned and stared, and saw why Starlight suddenly spoke. Fluttershy eeped and winced, suddenly getting bat wings, her ears becoming very fuzzy, her body gaining a similar fuzzy coat, and her eyes suddenly deep red like blood. She let out a hiss as the transformation finished and she was once more the Flutterbat.

"Now now Fluttershy." Twilight said, grabbing an apple. "Easy. We are going to help you, ok?"

Flutterbat tilted her head, smiled, and suddenly licked Twilight. Gaster/Toriel hmmed.

"Fascinating." He said. "A full on metamorphosis, complete with an altered personality. No doubt as if two being inhabited the same body, similar in some ways to the bond Frisk and Chara once had. Very amazing."

Alphys stepped closer, the Flutterbat smiling at her. "Heh heh... she's pretty cute like this."

Undyne nodded. "And AMAZING! Look at those wings! I bet she could match RD beat for wingbeat!"

Flutterbat did not comprehend the words but knew they were pleasant to her, and have a low hiss, equivalent to a cat purring, moving closer to Undyne and rewarded with some head pats.

"Well last time she was a Flutterbat she was feral. I guess since the change was gradual Fluttershy's base personality, kindness at its heart, is also in Flutterbat. So she should be tame."

Alphys nodded. "Plus, since she is now a monster if my scan is right, we may be calming her since we are also monsters. What I want to know is what triggered the change?"

Starlight hmmed. "I'll check. The cage has a recording mechanism so we can look for any kind of unusual changes."

****************

several hours passed with no result, and soon Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Chara, Frisk, and Asriel had all arrived. Spike met them at the door and filled them in, and all reacted differently on seeing the tame Flutterbat.

Rainbow was a little spooked.

Applejack was sad to see Fluttershy like this, thinking her friend was gone again.

Chara was intrigued, loving Flutterhsy's new look (he did like the bat ponies Luna had after all.)

And then there was Frisk.

"How is he doing that?" Twilight wondered, looking into the cage. Toriel, now Gasterless, smiled.

"Well, he had a way of making friends."

Chara nodded. "I bet even the devil himself would become good if Frisk was involved."

There, in the cage, Flutterbat was snuggled up with Frisk, both fast alseep and smiling, Frisk hugging Flutterbat like a pillow, the batpony sucking an apple like a pacifier. It was just TOO cute."

"Well, we know now Flutterbat will NOT harm anyone for sure. Good thing too, given my recent find." Alphys said, everyone looking her way. "I'm afraid it is bad news. Seems Flutterbat can not only get nutrients from juices.. but also from blood as well."

Chara blinked. "Hold on... you mean she really IS a vampire now?!"

Alphys shook her head. "Half of one. She is still Fluttershy most pf the time. But as Flutterbat yes she truly is a human style vampire. As such I fear her condition may be contagious."

Toriel blinked. "You mean..."

"If she bites someone and sucks their blood..... they will become a vampire bat hybrid as well."

Chara hmmed. "I wonder if she is hungry..."

"CHARA!!!!" Everyone shouted, Frisk and Flutterbat sleepily shooting their heads up, blinking sleep out of their eyes.

"What?! I'd be a pretty sweet vampire!"

Toriel sighed. "Yes, and never see the sun again if my memory serves me right."

Alphys froze. "Wait... Toriel, what did you just say?"

"Well.... vampires cannot see the sun."

Alphys blinked. "THAT'S IT! Starlight!"

Starlight, nearby, was examining fottage with her horn. "On it. Twilight?"

The princess nodded and came over to help. Meanwhile, Flutterbat looked over at Frisk. She didn't know, but she could sense this human was a friend. A good one.

YEs... she loved this human. She had to make him one of her, be together friends with him.

"FRISK!" Chara warned, but too late. Flutterbat struck, biting his neck, the boy gasping as Flutterbat suddenly went wide eyed. No! This was wrong! HE didn't say he wanted to be!

But the damage had been done. Frisk winced painfully as Chara and Toriel came closed, Flutterbat suddenly tearing up. No.... What had she done?!

"Frisk.... Alphys! She bit him!"

Alphys walked over, pulling oyut a scanner, Undyne beside her. After a quick scan with the anime inspired device, she sighed sadly. "It's as I feared. A portion of her saliva entered his bloodstream. He's infected." She looked to Flutterbat, who looked sad. "It's ok. You didn't want to hurt him, I know. I see it."

Chara blinked. "How can you tell? She just..."

"Look at her. She's heartbroken. She never wanted to hurt Frisk." She hmmed. "In fact.. .she may have helped us. Flutterbat, please bring him here."

She hesitated.

"Don't worry.. .we won't hurt either of you, though aside from a sample I will collect I will have to quarantine you both."

Flutterbat helped the wincing, shivering boy over. Gently, Alphys collected a small sample of infected blood from the human, bringing it to Twilight. Chara came over as the three set to work.

"Frisk..?"

Frisk winced but smiled. "I'm okay, bro... but you may not want to get too close... your looking.. .kinda tasty...."

Chara gulped. "Don't be going Muffet on me."

Frisk nodded. "I'm trying.... really I am...."

Flutterbat put a wing around him, holding him close. He smiled, showing his teeth were starting to change.

"It's ok.... I know you didn't mean to." He said, petting her. She smiled lightly and nuzzled. Even if they are never cured, at least they would still be friends.

Forever.

************************

Fortunately, the pieces began to fall into place an hour later.

"Alphys is right. Look here." Starlight said, showing an image on a big screen she made with her magic. It showed the first rays of moonlight hitting Fluttershy while the argument occurred. Gaster, now possessing Chara this time, nodded.

"Indeed, the rays of the moon are confirmed to react with the infected blood, causing the transformation. concentrated sunlight deactivates the cell infection, and reverts the host back to normal."

Twilight nodded. "With no memory of the transformation or what they did during it, save maybe as a dream." She hmmed. "So, now we know. My spell was still on her, just in a minute amount. BUt why it activated now I have no idea."

Alphys could answer that. "Remember Twilight, this transformation is cancelled by sunlight. Your spell was basically a concentrated form, weakening it to an almost extinguished state. In such a state it began to adapt and regrow, but this time gaining many of Fluttershy's traits, making a hybrid being, monster and pony if you will, with the basic elements at the core: kindness, love, and friendship."

Gaster spoke up, sounding so odd with Chara's voice. "Hence why she is so tame, and why she regretted biting Frisk. I imagine Frisk, if we could not cure this, would become the first vampire to not only be kind to everyone, but who some might WANT to feed. Thankfully, we have a cure basis now."

Twilight nodded. "Sunlight."

Alphys nodded. "Correct. Sunlight should extinguish the infection and allow the two to revert to normal... mostly. For Frisk this change was recent so the odds are good. Fluttershy..."

Everyone suddenly looked her way. RD, who had been in a silent fear the whole time, finally found her voice. "She is permanent?!"

Alphys shook her head. "Nononononono!" She sighed. "But some elements are. She will still likely have her fangs, and will likely still be a flutterbat on full moons. However, her vampiric state will be nullified, and her personality should remain intact."

Toriel nodded, looking back at the two. Fluttershy was seeming to nurse Frisk now, giving him a bottle of apple juice, which he drank greedily. She smiled. "Let's do it then. I think the magical ones should do this."

Twilight nodded, she and Starlight taking position beside Toriel. Slowly they concentrated their energies on the two, who knew they were about to get help. In one brief moment, Flutterbat contemplated running, taking Frisk as her own and fleeing, to make new, wonderful vampire bats, ones who would be a new society, maybe even be welcomed by Equestria.

But those thoughts faded with Flutterbat's final transformation, as she finally spoke. "Was a nice dream." She said in a soft, almost foreign, voice. Then she shut her eyes, and let the light envelop them both.

******************

Several weeks later, Frisk was given a clean bill of health, now fully purged of the transformation. Fluttershy however would always be part Flutterbat, at leastr on full moons, but at least now she had full control over her cravings and herself.

So she wass glad on a full moon night to be walking with Discord, clothed in black, sipping apple juice by the lake.

"I must say Fluttershy." Discord said. "I kinda like this look. Your rather pretty in the moonlight."

Fluttershy smiled, showing her fangs, and gave a playful love nip.

"Fangs, Discord. Fangs from the bottom of my heart."

Discord smiled, rubbing the little nip, the two hugging as they enjoyed their juice by the light of the moon. Overhead, several colorful fruit bats screed into the night, making a rainbow in the full moon, heading off to find delicious juice to feed upon.

Underfells of Fiendship, Part 1: Boss Lady

It had been several months since the anomaly and everyone was convinced all evil was gone. After all thee was no one wanting to genocide the world anymore, no one wanting to murder the authors, and definitely no more caribou.

But there is a problem with that statement.

Evil is always around as long as good is. And if so happens there is none around... well, fate just breaks the rules a little...

...

...

...

...Huey was laughing his heart out as Diamond Tiara was relentlessly tickling him, the two causing a scene as they had their tickle war. Nearby, licking some Nice Cream (The frozen treat that makes you feel sweet!), Asriel and Chara watched and chuckled.

"Well that brings back memories, doesn't it?" Asriel said. Chara nodded and recalled the old tickle wars from the good days in the underground.

"Yeah. We were such troublemakers as kids." Chara said. "Course... we still are."

Playfully, he poked Asriel in his belly button, making him squeak out a laugh, the goat kid shaking his head but not losing his smile. Neither was aware of two forms watching from the nearby bushes. At a passing glance, they looked very familiar. But it was as if the two had been run through a filter to take out all the goodness, leaving behind some really villainous bullies.

"WELP, THERE THEY ARE. WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN THIS DIMENSION HE IS ACTUALLY ALIVE." The bigger one said, lowering a set of binoculars tip with spikes, and each spike wearing a ring of spikes, just to look more bad. The form himself was a skeleton, standing a good eight feet tall, wearing black armor a blood red cape, and.... high heels. (MMT brand of course). Beside him stood a skeleton that was short and amazingly phat, with sharp, sharklike teeth, one of them golden, wearing a winter coat of black with a white wolf-fur collar and red trim on the sleeves and on his pants, a chain on his one pocket. He was holding another pair of binoculars with a bony had that had dried on blood on it as well as fingerless gloves.

"heh, doesn't look like the chara we know boss. i mean he has no CHARActer like he used t-"

WHAM. With a mighty blow the larger skeleton knocked the shorter one to the ground.

"I WARNED YOU BEFORE SANS. EVERY PUN YOU MAKE, ANOTHER BONE I BREAK."

The shorter skeleton growled. "Dammit Papyrus... i warned you if you did that again i would..."

"YOU WOULD WHAT?!" The taller one said. "I AM THE BOSS VILLIAN FOR THIS JOB! I AM THE ONE WHO GIVES ORDERS! I AM.... NUMBER ONE!"

On cue, the two were surrounded in darkness, the shorter one breaking out his saxophone (As he was sop saxy!) and playing the tune. The taller one chuckled, truly an imposing sight, like a true villian.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!

he chuckled as he had flashbacks of killing of the other six souls who fell down, and being rewarded by the big boss the title of a Boss Villian.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE!

"NOW LISTEN CLOSELY." He began.

HERE'S A LITTLE LESSON, IN VILLIANY,
ONE THAT'S GOING DOWN IN HISTORY,
IF YOU WANT TO BE A VILLIAN JUST LIKE ME,
YOU HAVE TO DO AS I SAY AND SEE WHAT I SEE!

He pointed at the kids, looking to his minion. "GO GO GO... GOOOOOO!!!!"

JUST FOLLOW MY ORDERS,
SNEAK AROUND,
AND GRAB THEM WHEN THEIR GUARD IS DOWN....

Suddenly, the two got up from where they were sitting, just as the shorter one lept for them.

"NO SANS, NOT NOW!"

WHAM. he landed on his face, hitting the fencepost they were sitting on. The taller one quickly snatched him up before anyone noticed. Fortunetly they recovered just in time for the chorius.

"WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!" They shouted, sneaking throuh the woods as they followed the two kids. How they did not detect the two followers while they were singing, or anyone for that matter, is beyond logic.

"WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!" They moved ahead to a bridge that overlooked the main path, chuckling. "WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!"

"NYEH HEH HEH!" The taller one laughed, producing a net tipped with licorice. "NOW HERE IS THAT NET, THAT I HAVE FOUND. WHEN I SAY GO, BE READY TO THROW!"

The two moved under the bridge...

"GO!"

... and the shorter one tossed it over the big one.

"THROW IT AT THEM NOT ME YOU IDIOT!!! FINE, WE WILL TRY SOMETHING ELSE."

*****************

A little later, the two had dug a huge pit trap and covere it with leaves on the main path.

"NOW WATCH AND WAIT, HERE'S THE PLAN,
WE LURE THEM TO DOOM, SPICK AND SPAN!"

The shorter one went out to do that... and lept right into the pit, landing on the piles of licorice below.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! AUUUUUGHHHHH!"

THAT got their attention as the two froze, seeing the two nasty looking clones of their friends. Chara went wide eyed, and Asriel dropped his nice cream.

"I THOUGHT I heard someone singing melodramatically!" Chara remarked aloud.

"Run for it!" Asriel screamed, the evil skeleton helping his minon out, the two using black colored Gaster Blasters to give chase.

"BA BA DA DAD DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, NYAA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!"

Chara turned to distract them, only to be snapped up by Gaster Blaster #1, piloted by the shorter one. The taller one persued the goat boy, even as he began to fire off his Star Blazing spells. But the thing was getting closer... and closer...

"BA BA DA DAD DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, NYAA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..."

CHOMP! the thing finally got him, the gaster blaster holding the squirming goat boy by his shirt.

"WE ARE NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"we got them Paps! We got them!" the shorter one said, as the taller one grinned evilly.

"BACK TO THE BOSS! WE GOT PLANS FOR THESE TWO!" The taller one said, flying into the Everfree, the two screaming out for help. They flew over many of the creatures below, even the rockodiles shuddering as they saw the villianous pair.

HEY!
BA BA DA DAD DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, NYAA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WE ARE NUMBER ONE, HEY!

BA BA DA DAD DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, NYAA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WE ARE NUMBER ONE!

WE ARE NUMBER ONE!

Suddenly a female and familar voice spoke out from the bushes, one that filled the two with fear.

"I...am number one, ha HA."

Suddenly, the form emerged, flames in her hands, everyone eeping a little at the sight of those mad, yellow eyes...

******************

Toriel looked out the window. Night was falling, and Asriel and Chara still were not home from their trip to the park. She sighed with worry, her paw to her belly, the little one inside kicking.

"I'm worried Gori." She said, tapping her fingers on the window. "Chara and Asriel my be mischief when they are out alone, but... they are never late for pie night. Chara is never even late for snail pie, and he is not as fond of it as my butterscotch pie with chocolate whipped cream."

Gori nodded. "Something must be up. Fortunetly, we have company who can help." He went into the kitchen, and saw Muffet, wrapping Frisk and Apple Bloom in dough for some treats for Chrysalis. The changling never really ate the two, but the roleplay was fun for all involved, especially Muffet. But seeing the look on the king's face... sorry, FORMER king, forget he was retired... she got serious.

"What's wrong dad?" Frisk said, Apple Bloom spitting out the apple in her mouth.

"Chara and Asriel are not back yet."

Muffet hmmed. "I wondered why they were not in here. They usually love the trips to the Hive, especially Chara. I mean, those two have some amazing mock wars, and the changelings love the training as a result, fuhuhuuhuhuhuhu..."

"Be serious Muffet, we need your help. Your spiders... tink they can find something?"

Muffet nodded. "I'll send the word out on the Web."

Meanwhile, the true Sans, many miles away, stiffened. "...I sense a disturbance in the farce." He murmured. "somebody's stealing MY schtick." He remarked at Papyrus, who sighed, rolling his eyes.

"If they can use it to find some fresh bugs, they can sure find some other things." Muffet whistled, several spiders spinning a computer out of pure webbing, everyone blinking as it suddenly kicked on.

"Whoa. Impressive Muffet!' Apple Bloom said, the spiders helping her and Frisk out of the dough. Buisness before pleasure and all that.

"Nex, it's full of bugs sometimes. Plus one bad connection and the whole thing falls apart." She hmmed as the monitor flashed several locations and users, spiders sending message fast as love itself. "Hmmmm... .seems there was a disturbance at the portal about two weeks ago. For a little bit it suddenly glitched out... then faded back to normal. Thing is.... something came out during that time."

Asgore mmed. "ERROR?"

Muffet shook her head. "Thankfully no.... looks like it came from somewhere else...... ok I got a picture... look slike one of my spiders made a video.... wow, already got 5000 hits? Must be a popular song."

Frisk blinked as the video showed two very evil looking skeletons suddenly snatching up Asriel and Chara, and flying into the Everfree, all he while singing what could onlyu be described as the ultimate meme of a song. As the group saw who it was they stared in shock.

"It... can't be...." Asgore said, his jaw dropped.

"No.... impossible..." Frisk said.

"Sans and Papyrus?!" Apple Bloom choked out, Muffet sighing sadly.

"And there went any chance for a relaxing evening of baking."

**************************

Asgore kicked the door open, trident at the ready in his hands, Toriel behind him with flames in hers, and Frisk brandishing his weed cutter. The group looked about, and saw Sans and Papyrus relaxing on the couch, watching one of the many MMT funded programs.

"huh, hi guys. what's up?"

Asgore growled. "WHERE. ARE. MY. SONS."

Papyrus blinked. "HUH? THEY NEVER STOPPED HERE, AND KING ASGORE YOU KNOW WE DIDN'T INVITE THEM FOR SPAGETTI NIGHT, THAT'S TOMORROW!"

"otherwise known as horror night." Sans said, Papyrus growling.

"ANOTHER PUN OUT OF YOU AND..."

"ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!" Triel said, tossing a fireball at them, exploding before Papyrus, turning his skull black. Everyone was wide eyed at the angry mother goat. A mother mad is a BAAAAAAAAD thing. "We saw the video of you stealing our kids, now tell us where you took them to in the Everfree and we MIGHT be merciful. But anyone who dares hurt my kids is going to have a bad time."

Sans kept his smile. "come on tori, you know we wouldn't... get your goat."

"NOT NOW, SANS!" Papyrus said with gritted teeth, blinking out the soot. Frisk stepped forward and noticed something.

"Wait mom...I don't think they are lying."

Toriel blinked. "What do you mean Frisk?"

"Look at Papyrus shoes. His foot is too big for those high heels we saw the big skelton wear."

Papyrus blinked. "WHA... ME?! IN HIGH HEELS? LIKE METTATON WEARS?"

Sans snickered. "well the doc did tell you to HEEL yourself."

Asgore facepalmed and Frisk snickered, but Toriel thought on it. "No... he's right.... but then... who was that?"

************************

Deep in the Everfree, Zecora was harvesting some of the glowmoss for a illumation potion to make a pony glow in the dark. She was getting close to the castle of the two sisters, when she noticed something near the castle. Taking cover, she began to observe as five forms headed for it, two bound by rope.

"MOVE IT PRISONERS. THE BOSS IS NOT PATIENT WHEN SHE WANTS SOMETHING."

"Can it, Papyrus." The female shadow said. "As for you two, I am looking forward to what you will help me get. And I want a LOT."

Then Zecora heard a familar voice. "Why are you doing this to us?!"

Chara!

"Because I am a monster, kid." The woman said. "And monsters are like this. We steal, we kill, we eat the flesh of humans, and we rob and steal and plunder and.... well you know. Though I will admit I kinda liked the version of you in our universe. there at least you were a heartless little minon, loyal and dependable. And such a bully! You made me so proud."

Zecora had heard enough. She began to sneak away... when she stepped on a twig.

"Oh buck me." She inwardly cringed, freezing as the forms turned.

"A SPY!" The tallest one said, coming into the light. And Zecora was stunned as she saw the skeleton. It was Papyrus... and yet not. His eyes were shaped like angry sockets, his armor black with red highlights, not to mention his blood red cape. And then there was the high heels, large enough to walk with easily, and yet also clearly tools of destruction given the heels being spikes. "IT'S A ZEBRA!"

"Catch it you idiot! I want no witnesses!" The female shadow said. Zecora prepared to bolt, but the evil Papyrus was ready, focusing his bone power to bring a cage of bones all around her. She went wide eyed in fear as she turned, seeing who the others were.

One was an evil version of Sans, short and fat with sharp teeth, one golden. But the third was the worst. She wore a black robe with red designs of the Lazarus Lapis on it, and white sleeves. Her fur was slightly unkempt and her robes ragged, and she was also very curvy, moreso than the true being Zecora recalled. But the worst was the eyes: Blood red iris in each one, the eyes themselves yellow.

An Evil Toriel?!

"Well well well." She said, grinning the grin of nightmares, showing sharp teeth. "Looks like someone was sniffing where she shouldn't be. Normally not a big fan of horseflesh.... but then.. you're not a horse."

Zecora fumed. "If one hair you harm on those children's heads, I will make you something far worse than dead!"

Evil Toriel chuckled. "Is that so? Well I have you know that even though they are not from my kingdom of Underfell they are still my kin, and I have no intent on hurting them... much." She turned to them. "After all, I still love my kids, as long as they obey orders. And if they cannot do that.. .well there is always the idea of nothing saying loving like something from the oven."

Sans and Papyrus chuckled, grinning as Zecora gasped. "You wouldn't!" She screamed out in horror.

Evil Toriel chuckled. "I would. And unless their parents get me the Lazarus Lapis tonight, the key to Resurrection without a SAVE, I may just have to enjoy a nice little dinner." She turned to her minions. "Which I know you two left the ransom note at their house, right?"

Evil Papyrus and Evil Sans chuckled nervously. "Ummm.....about that....."

Evil Toriel bellowed. "IDIOTS! HOW ELSE DO YOU THINK THEY WILL GET THE STONE TO US!?!" She turned to the zebra, burning the bones away with hellfire. "Looks like you're spared my cooking pot, zebra!" She reached into Sans pocket and pulled out a note. Zecora read it...

"Dear My so-called GOOD half,

I am Underfell Toriel, brought to this cursed dimension by your stupid magics. I have no idea how to get home, but I fully intend to make the most of my life here. And you will help me, or your sons are my supper.

1.) Deliver to us the Lazarus Lapis.

2.) Deliver to us slaves to serve us.

3.) If possible, open the portal to our world IMMEDIATELY.

You have until the next full moon to meet my demands or you can kiss your kids goodbye.

Signed,

Underfell Toriel."

Zecora cringed as she saw it was signed with blood, and saw the three laugh evilly. She cringed inside.

And she thought ERROR was bad...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Underfells of Fiendship, Part 2: Lapis

"ERG, IT'S NOT WORKING!"

"do it here, on the toes!"

"HE ONLY LIKES IT MORE!"

Evil Papyrus and Evil Sans were not doing well in the torture department. They were using a feather to try and tickle Chara and make him suffer until he finally passes out. But he was laughing so hard and squirming so much that it was clear he was having fun. It did not help that, despite hanging upside down by his ankles with shackles, Asriel was laughing just as hard, the sight so comical. Evil Toriel sighed and face-palmed, unable to focus.

"Just... NEVERMIND." She finally said, her two minions freezing and saluting, Toriel approaching Chara, still snickering. "And you, you think your so funny, laughing at my torture. Well we may just skip it and move to why I captured you. I am FAMISHED after all."

Asriel blinked. "Wait.... not you too!!!"

Evil Toriel stood up. "Yes me..... wait, me too? What do you mean?"

Chara took a deep breath. "Well the whole reason we wound up here was a certain pink pony and her friends eating him as a flower. A LOT."

Evil Toriel hmmmmed. "So, they are familar with the practice here then I assume?"

"Just Muffet and Pinkie Pie. No one else." Asriel quickly said. But that was a mistake.

"hey boss... maybe we can deal with them if the deal with your counterpart falls through."

"SANS, I AM THE BRAINS OF THE TWO OF US!" Papyrus quickly corrected, slamming Sans on the skull with a big bone. "AND I SAY WE TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS PINK PONY AND MUFFET IF THE DEAL FALLS THROUGH."

Evil Toriel hmmed. "We will worry about that later. After all we only have two of the children. If the initial deal falls through I thik we should up the stakes. Sans! Papyrus! Locate the other human child and bring him to me... preferably covered in honey."

"YES MA'AM!" Papyrus said, forming a bone blade and saluting... promptly knocking himself out with the blade, making the two kids laugh. sans sighed and began to haul him off while Toriel shook her head.

"And this is why I prefer just running my house of kids and fattening them up."

Chara blinked. Kids? It brought back an old memory when he was little, of how wonderful Toriel was with him, even when the Anomaly was taking control. He was so happy then. He took a guess.

"Ummm... sorry to ask but... do you have a lot of kids?"

Evil Toriel blinked. "What concern is that of yours?"

"Just curious I guess, Blame Frisk for doing that to me."

Evil Toriel sighed, Asriel knowing that sigh anywhere... it was a happy sigh. "Yes... I have several kids, all plump and happy from my cooking. Perhaps if your good for me and do as I say I'll make you a sample of it. And by make you a sample I mean you will be an ingredient in my famous chocolate children parfait."

Asriel blinked. "Wait... they like it?!"

"Of course not, you idiot! No matter what dimension you are in you're are an idiot. A sweet idiot, yes, but an idiot."

Asriel whimpered at the words spoken by his mom's evil counterpart.

"What they DO like is how I treat them otherwise...mostly. The one boy seems to really enjoy it more than anything, he is really into fighting, and we love to spar."

Chara listened to this and more and began to get a hunch. What if Evil Toriel...

Was still a good mom?

***************************

True Toriel (As she will be called for now) read the note alongside Frisk and Asgore, unable to believe what she was reading. Her children had been captured, but the culprits were NOT her Sans and Papyrus... but ones from another world. And, to make it worse, they were led by a Toriel from another world.

"These demands... we cannot meet any of them." Toriel said. "I don't even have the Lazarus Lapis anymore, I used it on Gaster."

Asgore nodded. "And I will be burned to dust before I let anyone take slaves." He went to say more as the door suddenly opened, the Mane Six walking in,Starlight right behind looking like she had been crying. It was only natural given how close she and Chara had gotten.

"We came as soon as we heard. Anything we can do to help?" Twilight said. After all, everyone nodding and eager. But Toriel shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. They are demanding the Lazarus Lapis, and as you know we gave that to Gaster so he can at least be somewhat whole. It's now a part of him and I will NOT remove it and what little semblance of a life he has."

Nearby. a picture of a pony got a familiar black line stretching across his face and moved...naturally freaking everyone out. "Thanks, your highness. But there is something your missing. The Lapis is not the only one of its kind. Other monsters copied it remember?"

Asgore blinked. "Of course! Then we just need to locate one with a Lapis. After all with the princess' power we don't really need them anymore except in the most extreme of situations. But who would have one?"

It was at that moment that Pinkie Pie spoke up. "Ummmmmm... I think I know."

Everyone turned to her as she continued. "Well... it's not like we would hurt the little tykes!"

"PINKIE..." Twilight said, narrowing her eyes as Pinkie began to sweat. "What did you do."

***************

As the group went to corner Muffet and confront her on hers and Pinkie Pie's recent actions, Evil Sans and Evil Papyrus (who had recovered) were looking for Frisk. Unfortunately for them, the boy was in with the rest of the group.

"THIS WILL BE TRICKY BROTHER. WE NEED TO LURE HIM OUT AND CATCH HIM."

"why not distract the others and then grab frisk?" Sans suggested. but Papyrus growled.

"I AM THE BRAINS OF THIS OPERATION! AND I SAY WE DISTRACT THE OTHERS AND GRAB HIM THEN!"

sans nodded. "sounds like a good plan."

"NYEH HEH HEH, GLAD I THOUGHT OF IT." He chuckled and moved into position. "WE BLAST THE HOUSE WITH A GASTER BLASTER, AND THEN WA-BOOM! IN THE CONFUSION, WE GRAB FRISK AND MAKE LIKE A TREE AND MOVE IT!"

'seems like a good way to leaf them in the dust."

Papyruus blinked. "SANS...."

"what, don't tell me i.... TWIGgered ya!"

"SANS!!!!!!!!!!!"

"you just need to BRANCH out on your humor."

"SHUT IT SANS OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL...."

Suddenly the two froze, looking over and seeing the real Sans standing there, his eyesockets holloow, shaking his head.

"well well well... looks like we got my counterparts from underfell here. you ain't trying anything stupid are you? because if you are... i may just have to burn some bones."

Evil Sans approached, astanding before his good counterpart, a red eye shining in his eye socket.

"that look in your face... you know about other dimensions too. Guess we are the same there huh?"

Evil Papyrus blinked. "SANS....WHY DID YOU SPEAK NORMLALLY ALL OF A SUDDEN?"

Good Sans shrugged. "eh, happens when we are getting ready for a bad time." He turned to Evil Sans, who smiled with a big grin. "anyways, seems like we should just go for it right now, since i do not want my little buddy in there hurt by you or your boss."

Evil Sans shook his head. "who said we would hurt him? she just wants to... EAT him."

Sans' eye shone blue as he cracked his knuckles. "not happening. for one thing this is not a fetish site. and for another thing i ain't letting my bud get hurt in any way."

Evil Sans smiled, forming an evil looking Gaster Blaster. "you don't have a choice." he turned to his bro. "bro I got this. you get the kid and get back to the boss."

Evil Papyrus smiled. "NORMALLY I WOULD ARGUE BROTHER... BUT NOT THIS TIME. BURN HIM IN HELL BRO."

Evil Sans grinned evin more, chuckling. "i intend to."

A huge explosion from the blaster signaled the start of the fight. Inside the house, everyone turned to look, seeing Sans going at it with his evil counterpart, shooting blasters and using high powered bone attacks.

"what, you think i'll just sit here and take it goody two shoes?" Evil Sans said, just dodging a Gaster Blaster.

"no, i expect you to DIE." Sans said, taking hold of Evil Sans soul and using his telekinesis to send him flying, but Evil Sans knew that trick well, twisting to land on his feet.

By now everyone had run out of Toriel's home, and were unsure what to do. This, sadly, was the chance that Evil Papyrus needed, sneaking around the bushes, then making a dash for Frisk...

...only to wind up smacked in the face by Good Papyrus.

"SORRY EVIL CLONE, BUT I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO HURT, TOUCH, MAIM, SCORCH, OR OTHERWISE HURT THE HUMAN."

Evil Papyrus strightened up, drawing his own bone, his more like a sword again. "LIKE YOU CAN STOP ME... OR ANYONE. I AM NUMBER ONE AFTER ALL."

Papyrus turned to his friends. "FRIENDS! GET FRISK OUTTA HERE! THEY'RE TRYING TO SNATCH HIM AS WELL!"

The others turned to act... but too late as Evil Sans raised a bone cage around all of them but Frisk and Starlight. Without thinking, the unicorn picked up Frisk and bolted, Evil Papyrus and Evil Sans watching as she fled.

"NO!" Evil Papyrus shouted... just as Paps sent his head flying. However, unlike the good counterpart, Evil Papyrus was strong enough to survive losing a head, and the body promptly tripped Papyrus.

"GOOD WORK BODY! NOW COME GET ME, I'M TO YOUR LEFT! NO.... YOUR OTHER LEFT!.... NO YOUR OTHER OTHER LEFT YOU IDIOTIC BAG OF BONES!"

Meanwhile Starlight was running fast as she could. She knew this was only a mute point, aftrer all even if Frisk was protected the fiends still had Asriel and... Chara.

She stopped. What was she doing? Those two knew where they were being held! She had to go back! Maybe convince them to...

But a sudden whack on her head prevented that thought, as Frisk fell off into the arms of a familar looking form... but her twisted self.

"Oh no..." He whimpered. She smiled at him.

"Well, when you want something done do it yourself. Still they at least kept them busy and got you away from them. Not to shabby for a couple of boneheads."

Frisk, despite his situation, snickered.

"Oh you liked that one? I admit my humor is often dark but I like to have pun now and then."

Frisk began to laugh. Sadly that ended as Evil Toriel put the boy into a large sack. "Now, don't you worry little Frisk. If I get what I want I won't hurt you."

Frisk struggled in the sack. "You'll let me go?"

"I didn't say that. Truth is... I like the look of you and your brothers.... got some nice meat on your bones. Once I have the Lapis and a way back home... you'll be coming with me, wether they want you or not."

Frisk began to struggle but it was pointless. All he could to was wriggle about as Evil Toriel laughed, fading into the Everfree, her plan almost complete.

************************

Meanwhile, Evil Sans and Evil Papyrus were tied up soon aftrer, struggling in their bonds, Sans and Papyrus (the good ones) looking a little worse for wear but otherwise okay, while Toriel was glaring at the two. It had not taken the others long to realize the attack was merely a diversion to hget Frisk... which apparently had been done.

And now Toriel was fuming. LITERALLY.

"Now. You have two choices. Either you tell me where my evil counterpart took my boys... OR I WILL BURN YOUR BONES TO ASHES."

Evil Papyrus eeped. "ACK! IT'S THE SAME HERE, NEVER MESS WITH A MAMA." He then grinned. "BUT WHY SHOULD WE TELL YOU? WE HAVE ALL THE CARDS, AND IF YOU DUST US YOU'LL NEVER FIND YOUR BOYS... EXCEPT MAYBE WHAT'S LEFT OF THEM."

Twilight spoke up. "Look, we saw your demands, why do you need the Lapis at all?"

Papyrus shook his head and chuckled. "YOU'RE REALLY BRAIN DEAD, AREN'T YOU PONY. THE LAZARUS LAPIS IS THE MOST POWERFUL MAGICAL ARTIFACT IN THE UNDERGROUND. IN OUR TIMELINE, IT WAS FOUND BY SEVERAL HUMANS WHO WE CAPTURED AND KILLED, TAKING THE STONE AS A PRIZE.

"OF COURSE, ASGORE SOUGHT TO USE IT TO MAKE OUR TROOPS INVINCIBLE, BUT THE QUEEN HAD OTHER IDEAS. AFTER THE BARRIER WENT UP, SHE MURDERED THE KING FOR HIS WEAKNESS AND TOOK CONTROL. RATHER THAN WORRY ABOUT RETURNING HOWEVER, SHE ISSUED A DECREE: ALL HUMANS WHO FALL DOWN WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THE LAZARUS LAPIS AND ENSLAVED.

"TO DATE SEVEN CHILDREN HAVE FALLEN. TORIEL HAS THREE, ALPHYS AND UNDYNE HAVE ONE, OUR OWN SPIDER BAKER KEEPS TWO FOR DAILY SPECIALS, AND ONE IS FREE RANGE, FOR ANYONE TO GRAB WHENEVER WE WANT."

"That's horrible!" Twilight said. "The Lapis was never meant for that, I know it!"

Muffet nodded. "The one I have I only use for two little cuties and even then sparingly. What you do is just... just... EVIL!"

"heh, thanks sister!" Evil Sans said. "we try."

The others glared but Papyrus spoke up. "THE POINT IS WHEN WE CAME HERE THE LAPIS WAS LEFT BEHIND. WE DESIRE ONE FOR OUR TIME HERE, UNTIL SUCH TIME A WAY HOME CAN BE MADE. YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDOWN TO PRODUCE THE STONE, OR ELSE."

"Or else what?" Toriel asked. But she already knew the answer. And already Evil Toriel was preparing for that very senario. With all three now chained up she was looking up recipes in the kitchen of the ruined castle where she was hiding out, so much like home. Even so, Chara kept staring at her. And then he asked the question.

"Do you miss your kids?"

And that, dear reader, was the RIGHT question. For it triggered a memory for Evil Toriel, of the aftermath of a feast, tucking the newly reformed children into rather plush beds, the tattoos she had made still glowing. And one looked ta her.

"Mom?" He had said. Evil Toriel, evil as she was, still had SOUL (a Symbol Of Unyielding Love). So naturally she froze.

"What did you call me?"

"Well... everyone up there is fighting now... down here... I know there are a lot of bad monsters... but at least you are nice to me. Nicer than I ever had been treated."

Evil Toriel remembered that. A tear came to her eye. But she quickly brushed it away.

"No." She whispered, almost halfheartedly. She then set to work preparing for the meal.

Time was running out...

TO BE CONCLUDED...

Underfells of Fiendship, Part 3: A Mother's Love

Twilight stopped before the orphanage. She had no intent on involving him, not after all he had been through, but given the situation she could use the added help. She knocked on the door and waited, the door opening to reveal little Scootaloo, who was done up like a princess with a groan.

"Hi, your highness." She said morosely. Twilight, however, clearly was focused on other things.

"I take it Squirt is here?"

Scootaloo nodded, then noticed how serious Twilight looked. "What's wrong?"

"Frisk.... Asriel... Chara... their lives are in great danger. And I am afriad to stop them I need a master of underhanded plots."

Scootaloo nodded. "Just a moment." She said, going back in. It was one fact no one really knew about her or Huey, was that they were orphans. And yet, despite that, they were quite happy. The den mother, Spring Breeze, was a good mare, and was kind to all kids. After Shinedown had left, Squirt moved here, and dedicated himself to helping out the other orphans.

It was to keep a promise, Twilight remembered, a promise he made to his father, to be better. She smiled as the little halfblood soon approached, the grey furred little pony done up in a tuxedo. It was hard not to laugh, even given the situation, but it was clear he was as unhappy about the attire as Scootaloo.

"Lost a bet with Huey again?" Twilight allowed herself to ask. Squirt nodded.

"Who knew he could climb trees so well, then leap to another without a hitch! No wonder Diamond has a crush on him. He is just....." He quieted down as he saw how serious she looked. "Trouble."

"Big time."

Squirt refocused, getting a mean looking smile. "Good. I like trouble."

*********************************

"Will you stop squirming?!" Dark Toriel said, trying to spread butter on Asriel, but he was so ticklish it was doing no good, and wound up looking just comical. Finally even she could not keep from laughing, despite her best efforts, it was just so silly. She was getting tired of waiting and had decided to devour the three children, but so far the prep work was going very slowly, and as silly as it was winding up, it was clear that she was going to have an empty belly for quite awhile longer, especially now that she had finally started laughing herself, both meal and chef on the floor, unable to do anything but laugh this was so silly.

Frisk and Chara, still hanging by their ankles, could only stare at the sight.

"Remind me again why we should be worried?" Frisk asked.

"Because she is an evil version of our mom who wants to kill us." Chara said, though right now he was having a hard time believing it. Up until now she had been commanding, tyrannical, and even a little cruel. But during this moment the three were seeing another side: One more like the Toriel they knew. It was clear that the two did have one thing in common. While maybe not in the same way, they did love their kids.

"Oh. I had to remember that." Frisk said, trying not to laugh as the flour covered-Asriel stood up, Evil Toriel standing and looking fierce.

"I'm gonna get'cha! I'm gonna eat'cha!" She said, chasing Asriel, who was having too much fun to be scared it had gotten so silly by this point. Finally chef and meal had to sit to catch their breath, Evil Toriel laughing as she leaned against the wall.

"This is why I like to enslave kids who fell down. They are so much fun, not to mention hard working, obedient, and delicious."

Up until the last one the three nodded. But at the last word they cringed a little. She looked out the window, still smiling.

"Eh, it's not dark yet, and you cannot really escape, we can wait a little longer before we continue. But come sundown I have a three course meal to make." She hmms. "I wonder if I turn you to dust and mix you with sugar you would make good crust for the pie, Asriel."

Chara bleched. "You're kind of a sicko, you know that, right?"

Toriel looked to Chara. "I know. But so were you, where I came from. Humans there basically tore themselves apart. They are even more evil than we are, most of them, and have a real dictatorship on the surface. So, enslaving kiddos who come to the underground actually is a mercy for them and a boon for us. But when we get enough we will merge with them and destroy humanity." She hmmmed. "On the other hand, this world is much more peaceful, and would be much easier to conquer..."

Frisk shuddered, remembering a few recent events. "Not another Genocide...."

"What? No! What good is a world that is empty?" Evil Toriel approached Frisk, poking his tummy some. "It's pointless. I may be evil, but even I have my limits. And besides, I rather have a larder full of slaves." She smiled, turning away as she mumbled to herself. "And a few I keep CLOSE."

Memories shot back as she returned to the counter of working away with some bread dough some time ago back in her world, the one called Neil beside her mixing some spices.He was so nice to her... even after revealing her true nature, and he was easily her favorite. She also recalled the little girl, Hope, and how she was really good at cleaning, and how good she was at escaping, to the point it almost became a game. Then she recalled the only one she had who died... Her Chara. He had managed to go to the surface, and swore he would get the souls needed to free the monsters and enslave humanity forever. He wanted so much to be their hero, to make her proud. He had gotten so close with Asriel's help, so very close. But... the humans executed them at the barrier, mocking the monsters by taking what Toriel had loved most. She froze as she recalled that, recalled her loneliness for so long, and how the slaves she had now filled her void, how her plots soon would reach fruition. She would have total control, one way or another.

And then.... she would live happily ever after with her little slaves, to give them chores and fatten and hug and eat, FOREVER. The thought made her smile, now that she was close again.

"Mom?" She heard in her mind, the voice of Neil. Her favorite. She went wide eyed as the memory flooded back as she saw him over a torn apart picture, one of the surface, one of those who hurt him...

She shook her head and refocused, the three watching curiously even as Asriel was chained up again. For a moment... she looked....sad.

Maybe they could use that.

*****************

"So that's the situation. If we do not give them the Lapis by sundown they are going to die." Toriel explained to Squirt. He was taking notes, and occasionally looking to the two captured skelteons, the true Sans and Papyrus watching them VERY closely.

"Well, I don't see any way around giving them the stone, and we don't really need it anymore right?" He said. Muffet sighed sadly.

"No... I suppose not, though it sure was handy." She sighed, handing th stone over reluctantly. "It will be some time before another can be made, takes alot of magic."

Squirt held it for a moemnt and chuckled. "And who says they get to keep it?"

Twilight hmmed. "What's your plan?"

Squirt chuckled. "Well. they are likely in the palace of the two sisters, and if I recall that place has more secret doors than I do Playpony magazines." He went wide eyed. "I mean....I read those for the articles!"

Everyone snickered, but he continued.

"ANYWAYS... We can use that... Especially with the help of a certain legend."

Toriel blinked. "That sounds so terrible!"

From his cage, Underfell Sans chuckled. "heh, got our attention kid."

Underfell Papyrus nodded. "INDEED, WORTHY OF THE ROYAL GUARD."

Squirt chuckled. "Eh, I learned from the best. Besides... even good boys are allowed to be bad, if it is for the right reason." He winked at them, giving a rather nasty smile.

This would be a prank to remember.

****************

Dark Toriel watched as the sun went down all the way, sighing. The time had come.

"Alright.... guess it is back to baking human pie." SHe stood up, looking to the three. "You know.... I will say this has actually been fun, like back home for me."

Chara spoke up. It was now or never. "The kids back home... I don't believe when you said you don't miss them."

Dark Toriel froze. But Frisk chimed in.

"You didn't want to hurt us right away because we are kids too, because we remind you of them, right?"

Dark Toriel sighed. Asriel was next.

"I bet even evil as you are you still love them and they you."

Toriel froze, then smiled, waving a finger with a chuckle. "Nice try. Oh I will not deny I miss my kids, and I do love them a lot, especially with whipped cream and sprinkles. But you have me pegged wrong if you think I value anything else as highly as them, even you, my kin in another world. See, I KNOW your not my kids. I love you, I have fun with you, and I know you'll be fine slaves and family back home. But understand this: I have no qualms about eating you either, Lapis or no. I am what humans call a maneater, a carnivore, a predator, all of that and more, and while I will not deny my kids at home I value as my family, and love more than life itself, I would not hesitate to eat them for good in a heartbeat."

Frisk cringed. "But... before...."

"With Asriel? Dear, I love to have fun, be it making meals or chopping heads. Besides, happy meals taste better."

Asriel cringed. "So.... it was a trick?!"

Dark Toriel nodded. "Sorry kiddos, I know you think I value the lives of children, and schmaltz like that, but the truth is, I am evil, my kids have a little evil, and I LIKE being evil, having that little bit of LOVE mixed with my love. No sweet talk is going to change that. So you better accept your fate and what I am, because, one thing I know, even as nice or as mean as I can be, no matter how much I love or hate my children and my kin, I have a very key philosophy." With that, her fingers lit up with flame and she got a sinister smile.

"IT'S KILL OR BE KILLED."

Evil Toriel raised a finger and pointed at Frisk, when all of a sudden a cry came out fom outside.

"TORIEL! TORIEL! WE HAVE THE LAPIS!"

The Goat woman went wide eyed, then grinned, clapping her hands together. "Papyrus! I knew that skeleton would come through." She looked out a nearby window, and saw Evil Papyrus and Evil Sans, both leading a grey toned pony by a leash. And then Papyrus revealed the stone, engraved with the seal of the underground, its runes shining deep blue.

"Well done boys!" She said. "And just in time for supper! I'll meet you in the main audience chamber!" She said, straightening up and moving in absolute joy, none of the three Underfell beings aware of what was in store. Back at the village Squirt had told his plan to the others in secret so the two evil skelebros could not hear, and now the Mane Six were watching from nearby bushes in the Everfree, along with Zecora, Good Toriel, and Starlight.

"I have to admit, that kid has a real talent for pranks. This one may just be his best yet." Toriel said, trying not to be too loud. Twilight turned to everyone.

"Alright, we all know the plan. Pinkie Pie, you and Sans head for the organ room."

"Checkaroony!" Pinkie said, ready to head in.

"Rarity, you, Fluttrshy, and Rainbow Dash find the three boys and get them out."

Rarity nodded, suspiciously in shimmering attire. "Leave it to us Twilight." Applejack, you and Zecora got the secret halls. Let's scare the scaremasters silly."

Zecora nodded, holding various potion vials. "Too bad this isn't Nightmare Night, this is going to be a devious fright."

Toriel hmmed. "And me?"

"You're with me. If all else fails, you me and Starlight will blast our way through. Your counterpart will not be able to see what hit her."

Toriel nodded, snapping her fingers and forming a fireball. "Just understand if she hurt those boys, I am not holding back."

Twilight nodded, everyone heading for the secrect way in, Squirt watching them go and trying not to laugh.

Operation: Scared Shitless was now in effect.

**********************

In the main chamber, Evil Toriel smiled as she was given the Lapis, stroking it like a favorite pet. "Well done boys. With this we are one step closer to our goal."

Evil Papyrus nodded. "YEAH, EVEN WITH US BEING CAPTURED THEY MET ALL THE DEMANDS! IT IS SIMPLY..."

Toriel froze. "What did you just say?"

Evil Sans chuckled. "heh, we got boned. but no worries. you got frisky face so we had the upper hand. they knew you took no survivors come suppertime."

Dark Toriel hmmmed. Something wasn't right here. "I smell a rat, boys. This seems too easy. They would have tried to barter with you two,just just surrender outright." She looked to Squirt, and hmmed. "Perhaps this little dibbun can tell us just what is up, especially if he values his friends as more than fricasse?"

Squirt shrugged. "Eh, makes me no never mind as long as I get a leg."

Suddenly, the castle went dark, and screams were heard from the kitchen area where the three were being held. Evil Toriel spun about, readying her fire, as suddenly a ghostly shadow appeared.

"Foolish beings of red and black, it seems that brains are what you lack! You have violated the palace of Nightmare Moon, so now you'll all be brougth to your DOOM! HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA!"

As the light faded in, the three eeped as they saw that their little captive had been replaced by a skeleton coatred in blood and gore, Papyrus leaping into Sans arms and the duo leaping into Toriels. She promptly dropped the duo.

"Fools! We see worse back home on any Tuesday!"

"YEAH, BUT NOT LIKE THIS! NOT AFTER SOME GHOST PONY WANTS TO KILL US!"

Evil Sans hmmmed. "maybe this is what they were talking about when we told them where you were. they mentioned some kind of shadow pony or something, the spirit of nightmare mooning or somethinbg like that, wasn't totally paying attention."

Papyrus hmmed. "IF THIS SPIRIT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS PONIES DEMISE...."

Toriel blinked. "The prisoners!"

In a flash, the three rushed upstairs, none noticing as the skeleton returned to his normal state, snickering at how useful his changeling blood was.

"Damn, what would dad say if he saw THAT one? Man, I love being bad for a good cause." He snickered. "In any case, up to the others now. Those three have NO IDEA how frightening my buddies can be!"

*********************

"By the underground." Evil Toriel managed to get out as she entered the kitchen. It was a shambles. the coutertop has been completely demolished, the spices she was planning to use thrown about everywhere, and the chains had been torn apart.

And the blood. So.... much... blood....

"BOSS.... WE SHOULD DEPART AT ONCE. THIS PLACE... IT IS..."

"Is what you idiot?! Someone is trying to make fools of us. Well it will not work! Nothing will startle me! NOTHING!"

And as she said that, organ music began to play, and the floor underneath her gave way into a large chute. Evil Sans and Papyrus had no time to ponder it though, as soon they beheld a truly horrifying sight. Flying in from outside was a massive yellow batpony, as well as a trio of ghastly spirits, which looked for all the world like twisted forms of the three kids, except in forms worse than Genociders. The duo let out a scream and bolted into the hall... only to be face to face with a massive shadowy image of the creature from before, clothed in moonstone armor, cruel canines dripping with blood.

"Three little morsels are not enough to satiate my hunger.... but your SOULS will do just fine!"

Evil Sans and Evil Papyrus turned and bolted as fast as they could, even as large purple beams slammed into the walls all abut them. As the duo left the corridor, the shadow turned and snickered, turning back into Rarity, who chuckled as Fluttershy landed, as well as the three kids.

"I have to say, that was positively fun! I must take up dramatic performance!"

"I thought you already did." Chara managed to get out before Fluttershy... sorry... FlutterBAT smacked the back of his head, their forms slowly losing their glow thanks to Zecora's potion.

"Well, hopefully that got them running long enough for us to jet." Rainbow Dash said. "Come on, let's blow before those three realize what happened."

Nodding in agreement, Fluttershy and Rainbow began to evacuate the group, which soon had Squirt added to it, the Lapis in his hoof. Now, the rest would have to use brute force.

******************************

Evil Toriel ran from where she slid out, until she slammed into Papyrus and Sans, al three looking about as maniacial laughter filled the air. Evil Toriel swallowed.

"Ok, I admit, this place is bad even for me. Let's get outta here!"

"way ahead of you boss! literally!" Sans said, bolting out the main door, Papyrus close behind. But before Evil Toriel ran, she suddenly noticed the pink form playing the organ, and gritted her teeth.

"YOU." She said, raising herhand, forming a fireball, ready to throw... when a large one slammed into her from behind. She turned and went wide eyed, face to fae with Good Toriel.

"So, seems you didn't get the message. Well I will be direct. My children are not for enslavement, nor is this world. And if you hurt my children again, I will not show MERCY. Do we understand one another?!"

Evil Toriel growled. "Threaten all you want goody-two-shoes. This isn't over. I'll be back, and I will have the Lapis and the way home. I will not est until I have my revenge!"

And with that, she bolted past Toriel, following her minions, angry at her plan falling apart, while Good Toriel and the others cheered as they were reunited with the kids. They even got back the Lapis thanks to Squirt's pickpocket skills, and Squirt as a result got a lot of hugs for both that and a successful plan.

"Man, that was awesome, you coming out of nowhere and dimming the lights. How did you all do that?!" He asked. But everyone froze. Zecora even hmmed, still holding the spirit potion. AND IT WAS STILL CORKED.

"Wait a second..." Squirt said, everyone wide eyed as a ghostly form came out of the ground, showing a shadowy clone of Nightmare Moon as it looke dwith white, glowing eyes.

"Boo." It said, everyone running from the castle, the form chuckling some as they ran for it. Slowly, it reverted to a very familar looking princess, chuckling as she removed her false fangs.

"I must remember this on Nightmare Night. Might be fun to bring up the shadow pony again." She said, hoof bumping the shadowy form, which winked a glowing eye.

***************************

On a distant hilltop, Evil Toriel growled and schemed. True she had been defeated but now she had purpose. She WOULD get home and lead an invasion for this outrage. The Ponies MUST pay.

And pay DEARLY.

THE END?

In the New Home of Underfell, Neil watched out the window. He looked to the other kids.

"She isn't back yet." He said.

"What do we do? What if she...?" An asian child said, clothed in black shogun armor.

"Relax, she won't die easily." Another said, a girl looking like a desperado. "Hell, she's better at it than my family."

Near the six slaves, another cracked his knuckles, clothed in a red and black sweater. "Relax guys. Mom has the skelebros with him. And hey... if they fail.... mom can count on us to have her back."

He turned, giving a creepy smile. "Wherever she is, we'll make those who hurt our goatmom pay, and do what we can to make her happy. Let's go find her and prove it."

The kids cheered, holding up some very nasty looking weapons...

In Which Sans has A Real GAS

Dear old Sans. He's always been such a good friend to me. We had similar interests, after all. Alternate dimensions, science fiction, teleportation, jokes...explosives...pranks. So many pranks. Sans the Skeleton, heavyset with a slightly demented smile on his bony features, had a way of cheering me up when nobody else could. It helped that he'd gotten a job with Canterlot College some time after arriving and in exchange for teaching some classes to the young, eager would-be magical students of Equestria's capital, he got a fairly nice salary and a house, this big, old, faintly Victorian-esque house that was, in essence, his to wreck.

OURS to wreck, really.

"don't worry." Sans would always say as the debris usually splattered all over the front yard of the house, that big grin on his face. "ol' Canterlot College will take care of it."

The college staff would mow the lawn, repaint the interior, fix all our destruction. It was a very good deal. Or at least, it was until...that week.

You see, Sans called me up, insisting that I had to come down and "get a look at my new project". He'd been working feverishly, day and night, and had finally succeeded. There, in the middle of one of the house's many rooms below an old crystal chandelier was a gigantic, burned-looking, concrete barrel with a steel frame above it, from which a chain dropped into the barrel. A hose connected the barrel to a very large, silver tank of propane.

"my new furnace." Sans said proudly. He'd made the pliers and tongs and equipment there too, all to handle molten metal. He'd made the frames to hold the ceramic furnace body, made the burner, and all of this was constructed from scrap he'd brought from the old dumping grounds in the Underground.

You see, the Underground got a LOT of thrown-away crap from humans. There'd been, at one point, this big dump site on Mount Ebott which had caved in and NOBODY wanted to go after the stuff. Occasionally people would still toss things on down there, and that was why there was a host of rather bad romance novels, FAR too many "Left Behind" products (which might have explained many of the monsters rather zealous Christian-esque upbringing), ridiculous anime that included quite a few very bad hentai pieces, video games people got easily bored of and, yes, scrap that had once been good for something but was now so banged up or cut up that it seemed useless.

Sans was good at making the useless seem useful. Smirking proudly, he gestured at the oxygen injection he'd added to the furnace. "my own metal mill. a foundry for casting any kind of metal I want. until I got the oxygen injector I had three high-capacity vacuum cleaner blowers forcing air into the furnace, but now I can make anything I want. see this?"

He pointed at the barrel as he turned it on, the roar of the furnace increasing so much I needed earplugs. "ya gotta get the propane mixture juuuuuuuuust right. yellow flame means carbon monoxide. what we want's an almost colorless blue flame. then we can melt some metal!"

So we put some metal into the silicon carbide crucible we had, a "bucket", as it were, and lowered it into the furnace. The chain holding the barrel glowed a dull, burning red, and after about five minutes, Sans pulled it out. He put it on the track, using a pair of metal tongs to grip it as I got hold of thick gloves and held the pouring shank. Sans smoothly poured the molten metal into the gray box on the floor after he set the barrel down in the shank and scooped the slag off the top, and I watched in awe. You see, the box he was using had very delicately-packed damp sand, and the object within that he wanted to mold the metal around was already inside the sand. Within three minutes the metal was hardened, and we could crack the mold open. Then...

Out it came. There within the two halves of the mold...as a big, grinning metal skull of Paps. Sans beamed even more broadly. Papyrus had posed in that sandbox whilst the mold was made, and Sans couldn't have been happier. "look at the detail. every little wrinkle and tooth. you can see the grooves of his TEETH. even the hair."

"You have hair?"

"all skeleton monsters have hair. feel my head." Sans insisted with a snigger. I put the glove off and rubbed gently over his skull, going "oooh". Sans was right! He DID have hair. His skull had a verrrry tiny, thin layer of white hair, it was almost like his skull was a plushie of some kind. Fascinating!

So we decided we wanted to make an entire metal version of Papyrus. Of EVERYONE, if we could. Then we'd post the statues out in front of the college. However, after about several days of hard work, we needed to clean off the parts to the furnace, so Sans got a huge, soapstone tub and filled it up with gasoline. You see, gasoline might be flammable, but it's very good for cleaning off old car parts, which, hey, a lot of the furnace was made from.

Unfortunately this was when things got sticky. You see, I'd installed a pump inside the washtub to circulate the gasoline. It cleaned better if it was moving but we couldn't run the pump all the time because the vapors were dangerous, and cleaning was sloooooooooow. The gas was getting dirty, we were slightly drunk off of Applejack's Hard Cider, and less than half of the parts were clean. Emptying out the parts that WERE clean and filling it up with more gasoline, Sans went to plug the pump in.

A spark jumped clean across the stony floor of the basement the bathtub was in and in an instant the entire tub of gasoline was on fire. It seemed like the whole PLACE was on fire! Of course, with all the fumes, it probably was. Sans and I ran for the basement door, the window nearby exploding as we coughed and spluttered, heading out into the backyard as people peered out of windows and over the white picket fence surrounding the house. Sans was annoyed by all this, and didn't intend to let the damn tub burn down the house.

So he focused, his body glowing a faint blue as one singular eye blazed brilliantly, and then the burning tub floated out, out the window, and high above his head as he put it down, a few minutes later, onto the driveway. Unfortunately SOMEONE had called the fire department...and they were bringing a fire hose.

"Wait, hold on!" I yelled out. "That tub's got gasoline and magnesium, you need FOAM, not water!" I yelled out.

"Squirt, we know what we're doing." The first fireman remarked, old "Rusty" adjusting the bright red cap atop his head as I cringed.

"Seriously, I'm telling you, water is DANGEROUS on a magnesium fire-"

"Step aside." Rusty insisted firmly as he and his men held up the hose, Sans groaning as he stepped back...the water blasting forth and engulfing the tub. Well, a violent explosion rocketed through the air, the water hitting the burning magnesium, breaking down into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. The magnesium and gasoline exploded and rained down like burning hellfire from above, and everyone who'd gathered around screamed for dear life, bolting as fast as they could for cover.

Balls of magnesium, great balls of fire were raining down upon the yard, almost beautifully blue-white, the firefighters staring stupidly in shock. "Shut off the water already!" I yelled out, tearing at my hair and moaning, yellow eyes bulging wide. Chunks of burning magnesium were barreling down everywhere, some people's houses had big, huge holes now, a few people were running away from burning bushes and large craters were every where. "You're CANTERLOT. Why in the holy hell aren't you guys trained for chemical fires?!"

Rusty cringed. "Oops."He said, as they got to spraying foam next. Unfortunately even the foam wasn't working so well. They would spray a spot, the fire would seem to be out...then it would explode again. I'd count the seconds. The most was four. Then, of course, they tried the tub. Two firemen's horns glowed as they lowered the burning tub onto its side to try and let their buddy spray foam inside...not realizing the tub STILL HAD GAS INSIDE IT.

Well, now the YARD was on fire. What a flaming evening! Fire trucks were screaming. A smokey haze hung around for days, and Sans ears were ringing. But he didn't stop laughing until a half an hour later when they FINALLY got the fire out, and the chief had had a long talk with me. He couldn't really do anything, though. Especially since most of this had been their fault.

The good news was that we finally finished up the metal pieces and soon, we had the big statues we wanted all set up in front of Canterlot Castle. But the house has never stopped smelling like gasoline ever since that day.

Sans and I get along great. He's become like my second father...

Oh. Dad's calling. Gotta go. Bye-bye, dear diary...

The Machinations of Monsters

“So, what can you tell us about...well...the insides of monsters? I mean, they’re all magic, right?”

Dr. Alphys adjusted her glasses as she stood tall as she could in front of the large college symposium, with Dr. Gaster nonchalantly sitting in a nearby chair, using all his concentration to manifest himself for a double science class with his dear colleague. The dinosaur-esque scientist sheepishly smiled up at Twilight as she strolled onto the stage, tossing her purple mane slightly and looking intrigued as Alphys snapped her clawed digits.

A large chalkboard was wheeled out by Undyne, the fishy monster giving her delightful little girlfriend a wink before heading off the stage, to watch all of the “eggheads” learn about how awesome monsters had always been, sitting down next to...unfortunately...

Grillby.

This was the downside to getting your tickets late. All the good seats would be taken. Grumbling slightly, she folded her arms over her well-developed chest and “harrumphed” as Grillby nonchalantly tilted his head a bit to the side, watching Alphys gesture at the chalkboard, as magical chalk came to life, drawing out an enormous, lovely-looking elemental that appeared to be made of WIND. He had a flowing set of Roman robes and piercingly powerful eyes, and was an oddly large, faintly haughty smile on his faceless features. Most “Elementals” didn’t exactly have “faces”, yet their eyes could be so amazingly expressive...

“This is Gale Enn. He was one of our first scientists, one of the first to analyze the interiors of monsters. Unfortunately, he didn’t come from a good background. Whilst his father was amiable, just and benevolent, his mother had a very bad temper. She used to bite the serving maids and was always shouting at his father.”

“Sadly, Gale inherited his mother’s temper, and little from his father.” Dr. Gaster remarked nonchalantly. “But he WAS amazingly clever. He wrote three books before he was thirteen and about 200 after that. Some had very lovely titles like “Bones for Beginners”, “Treatise on Talons” and “The Elementary Elemental Guide”. In fact, he’d often keep twelve scribes busy as he would stride up and down a hall, dictating the words for twelve different books at the same time. He belived himself quite the expert on monster medicine. As he often said, “Whomever seeks fame needs only become familiar with all that I have achieved.”

“Oh, how very MODEST.” Twilight remarked with a roll of her eyes. “Something tells me he couldn’t have been that smart though. I’ve read up on some of his books.” She said, her horn glowing as, sure enough, “Bones for Beginners” drifted out of the knapsack she was carrying around her waist. “Look at this. It says humans only have 16 teeth! That’s ridiculous! I can’t believe he never bothered to count them!”

“Well, to be fair, would YOU let this guy get near your mouth?” Alphys inquired, gesturing at the mighty wind that was roaring on the chalkboard as it glowered at her. “He also said that the magic of monster blood, the “milk” that flows in our veins, was made within our hearts. Wrong! It’s made in our bone marrows and spleens.”

“So all of your organs are composed of raw magic?” Twilight inquired, sounding positively fascinated as Alphys eagerly nodded, Dr. Gaster rising up as he strolled over to the chalkboard and gestured at it.

“The issue was that Gale Enn made these mistakes by cutting up dead animals who RESEMBLED us monsters rather than trying to peek at monster insides. Of course, if he’d tried, he probably would have killed them. But nobody dared argue with him, he had a famously bad temper, as you might-” Dr. Gaster began to say before he ducked, the magical chalk figure of Gale swiping at him. Frowning a bit, he clapped his hands as Alphys handed him an eraser, and he erased Gale’s figure, who let out a cry of “Nooooo” before being completely rubbed out.

“Then along came someone who was truly a cut above the rest. My grandfather, Stencil, born during what humans call the “High Middle Ages”.” Dr. Gaster remarked with a little chuckle, drawing on the large chalkboard a big, slightly droopy figure of a skeleton with an overly large smile, Gaster snapping his fingers as extra, skeletal hands manifested around him. “He was determined to learn the mysteries of both human AND monster bodies. UNFORTUNATELY, to study the differences, he’d...well...go to unusual lengths.”

“Like what?” Twilight wanted to know, tilting her head to the side.

“As long as the corpse wasn’t too rotten, he’d dig up bodies in cemeteries, steal the bodies of criminals left on public display, often still hanging from the rafters, would attend public executions and sneak the body away at the end of the proceedings...” Gaster went on, the crowd shuddering in disgust and alarm, ponies cringing as they glanced over at Chara, who was in the front row and looking...oddly intrigued.

“Really?” He inquired, his reddish/brown eyes glinting. “Wow. Then what?”

“Well, with monster executions, the body very quickly turns to dust. There are ways to...prolong it, which he discovered.” Gaster murmured. “There’s...a few spells you can perform. That only...” He hesitated. “...the thing is, there is a reason why we skeletons were one of the rarest monsters. Why we were associated with the “Grim Reaper”. We could...make the dead come back to life, in a sense. We could preserve a body as a kind of “shell” of its former self. Skeletons have always had a unique kinship with life and death, for we embody both in such a fascinating way.” Gaster intoned, putting one of his holey hands on his chest. “In his room, late into the night by the flickering light of a candle, my grandfather Stencil would make use of the magic known as “Bios”...White Magic, Life Magic, only it would be...inverted. Turned into what we call...the “Pale”.” Gaster whispered.

“The...Pale?” Twilight took out her notebook, scribbling furiously, eyes gleaming. “We Equestrians know about “White Magic”. The most advanced is called “Zoe”, correct? That’s the type of magic that can fully bring back the dead, returning one’s very soul, even if they’ve been dead for decades, EONS. Normal white magic is usually used for the recently injured or dead. Yet you say this “Pale” could also bring back the dead?”

“More like “animate”. It’s also known as “Necromancy”.” Gaster intoned quietly, and the soft lights in his sockets vanished as he put his hands in his pockets. “He would then open up the bodies of those he snuck away...they’d not be able to resist. Those under the touch of the Pale have to obey their master.” He whispered. “They would open up their own chests, their stomachs, their...heads...and he would peer inside. Then, when he was finished, with a wave of his hand...they would die anew. And he published his findings...in THIS book.”

One of his extra hands plucked up a book he’d brought and left on a nearby table that read “The Fabric of Life”. Alphys turned the pages for everyone to see, Chara going “ooooh”. “Skeletons reclining in a field of daffodils! Cool!”

Indeed, they all showed tasteful pictures of skeletons, opened-up monsters and the like combined with cute to peaceful scenery to make the revolting subject matter much nicer to look at. Indeed, a goat monster with its head open to show off all its brain and its chest opened up to show off the muscular structure beneath was nonchalantly feeding...well...a herd of goats in a field.

“However, one day my grandfather did a bit of an...oopsy.” Gaster said with a wry smile. “He was in the middle of cutting up a fresh human corpse...when it let out a low moan. He was still alive. My grandfather, in his panic, actually FIRED upon the man with a powerful burst of magic, blowing him clean through the wall and into the street, where people saw the entire thing. He was chased out of town, running pell-mell all the way down the lane, never to return. His case was one of the reasons why relations between our two races broke down, and it didn’t help that very few monsters wanted to turn in one of their own, even if he WAS now a wanted criminal. Grandfather Stencil ironically starved to death on a desert island trying to escape the human authorities, who found it deliciously ironic that a skeleton would be able to starve to death.”

“Wait, I WHAT?!” Yelled the mortified, hunched-over chalk form of Stencil on the board, Undyne trying to suppress a laugh at this as Gaster erased him from the board just like Gale Enn. Then Twilight suddenly found herself asking...

“So, um...when you...I mean...how do you...go to the bathroom?”

Now Alphys and Gaster and the other monsters in the room looked nervous.

“It’s, er...sort of...complicated. How to...explain?” Gaster scratched his head, cringing. “Um...Alphys?”

“Well, y-you see, er...m-monster food is almost entirely magic so most of it is just...well, ABSORBED into our bodies! Like how a sponge soaks up water!” She said, the other monsters nodding in agreement. “Er, um, the rest kind of...sorta...” She trailed off. “I mean...”

“We do our business in the bathrooms, same as humans.” Grillby said in his oddly golden voice, everyone else whipping their head in his direction. “We simply go there far, far less because our bodies don’t need to break down as much food. For elementals like myself, my waste actually becomes coal.”

“...you KNOW, when I said coal was a shitty Christmas present, I DIDN’T MEAN IT SO LITERALLY!!!” Chara yelled out angrily, pointing an accusatory finger at the fire elemental, who was definitely grinning behind his smoky glasses.

“I love the holidays.” He chuckled.

“But there’s one thing I want to ask about above all.” Twilight spoke calmly as she took in a long, deep breath. “...the SOUL. The Symbol of Unyielding Love.”

All of the ponies and monsters in the auditorium who’d been chattering and laughing at Chara’s expense earlier stopped, all turning towards Alphys and Gaster as they adjusted their respective glasses, taking in deep breaths. “...well...” Alphys murmured.

“What would you like to know, exactly?”

“How did your kind learn about the existence of the SOUL, anyhow?”

“There’s...an old legend. It’s as far back as our history goes.” Alphys said, taking in a long, deep breath, pacing up and down in front of everyone as Gaster began to furiously scribble up on the chalkboard, drawing up a large image of an enormous, terrifying-looking being that made everyone cringe. Something about it filled them with...unease. He had multiple pupils in his eyes, a body clad in crimson armor, with eyes of a burningly intense grey, with thick, long and smooth hair that brown at the base, blood-red in the middle, and a crown of golden yellow, with seven fingers and powerful claws, a being beautiful like a thunderstorm was beautiful.

“Chulainn.” Alphys murmured quietly, all their eyes gazing firmly at her, then on the roaring figure on the chalkboard, who smacked his chest and let out a proud roar. “Born within the 8th century, at a time when Monster and Human relations were entering a first sort of...violent upstart. The “first shots”, you could say, a mere battle before the great war. It was said that he was a monster and human hybrid, a...demon.” She whispered. “That he had been born a sweet little human babe, but the more time went on, the more...violent he became. Because he knew he had powers, intense powers, skills and strength others did not. He felt he knew far, far better than others, and insisted they be put under HIS protection. He’d often pick fights endlessly and then one day, he got so mad after a battle that everyone was afraid this seven year old child was going to slaughter them all!”

“Then they discovered his weakness.” Gaster said, as Chulainn, now much younger on the chalkboard, pounding up and down, looking feverish, terrifying, smoke billowing out his nostrils, his skin beginning to turn a horrifying crimson color and his teeth getting fanged, as a terrifying-looking, almost unnaturally pale heart seemed on the urge of busting out from his chest! People on the chalkboard were clambering away from him, eyes wide with horror when suddenly...a fair maiden raced forth, turning him around. He gave her a dark glower, mouth agape as if to yell out “WHAT”...

When she ripped off the top of her blouse, exposing her breasts.

Everyone in the audience gaped, Chulainn on the chalkboard staring the most broadly as Chara blinked in surprise, looking over at Alphys.

“Hmm. Not bad. But mine’s better.” She thought aloud, looking over at Undyne who gave her a “And you can touch these anytime” wink, making Alphys deeply blush.

Chulainn now turned an even BRIGHTER red, and people lifted him swiftly up, dunking him into a barrel of cold water...which began to bubble and steam! So they dunked him into ANOTHER barrel, and that began to bubble a bit! So they stuffed him in a FINAL barrel, and now he looked calm, relaxed and peaceful, a bit of steam rising from the water-filled barrel, which was at juuuuust the right temperature.

“You all saw the Heart that was moments from bursting out from his chest in the seconds before he prepared to do battle?” Gaster inquired of them all. “That was the moment people realized that those of Monster blood could manifest their Souls. Humans have a saying of “We wear our hearts on our sleeve”, well...monsters take that rather literally.” The skeleton monster cheerily chuckled, giving a bow to the audience. “His mother and father took notice of that, and decided to see if this was true of all monsters. They asked their lords to study monsters that they fought with, and...sure enough...all of them showed that commonality once you took off their ARMOR and made them fight. Before, nobody had really noticed, for monsterkind kept their chests fully covered in thick armor. Once humans knew to knock that chest armor off, they knew what to look for.”

“And that was when we learned of the existence of the SOUL. Unfortunately, trying to analyze it is...well...” Alphys cringed. “It only appears in times of thick PASSION, a trait that Chulainn so eagerly embodied. It’s easy to see in throes of battle, but you can’t properly study someone if they’re ducking and diving and dodging around. Can’t put it under a microscope that easily.”

“And monster lovemaking, well...” Gaster shook his head. “My, uh...wife and I tried to...study the SOUL during our, um...little excursions, but it did not quite work out that way. When a monster and another make love, they always, always have children, and the Souls combine for one shining moment, manifesting very briefly before joining, and then...a flash of light, a cloud of dust, and...the child is born.”

“And it sure doesn’t appear during more normal hanky-panky, as Undyne and I can-” Alphys began to say before she realized how much she was giving away of her own love life. She clasped her hands over her mouth, groaning. “AH! Forget I said that!”

“If only there was a way to study the SOUL.” Twilight murmured quietly. “...a way to do so without fear of harming the one baring it.”

Unbeknownst to them, someone had been working hard on the answer to that, and had cracked the code, plumbing the deepest mysteries of the Symbol of Unyielding Love. But it wasn’t Alphys. It wasn’t Sans. It wasn’t Gaster.

Well...it WAS, but...not exactly.

...

...

...

...”Take a good look.”

He slowly turned his red eyes around, holding up the softly glowing SOUL in his clawed, skeletal grip, giving young Frisk a smile, the sweater-wearing human looking intrigued.

“Is...that?”

“Not a true SOUL, but close enough. It is exactly what I need to ensure the Underground will behave. I call it...the AEON. An Act of Extreme, Omnipresent Niceness.” He informed the brown-haired human, who stared up in awe at the softly glowing, faintly heart-shaped light within the doctor’s hand as they stood in his lab. “With this, we’ll ensure the Underground is peaceful, and you can look for Toriel and the others without fear that the Underground will dissolve away into anarchy.”

“If Asgore was still around, I wouldn’t ask you to try and keep an eye on everyone, but...” He hesitated. “...you’re sure it’ll work?”

“My dear boy, when have I ever lied to you?” The Man who Spoke in Hands said with a grin. “Oh, and uh...if you DO see my counterpart, ask him...”

Underfell Gaster twirled around, the thick red scarf he wore flapping about over his dark jacket as he cheerily and devilishly grinned, odd cracks encircling his face almost like a tribal tattoo, the jagged scars from his eyes thick, powerful and as deadly as his clawed hands as he stood tall on his thick black boots and cloaked cape. “What does he think? Is Red the New Black? Does it look good on “us”?”

“Red goes with everything.” Underfell Frisk said with a grin and a thumbs up, his own eyes a-glitter. “EVERYTHING.”

Underfell Rises, Part 1

"So you're sure about this?"

Alphys stood tall by the large, circular machine, the gate-like structure ready and waiting, hooked up by immense tubes to a Princess Celestia as she smiled warmly at them all from within the giant bubble she sat in. The walls of the laboratory within Canterlot Castle were a bright blue color, with various scribbled notes written down on elaborate parchment made of calligraphy paper as Twilight turned to look away from her desk, and from her notes, giving a firm nod to the assembled group. Frisk, Sans, Undyne, Toriel, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and her were all going to peer into the other dimension, the same realm that those "Underfell" monsters had come from. Pinkie Pie was currently, along with Rarity, getting what they needed to access the dimension...a tiny piece of genetic material from those that came from it. All you needed for this mixture of science and magic was a piece from the place you wanted to see, and then you'd be able to peer on in, and see a whole new woooorld! A new fantastic point of view!

"And no one to tell us "no!" Or where to go! Or say we're only dreaming!" Pinkie Pie remarked cheerily, trotting into the room, or rather...hopping glad. She had a big smile on her face, Rarity coming in after her as they deposited the contents of their bags down on the ground. A bit of Underfell Toriel's hair, and a part of Underfell Papyrus's boots. The two "boneheads" had been beaten up so badly in their previous attempt to snatch up more unfortunates they'd lost quite a lot of clothing. In fact, just enough for Papyrus to perfectly sew replica clothes for Sans and Toriel to try on.

"I have to say, I had NO idea you were this good at sewing." Frisk had to sheepishly admit to Papyrus as he looked over the remarkably dark, somewhat edgy attire that their Sans was now in as he looked over his frame and shrugged before turning to Pinkie Pie.

"Need one more finishing touch. Well, two, really." He remarked. He held up the ketchup to his eye socket, concentrating as they all watched. SPLA-LOOORRRCH! It sank into his socket, and the normally blue flame turned red. Twilight stared at this for a moment, then decided not to question it, as Sans focused on one of his teeth, caaaarefully squeaking it out and putting in a replacement. A large candy corn piece Pinkie Pie gave him, which acted as the "substi-tooth".

Toriel, meanwhile, was wearing red contacts and a darker robe, adjusting her fur with a brush and comb to make her hair up top slightly spikier to imitate her more "evil" self. Princess Celestia calmly nodded, turning to Alphys.

"Remember, this gate has to harness my energy. It can only be me. The sun is the only power source big enough for this job, and I've enough strength to endure the rigors of the energy drain. If you tried this on a normal generator, I'm quite sure it would explode horribly. I know this from personal experience, in fact. My sister and I used to have little talks with a lovely alternate version of King Sombra, a Sombra who'd never turned to evil and was a most merciful, sweet ruler of the Crystal Kingdom." Princess Celestia intoned, giving a sad sigh. "He was such a sweetheart. And had such beautiful green eyes."

"The system is online, ma'am. We're all ready." Alphys said, giving a firm salute. "So you're sure it'll just act as a window, not a DOOR?"

"Of course. It's only designed to act that way. You've got all the precautions in place, correct?" Princess Celestia remarked, as Twilight flew up to the gate, examining the runes carved in.

"Let's see. Ahm, Mu, Ra, Beh, Cah, Sum, Lum, Om." She read off. "Honesty, Generosity, Integrity, Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, Love, and Magic. All here."

"Everyone get ready just in case it ISN'T just a window. Sans, Toriel, you get in front of it, if one of the natives see us, we want them to think that the other two are just checking in on their home dimension." Alphys offered. "Better safe than sorry!"

The two nodded, Princess Celestia concentrating as the gate began to glow powerfully, a singular point of light stretching out to the edges of the gate, glowing, bristling with immense power, everyone else scampering back. The gate spread wider, and wider, and before their eyes, they could see Hotland. Their window had opened up in front of an enormous, square-shaped white-painted laboratory surrounded by magma. Cooling vents rose up from the magma some distance away as they stood before the door on reddish/brown ground, and before their eyes was...a sign something clearly was off. Because they could see UNDYNE on her knees, and letting Huey the Monster Kid hug her.

...hug her with arms that clearly did not belong to him. But had obviously once been hers. They all gasped as they saw this, Undyne's singular eye closed as she warmly smiled, letting Huey embrace her, her tone gentle and considerate. Much like their Undyne, she had red hair, flowing freely with beautiful blue skin, this faintly fishy female had a bit spikier black armor over her chest, a more vicious-looking streak in her hair, and clear...claw marks over where her eye had been. Her armor was rather patchy too, it looked as though she'd actually RIPPED THROUGH IT with her bulging arm muscles, and she had very lovely breasts on display, with a slightly cracked-in-half heart insignia on the front.

Huey was wearing a dark red and black sweater, and had very, very sharp spikes atop his head, running along his tail. His sweater looked ragged and twisted, and he looked long suffering. But...the arms. The ARMS.

"I'll never forget you!" Underfell Undyne insisted to him. "I love you! You're...you're what its all about!" She said, Huey happily going "Woohoo", punching the air and racing off as Underfell Undyne cheerily smiled, then noticed "her" Sans and Toriel standing there. "Oh! Well, well, how nice to see you two!"

"...um..."nice"?" Toriel tried to say, putting on her best acting face. It wasn't very convincing, but...Undyne seemed to be buying it. "You seem different. Why, pray tell, did you give that child your arms?"

"Because it made me...happy." Underfell Undyne said, her voice wistful, her eyes misted over slightly, as if seeing some wonderful, fantastic thing that hung over their heads. "Your former Majesty, I'm the happiest I've been in YEARS thanks to Dr. Gaster's work. He's amazing, Sans. We should never have tried to replace him with Alphys!"

"yes, we...we all remember where we were that day." Sans muttered. "mind, um...bringing him here so we can talk to him?"

"Oh, sure!" Undyne said, giving a loud GYAH-HA-HA! and barreling towards the lab door, slamming clear through it, leaving an Undyne-shaped hole in it as the real Undyne said in a dry tone "Well at least THAT bit of me is still there". The others glanced at each other, Celestia continuing to softly glow like a star as Frisk gulped.

"Y'know, it's good to want to give Huey the chance to have arms but...that seemed sort of EXTREME!"

"Yeah, like milk is "sort of" white." Rainbow Dash said with a "PHBBBT", blowing a loud raspberry. "Could your brother in this dimension get any kookier!"

"He's creepy and he's spooky! Mysterious and Kooky! He's all together "ooky"! That's Sans's family!" Pinkie sang out, Applejack laughing uproariously as they all glanced at her in surprise.

"S-Sorry! B-Been watching a lot of ol' human TV shows. I think Uncle Fester was hilarious!" She confessed. "And the movies are underrated gems."

"I admit I find truth in the phrase "All fair's in Love and Warheads"."

Ohhhh dear. They all realized that Underfell Gaster had now manifested in front of the portal while they were all chatting amongst themselves, and they turned to gaze upon him, seeing him in his full form as he stood atop an ENORMOUS summoned bony red hand. He had a faintly ragged-at-the-end red scarf which flapped about over his dark jacket. There were odd, strange cracks that encircled his face, like some kind of faintly mystical, tribal tattoo. Most interestingly, the jagged scars from his eyes were thick, powerful and as deadly as his clawed hands, and he stood tall on his thick black boots and cloaked cape. What weirded them out even more so than his dark visage...were his eyes. Their Gaster's eyes had, when he'd first been Royal Scientist long ago, been a lovely shade of blue, a symbol of Integrity. As time had gone on though...that had changed. Now his eyes had no true color, sometimes brief flashes would appear, but they usually glowed a sort of entrancing, almost strange greyish/white.

Yet as off-kilter and "uncanny valley" as that was, they would have preferred it to the almost unnaturally red shade that Underfell Gaster's eyes had. It reminded them of...blood. Worse still, not of fresh blood. Of rotting blood. Blood left out in the sun, to become mouldy, and foul, and disgusting. His smile might have been kindly if not for that horrific shade of red in his eyes.

"I can tell you're not the real deal. Did you dust them?" He asked, Frisk looking disgusted.

"We wouldn't do that!"

"I'm tempted to say you should." Underfell Gaster commented quietly. "Some people are better off not existing. But, ahh, I'd like to extend an invitation. Come into this world almost beyond salvation!"

"Dramatic, ain't he?" Twilight whispered to Sans as Underfell Gaster gave a bow.

"Let's not stand on ceremony. Here."

He held out his clawed, bony hands, and two MORE enormous, giant reddish, glowing hands manifested, spreading the gate wide, turning it from a window to a door as he bowed low, the scarf billowing behind him. "Come into my world! See the wonders I've granted it! Behold the boons I have designed to make the Underground a better place! There's much I could learn from you, and you from me!"

"How do we know we can trust you?" Applejack spoke up, stepping forward, her eyes ablaze. "Cuz all the other pals of yours we done met? We couldn't trust 'em to do what's right. Couldn't trust them far as I could throw 'em. Though I could throw 'em reeeaaaal far!"

"If you would like an example of my sincerity..." Underfell Gaster rose up, and whistled sharply, Underfell Undyne now barreling out through ANOTHER part of the lab, one of the walls, standing tall and proud and smiling. "My dear Undyne would be certainly happy to go over to your world to act as...collateral? A show of good faith? You can have one of my own little friends in exchange for having some of YOUR little friends come over. And if you want more collateral, I'll send over another one of my good friends over after we introduce him to your darling Frisk?"

"...we need to talk this over. One minute." Twilight said, gesturing for everyone to step away from the gate, and they all crowded around her as Celestia looked Underfell Gaster over as he smiled at her.

"Can we really trust him?" Applejack quietly murmured.

"I'm not sure." Twilight whispered. "He SEEMS eager to learn about us."

"His smile makes me think of bugs crawling up my spine." Rarity groaned out.

"His eyes are creeping me out too." Frisk quietly admitted.

"He seems polite enough, at least." Toriel offered.

"in every dimension, there's items that share commonalities in their properties. a is a. and Gaster is Gaster. At least...I think." Sans spoke softly.

"So. What's it like?" Underfell Gaster asked of Celestia as she raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"The sun." He wanted to know, resting his arms over his chest. "Come on. Tell me. What's it like?"

"Well, I raise it every day, really. It brings warmth, and light. It bathes over the land in its warm glow. It makes the morning dew sparkle on the green grass of our land's rolling hills, and glimmers a beautiful reflection in the waves of crystalline pools and lakes in sprawling valleys." Celestia admitted, and she saw, as she continued to describe all that the Sun did that...that Underfell Gaster's face was steadily breaking, looking as though he was on the verge of tears. Finally he looked away, his face hidden in a bit of shadow, Underfell Undyne looking at him in concern before Twilight spoke up.

"Alright. Sans, Toriel, I, and Fluttershy will come over with Frisk. Miss Undyne can come over here, to our realm." She offered, Underfell Undyne grinning, leaping through the gate, standing by Undyne as she smiled at her.

"Disco?"

"With MYSELF?" Undyne asked, before the two grinned at once, and then said "OUTRAGEOUS", and began to boogie-woogie out of the room, Fluttershy, Frisk, Toriel and Sans hopping onto the giant, floating red hand Underfell Gaster had manifested, as he brought them over to the front of his lab, giving the others a bow.

"I will check back in with you in a day's time. All I need is twenty four hours to show your friends all my Underground can offer." He said cheerily, waving goodbye as he held out a clawed hand for Frisk to take. "Do come on in! I've someone who'd like to meet you."

"Who?"

"YOU!"

With that, he swept the door open, and Frisk, Fluttershy, Toriel and Sans entered the laboratory as the lights came on, and they saw Underfell Frisk standing by the clear and obvious "Underfell Alphys". Frisk was wearing a black longsleeve shirt, with red stripes, slightly older than their Frisk, and calmly looking up at them as he rested one hand upon the dinosaur scientist's shoulder, who just glanced up, then kept typing away into the computer keyboard she had. She was hard at work, a glowing white heart-like thing hovering in the air in a tube connected to said keyboard, Sans frowning.

"That's not a "Soul"." He murmured. "The color isn't quite the right shade of white and...it doesn't "feel" like a soul. What is that?"

"My greatest creation!" Underfell Gaster proclaimed, spreading his arms wide as they approached it, Alphys "harrumphing". "Oh, and of course, Miss Alphys helped out quite a bit."

Underfell Alphys looked, for the most part, quite similar to their own Alphys, but her claws were more pronounced, as were her fangs in her jaws. Her spiky head seemed, somehow, spikier, and her glasses...there was a terrifying glint of insane light behind them, they seemed to be perpetually swirling, and she looked like she was half on the verge of snapping and picking up a silver hammer. "This is called the "AEON". An Act of Extreme, Omnipresent Niceness. You saw some of its good work before. Would you like to see more of it in action?"

"So...an AEON makes people act nice?" Fluttershy said, sounding intrigued. "Well, that's good! People should be nice to each other!"

"Oh, absolutely." Underfell Frisk said, taking Fluttershy's hoof and shaking it firmly. "My dear Toriel taught me that. Sadly, she's been tragically driven nigh crazy with grief over constantly losing her children, and she hasn't seen me in so, so long. Have you seen her?" He inquired, tilting his head to the side, blinking a bit. "I believe Gaster told me...she went into your world?"

"Yes, we got confirmation! We got cameras all over the Monster Kingdom! We must always stay one step ahead of any that'd seek to destroy us." Underfell Alphys said in her faintly buzzing voice as she drummed her claws on each other, grinning as her tail swished about over and over.

"Even in Undyne's shower?" Underfell Frisk chuckled, Underfell Alphys turning beet red and covering her face.

"Imustalwaysstayonestepahead."

Clearly, some things didn't change. Fluttershy looked over the AEON as it softly glowed in the light of the laboratory, and she pursed her lips. Something about it felt...odd. She tilted her head back and forth, trying to figure out why this little thing didn't make her feel comforted, or calm. What about it was so...unusual? She finally decided, as Underfell Gaster gestured at the computer screen, going into the over-complicated and super-technical way he and Alphys had designed the odd device, Twilight taking copious notes, that the problem with the AEON was the difference between a normal lamp light, and an overly shiny one. One was just fine, it didn't cause you any problems, but the other was just a bit too bright, almost abnormally so, and it had a more unnatural air to its glowing.

"We've decided to spread the AEON all through the Underground. It's been working splendidly around Hotland and most of Waterfall, and soon we'll move into Snowdin, and the Ruins!" Underfell Gaster remarked, clasping his bony hands together and cheerily smiling at them all with that cracked face.

"really?" Sans asked. "so folks just...went along with it?"

"Not exactly." Underfell Frisk remarked. "Not everyone was alright with the AEON, even though we told them it would vastly improve their lifestyle. We said it was designed to make people happy, and most people were eager for ANYTHING to cheer them up down here. Fact is, we were so desperate for something fresh and new..."

"But we convinced the stragglers forcibly." Underfell Alphys chuckled with a big grin. "It was for their own good. And you can't ignore the results!" She remarked as she led them through the laboratory, off towards an enormous collection of computer screens in front of a gigantic computer keyboard, and she began typing up a storm. Bit by bit, the screens turned on, showing various scenes playing out in the Underground, and Frisk, Twilight, Sans and Fluttershy stared in amazement.

An alarm bell rang, Muffet letting out a deep, long yawn, stretching her many, many limbs as she rose out from her bed, pushing open her windows to greet a new day. She cheerily waved at the many people passing by her little home in Hotland, all her tiny little spider friends lowering themselves on strings, waving at the passersby, letting out squeaky little "Good Mornings" and "Howdy Ho!" and "Hello!"

"Hello, boys and girls! Its your old pal, Mettaton! And it's the Happy Happy Joy Joy Song!" Mettaton's voice came out of a radio on her dresser. The real Mettaton, in fact, had distinctly four arms, more poofy hair atop his head with extra eyes to match that glowed a distinct yellow with red pupils, a faintly cracked heart insignia on his front and, of course, a garish color scheme of black, red and yellow. He plucked on a guitar, his little "band" standing b his side on the sound stage, Burgerpants in particular looking even more freakishly, fakely happy than usual, Frisk amazed at how odd he appeared with no hat, just a yellow "Mettaton" brand shirt and slightly piercing red eyes. He took a quick drag, however, of what was clearly a small bong before popping it back into his pocket.

Mettaton began to strum on the guitar, another scene playing out in Hotland as a slightly sculpted dragon with a darling black fedora, a cigarette dangling out of his mouth and lovely locks of flowing black hair and some awful scars sliced into his bare chest took a drag of the cigarette. He then looked back at what he'd drawn, holding it up for his customer, Huey. Frisk had been CERTAIN that Underfell So Sorry would draw something like a melting skull in a pool of blood, a hand slowly sinking below into an awful lake of zombies, but...

No. It was an adorable little picture of Huey in a field of flowers, reclining.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Joy!

"Ooooh!" Underfell Huey said, beaming happily, bouncing up and down as he took the picture in his new, sexy hands, a flower in the picture Huey's mouth. "Thank you so much! How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. It's free." Underfell So Sorry said with a smile=and a wink. "Doing art for free makes me...happy. I'm the happiest I've been in years. I don't mind giving this away."

"Y'know...I don't think the audience is HAPPY enough." Mettaton remarked, putting one of his extra hands to his lips, giggling a bit. "No, no, no, we must TEACH them to be happy!"

"Well, it's...well it certainly IS..." Twilight stammered, staring at all this. "I mean...er...well, they all seem very...HAPPY..."

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Joy!

"Yes, perhaps...too happy..." Fluttershy quietly murmured to herself, seeing the odd smiles on their faces, the overly cheery glimmers in their eyes, it was...it was like walking into Starlight Glimmer's town of Equality and yet...somehow this seemed more twisted.

She stared back at Underfell Gaster, who benignly smiled back, and she felt a pang of regret. He seemed genuinely nice. He really seemed to think he was doing the Underground a favor, but...

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!
Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy,
Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy,
Happy Happy Joy Joy Joy!

"Such shiny, happy people." Underfell Gaster said cheerily. "So, like I'd mentioned earlier, my dear friend Frisk would like to visit your world! He'd really like to find Toriel, if he could. Would your friends be able to help him?"

"Sure, I'll...I'll get back to the portal." Twilight murmured. "I'll call our friends up with a bit of magic and bring it back so your Frisk can come over." She remarked, Underfell Frisk giving her a big grin, heading alongside her as she exited the lab, briefly turning back to see Sans and HER Frisk's expressions.

And she knew they shared her and Fluttershy's concerns. Something was very rotten in the state of Denmark. It said a lot that Twilight was beginning to think she would have preferred a psychopathic kingdom ruled by violence...over what she had just beheld.

Underfell Rises, Part 2

Underfell Frisk seemed positively FASCINATED with the world that lay on the other side, as did Underfell Undyne, who couldn't resist chatting it up with Alphys. They had spent the day tasting Burgerpants's cuisine and enjoying burgers NOT made using any sequins, had gotten to sample Muffet's baked goods, much to their intrigue and delight, been quite intrigued to find an Asgore that was as delightfully tubby and adorable as he was bearded, and, of course, had been able to enjoy a hug from Ms. Toriel without worrying one iota if she'd be, seconds later, stabbed in the back by a carving knife.

"My "mom" is such a kidder that way." Underfell Frisk had laughed, sitting with her as Rarity looked her over, working on fixing up her slightly raggedy long-sleeve. The two dimensions had now been in open contact for a good three days now, and so far, so good. Fluttershy and Twilight and Sans and Toriel had had nothing but nice things to say about the Underfell World's new state!

...which was a bit too much like a police state.

"Yeah, where the slaves are happy and carefree. Sounds awful." said Scootaloo as the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat nearby, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom listening in on what Fluttershy had to say whilst helping out around her home, unaware that Rarity was having a similar conversation with Underfell Frisk.

"It just seems that...everyone is sort of...well, dear...it's just the things I've heard rather make it seem as though they're somewhat FORCED into being nice. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of kindness? Altruism for altruism's sake is the highest ideal one can aspire to, doing good deeds in the name of reward or for avoiding punishment isn't really altruism, it's...it's selfishness and fear." Rarity confessed.

"Kindness has to come from the heart, not from something stuck into you by a mad scientist." Fluttershy nervously intoned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders as she handed Angel an adorable little salad made in the shape of his face as he cheerily dug into it with big, crunchy mouthfuls.

"I dunno, though..." Sweetie Belle murmured. "I mean...from what Underfell Undyne said, everyone over there is like...SUPER mean. I mean, worse than Diamond Tiara on a bad day mean!" She waved a hoof in the air as Apple Bloom helped fluff up a pillow for a squirrel, Scootaloo giving a spider a little piece of watermelon. It visibly blushed. "If they can't bring themselves to be good, maybe they DO need outside help?"

Meanwhile, Underfell Frisk rubbed their chin, thinking it over before she said

"Look. Suppose you have a villain. A really awful, disgusting jerk. Someone irredeemable. And the only way to make them somewhat decent at all would be to change their mind. To get inside their head, make them think they were a good guy. Have them more inclined to help old ladies across the street instead of beating and robbing them. Would you do it?"

Rarity stared at her. The implication behind what she had said genuinely frightened her, a chill running up her back as she hesitated, biting her lip.

"Think about it. If...say...you knew they were the type of person who'd go after your little sister, Sweetie Belle. Do the worst sort of things. Wouldn't you say to yourself "what's wrong with cleaning them up a little"? After all, they'd end up better people, they'd be helping others, doing good, and they'd never ever be a villain again. Even if HOW they became that way might seem a bit bad to you, isn't all the good they'll end up doing worth it? Think of all the families that'll be safer now. Or your own sister!"

Rarity hesitated again. "I...don't know. Part of me would LIKE to just wave my horn and MAKE uncouth villains become decent, part of me wants that, I won't deny I've sometimes had the urge. All unicorns, ALL of wield magic have at one point had a bit of an urge, I think, to fool around a little, be it playing a prank, or trying to make lead into gold or...things more dramatic."

"I can understand the appeal of that sort of thing, "UF", I really do." said a voice that rang through the air, and Underfell Frisk turned to see Twilight trotting into Rarity's boutique, her face solemn and thoughtful. "When I first got the power of the Alicorn, I had all sorts of ideas for what I could do. Sometimes I even dreamed of using my powers to short-circuit the minds of DESPOTS, but you know what I realized?"

"What?"

"That sort of thing isn't me." Twilight reasoned with a shake of her head. "It isn't the sort of thing I could do. Or should do. People ought to be good on their own."

"well, not everyone can be. look at...well...Discord. guy needed friends to be good."

"AAHH!" Everyone jumped, Sans now having spontaneously appeared right next to Underfell Frisk, giving them all a sort of weary smile as he waved.

"guy like him? he needed other people to "keep him in line". and sometimes it takes being on death's door to show others the light. not everyone can be good in life, only in death." Sans intoned quietly. "i ain't sayin' i like the idea completely myself, but...i understand it. i can understand the idea of amplifying the tiny speck of good buried underneath the trash, enough to turn that tiny flame into a bonfire to burn everythin' away."

"Well I'm glad you can approach it a bit more reasonably than some of the others here." Underfell Frisk said with a grin, getting up and stretching before reaching into her pocket, pulling out a notepad. She'd been taking EXHAUSTIVE notes about just about anything she saw, and now she showed off some lovely fashion designs. "Now I can show these fine costume ideas to Aaron over in my dimension, I'm sure he'll really appreciate some of these."

"She's such a nice girl." Rarity said with a wistful sigh, Underfell Frisk heading out the door, whistling nonchalantly.

Meanwhile, over in the Underfell Universe, Underfell Gaster was showing "True" Frisk an example of his AEON in action once again. This time, with Underfell Burgerpants, who appeared to be debating whether or not to hold up the convenience store in Mettaton's Hotel. UF Gaster and Frisk sat within the lab, the good doctor handing Frisk some popcorn as he sipped on a nice little soda, Frisk looking a bit concerned as Underfell Burgerpants nervously fumbled the poisoned biscuit in his pocket, having added rat poison to one of Muffet's concoctions. The Underground had almost entirely rid itself of any weaponry, he couldn't just shoot the aged mouse-like owner of the Mettaton Convenience Corner located on the first floor of the hotel, oh no. But he appeared to also, perhaps...be unable to bring himself to poison her.

"He, unfortunately, is desperate." Underfell Gaster confessed sadly. "Burgerpants has not yet gotten a raise, and the rent is rather high. I should talk to Mettaton about it, or rather..." He steepled his clawed, skeletal hands, raising an invisible eyebrow. "I will if Burgerpants makes the right choice...but I think he will. Watch closely, Frisk. Behold the power of the AEON."

Frisk leaned in, Burgerpants was whispering, the secret cameras placed all over the Underground caught so much! And one was placed in a potted plant close to the closet where Burgerpants was directly hiding behind, looking through the shrubbery at the convenience store and the mousey, frail store-owner. "Gotta do this. Gotta do this."

"And now...his conscience comes into play." Underfell Gaster said with a grin.

"Alright, stop!" Underfell Burgerpants gasped, a delightful, adorable little Sans with a blue bandanna around his neck, slightly baggy shirt, shorts, blue slippers and a big, fat bone strapped to his back was now standing to his right, shaking his head.

"Huh?"

"Now before you go into that store, try to get money out the drawer, y'all better think of the CONSEQUENCE!" It proclaimed.

"Who are you?"

"Duh, silly! I'm your CONSCIENCE!"

"What nonsense!" And now to his right stood a short-haired, blue-jacket wearing human who had baggy shorts, rather deep-set, eternally-sleepy-looking eyes, and was rather tubby. He shook his head, giving a very toothy grin, his voice as low and deep as Sans's was. " Poison her, grab the money, and run off to your girl's crib! Borrow a damn dress, and a black wig! Tell her you need a place a stay, you'll be safe for days if you shave your legs with Catty's razor blades!"

" Yeah but if it all goes through like it's supposed to, well this whole neighborhood knows you and they'll EXPOSE you! Think about it before you walk in the door first! Just look at the store clerk, she's older than Mr. Burns!" Said the cheery-looking, bandanna-wearing Sans, shaking his finger in Underfell Burgerpants's face before "Human Sans" pushed him aside, poking Underfell Burgerpants right in his chest.

"Screw that! Come on, hit that lick! You can't afford to blow this, you sure ain't rich! Why you scared to death? Are you that chick? You really think she cares if you're gonna have KIDS?!" Human Sans demanded, Burgerpants quivering and shaking, looking from the convenience store to the wallet he now held up...to the picture of Underfell Catty, her belly bulging, full of HIS children, only one month away...

"Man, don't do it, it's not worth it to risk it!" said the other Sans, shaking his head. "Not over this stuff! Drop the biscuit!"

"I WILL." Burgerpants said, tossing the poisoned biscuit away into a garbage can across the hall, heading off.

"Don't even LISTEN to HS, he's bad for you!"

"You know what, Swap? I don't like your attitude!" Human Sans grumbled, and as Burgerpants exited the hall, the two of them vanished, Underfell Gaster grinning in delight as Frisk gasped in amazement and surprise, turning from the screen they were watching all of this upon to the doctor as he turned to smile over at Frisk.

"How the...how on..."

"My AEON manifests the conscience magically, Frisk. In the event the little voice in their head telling them to do what's right isn't enough, I've got a bit of EXTRA help to push them in the right direction. Based on the most bubbly, cheery little face and the most unlikable, hateful one, all to get them to listen to the right side."

"I was wondering why he'd be a human." Frisk murmured. It made sense, Underfell Gaster would make the voice of their "shoulder devil", the face of their darker urges into something that resembled the people they'd hated for so long, and not only that, but a pathetic mockery of one of their own, whilst the AEON's inner "angel" would be an adorable doppelganger of their most laid back, kindest, chummiest...if not lazy...compatriot.

Unbeknownst to him, however, his counterpart had been very busy. They'd been taking notes of everything for one reason and one reason alone. To share the information with their secret compatriots.

"So THIS is how they set up the gate." Underfell Frisk explained, six other human kids looking up in awe at the schematic display that she unfurled on the ground as they stared through a makeshift portal she'd crafted, more of a window than a true door. "If we can get the materials, we can do it ourselves. I'm going to lay the bait for Underfell Toriel tomorrow, then you can come on through. If we're all together, we can get her to come back to where she belongs, and then!" She grinned. "Then we can teach that Dr. Gaster his place."

"Y'all sure this is a good idea, sweetie?" said a distinctly Southern-drawled voice, as the owner rubbed its chin. "I mean, if we get caught..."

"We won't get caught. And Gaster's not going to keep his plans going for much longer. I'm done with his little experiments." Underfell Frisk said balefully. "MOM deserves to run the Underground, and we'll make sure she does. I'll be a bit difficult to get her to listen, but I'll get there in the end."

"We'll get the explosives ready, then!" said a girl in a scientist's labcoat, her hair rather messy and with goggles atop her face as she toothily grinned. "I'll make sure Gaster's lab is wired with enough C4 to..."

"No, no, not EXPLOSIVES. We need something else, explosives would be too obvious. And if they ever found the remnants, they'd figure out it came from our dimension. No, we need to frame those little ponies." Underfell Frisk reasoned, shaking her her head. "The Hologram Inducer. That'll do it. And make sure the guard rails around the CORE are good and loose, and the cameras aren't watching."

"I can do that." said Underfell Christa, the child of two mad scientists giggling. "No problem for me to figure out how to loop footage long enough. But we'll need to get Underfell Gaster out of his laboratory for a good half an hour for us to do it."

"I think, perhaps...it's time we got him to have a good sit-down with his counterpart." said Underfell Anthony as he nonchalantly lit up a cigarette, the chef's apron on his front smattered with cooking grease as he chuckled, his voice far too gravelly from the result of chain-smoking. "Yes, let's have Bonnie here approach Frisk and suggest he have a little chat with his other self! They'll probably be talking for HOURS about things like "thermionic transconduence"!"

"Crap. I gotta take a shower?" Bonnie grunted, the desperado-looking teenage girl cringing. "...okay, okay, I'll do it. I can pass for his mom easily if I just clean up a little." She remarked with a chuckle. "You were right, sweetie. It DOES help to constantly be watching them whenever they come over to our dimension."

"We must always stay one step ahead." Underfell Frisk remarked.

"Do we really have to keep watching them even when they go to the bathroom though?" Neil inquired, looking a bit disgrunted since HE was always stuck with that duty.

"WEMUSTALWAYSSTAYONESTEPAHEAD."

...

...

...

... "It's all...so...perfect. TOO perfect." Frisk murmured quietly as he sat in Underfell Mettaton's restaurant, listening to some jokes from Underfell Snowy's father as he munched a bit on some fries. The faintly snowflake-shaped head of the avian-esque monster frilled a bit as he cleared his throat, adjusting his bow tie before going on, the crowd eagerly watching as his distinct accent filled the air.

"So a Jewish guy's a-walkin' down the road, past this farm and a field of cows, and who should drive up in his cah but HITLER! So Hitler, course, pulls out his pistol. Says the Jew's gonna eat a cow patty right there. The Jew, he's pissed, but he gets on his knees, starts eatin', and Hitler's laughing his ass off, so hard...he drops the gun! The Jew rushes over, snatches it up, says "Now YOU'RE gonna eat a cow paddy!" And he gets in Hitler's car, one hand on the wheel, makin' the moustachio'd asshole eat the cow paddy before he drives off and heads home. His wife sees him come into the kitchen, she asks him how his day was! And he says..."You'll NEVER guess who I ate lunch with!"

With that, everyone burst into raucous laughter, Frisk nervously smiling. He got the joke just fine but...all the same, there was still something rather unnatural about the overly smiling, happy faces around him. It was as if each of the monsters were wearing faces that didn't belong to them, and part of him felt sickened by that thought. Part of him felt that was wrong. "I should be happy THEY'RE happy. They're not hurting each other, there's a real sense of warmth and hope and joy here. They might be almost totally forced into doing it, but if it causes this much good, then...is it really so bad?"

Frisk just wasn't sure. Luckily, there came salvation, for as he looked up, he saw a figure waving over to him and he beamed, approaching the blonde-haired teenage girl wearing a cowboy hat and a large tan brown jacket, her eyes aglitter and beaming. "Mom! Bonnie! So you're here too? I was worried that...well...someone might have eaten you."

"Nah, I lucked out." Underfell Bonnie laughed, holding up the four leaf clover necklace she wore and grinning. "But I couldn't help but notice my favorite and only son is lookin' real down in the dumps. How come?" She asked, walking alongside Frisk as they made their way down the hall, Frisk rubbing the back of his neck.

"I want to like what Underfell Gaster's done, it's good to encourage people to be kind. But...this seems like its brainwashing, kinda. I dunno how to feel about it."

"Well, you know who might be able to convince him to change his mind?" Underfell Bonnie offered. "Who better to talk with than...yourself?"

"You think he might listen to OUR Gaster, then?" Frisk asked, Underfell Bonnie grinning.

"Of course! He'd be speakin' with an intellectual equal who's walked in his shoes! Perhaps literally!" She laughed, clapping him on the back as they reached Burgerpants's store and she whistled sharply, slapping down some gold. "Some milkshakes, please. Chocolate."

"Why, of course." said Underfell Burgerpants with a nod as he headed down to the right...before popping back in briefly. "It'll be a little while though, um...you see...I've been sort of LIVING in it because rent is so high."

"...you can keep the change." Underfell Bonnie sighed, hanging her head as she seemed to flinch, Frisk noticing this as she folded her arms over her chest. "So...I ain't heard anythin' from your friends or you about...well...your Dad. Did...I mean...when I got pregnant with ya, and tried to talk to him. He didn't...take it well where I came from, tried to...well..." She raised a hand to the white undershirt she wore and tugged it down, showing off a nasty bullet wound.

"Don't worry, he didn't do that where I'm from." Frisk offered.

"What DID he do?"

Frisk nervously looked over at Burgerpants. "Oh, look!" He said loudly. "He's back with our milkshakes. BOY I love chocolate milkshakes!"

Realizing the answer was probably just as morbid, Underfell Bonnie took the milkshake and she and Frisk started to drink, heading out of Mettaton's hotel. "Well, um...I guess y'all turned out okay over there all the same." She murmured. "Try to find time to drop in on the doc, get him in touch with YOUR doc. Gotta say, all those smiling faces in there...look, Snowy's Dad is funny but he ain't THAT much of a gut buster. BIT creepy seein' them laughin' at aaaaaaaaall his jokes." She murmured, Frisk nodding as he waved goodbye, seeing her head down the road as he decided to head for the Riverperson, who had their hood up and, unlike HIS Riverperson, Underfell Riverperson had a dark red hood, and a faint slid line for visor-like eyes, a bony hand gripping a scythe as it readied to row down the river.

"Tra la la la la." It remarked. "I am the Riverman. Or Riverwoman? Just kidding. I'm both." It remarked with a chuckle. "Where would you like to go?"

"Could you take me to Dr. Gaster's lab?" Frisk requested, Riverperson nodding as it let Frisk into its bony, Gaster-blaster-headed boat, a dark breeze chilling Frisk's bones as it stroked...stroked.

"Beware the Boy who Comes from Another World." It remarked, Frisk stiffening. "A flower in the basement. Waiting for a lonely death."

Frisk stiffened. The Riverperson had had a habit of prophetic, on-the-nose predictions. He had a feeling he should listen...and listen well.

"We are our own worst enemies." Underfell Riverperson added softly, closing its visor-like eye, as utter darkness seemed to bathe over the boat, for in these dark halls not even a single glowing mushroom now remained to light the way. The rower had no way of knowing which way that it was going and he certainly wasn't showing any sign that he was SLOWING!

And then...

He stopped.

"...Tra la la. Do come again." It remarked, Frisk now realizing he was, at last...at the dock close to the Hotland Lab. A laboratory he knew was one of the few places in the Underground that HAD a basement.

"Um...th-thank you!" With a quick nod, he barreled out of the boat, heading for the laboratory, Underfell Gaster currently sipping on some hot cocoa before he glanced up, the scarf bundled around him nicely as he raised a nonexistent eyebrow.

"Frisk, dear boy! How may I help you?"

"Um, could I check out your basement for a moment?" He inquired. "I don't think I've been down there?"

"Not really anything DOWN there." Underfell Gaster confessed. "I know what your Alphys did, but mine never resorted to Determination Experiments. Still...if you'd like to check out old storage bins, well, be my guest!" He laughed, tossing Frisk a skeleton key that soared through the air, Frisk grabbing it with one hand and heading for the basement elevator. He put the key into the proper slot over a button marked "Basement", and it descended down, down, down, as the air seemed to get more cold and soft and deathly silent...

Save for a faint, sad thumping, squirming noise you could only BARELY hear if you listened over the hum of dim lights.

Frisk gulped, making his way past dark, greenish walls, heading down thick-paneled floors, making for the sound, past boxes and boxes of old storage bins and abandoned equipment, towards a broom closet. It seemed to be faintly shaking...

Frisk took a deep breath, grabbed the door and tugged. Locked.

So he grabbed up a nearby toolbox, opening it up, finding a wrench, and BANGED the lock open...

A terrified, desperate-looking, near-emaciated little flower with a cute face gazing back at him.

"FRISK?! Oh thank GOD, it's you, the GOOD one, listen, you gotta help me! Underfell Frisk has lost his mind, he's gone evil, and he wants to seal us off from everyone else forever!"

"Wh...what?" Frisk asked, sounding alarmed as Flowey's little eyes bugged wide.

"The longer he spent down here, the more he came to a conclusion. The conclusion that..." Flowey gulped, eyes brimming with tears. "That nobody deserved to escaped. That we all deserved to rot down in the dark and the deep. And he'll do anything...to make sure we stay down here."

Frisk felt his insides turn to ice. His counterpart was, even now, in Ponyville.

What was she up to?

...and what did she want to do to the people he loved?

Underfell Rises, Part 3

"How did this happen?" Frisk asked, kneeling by Underfell Flowey, helping him up onto his shoulder as they raced off to speak to the Gasters.

"When your other self came down, at first they wanted to believe that the monsters could change into good people on their own." Underfell Flowey quietly said, hanging his little petaled head. "But the longer he stayed down here, the more petty and cruel and pompous and arrogant he found the monsters to be. Gaster...MY Gaster...is one of the few that still had real goodness in him, and the best he could come up with to help the Underground was something that almost amounted to brainwashing. My Frisk finally lost all sense of...of hope." He murmured. "I saw his face when Gaster unveiled the AEON. Saw the way it crumbled as he realized that this? This was the best they could do. And even that wasn't enough. So he's...he's never going to let us go free. Not ever."

"We'll have to tell our Gasters that, don't worry, they'll be able to put a stop to-" Frisk began to say before ...

THWONK! A large wrench knocked him over the head, another sending Flowey flying off his shoulder as Underfell Christa, the Soul of Perseverance, shook her head, adjusting the goggles she wore before twirling the wrench she had in one hand. "No, I don't think you'll be interfering." She said, getting out a pair of handcuffs, kneeling down to put them on Frisk as Flowey faintly stirred. "I can't have you interfering with the TRAGIC accident that's soon to befall Gaster. Maybe next time he'll think to put up better guardrails around his-"

But then Frisk whirled around, leg kicking up, smacking her squarely in the face, making her flop backwards as Frisk ran over to Flowey, picked him up, and then bolted for the exterior of the lab. "Thank GOD villains always feel the need to monologue about their evil plans!" He proclaimed to Underfell Flowey with a bit of a grin.

"You're still conscious?!" Underfell Flowey inquired, looking amazed. "I thought that would have knocked you clean out!"

"I went toe to toe with Undyne, with Papyrus, with Mettaton, with Asgore, with King Sombra, with Underfell Sans, with some of the most dangerous warriors in the world! I can handle a bump on the head-WOAAAAH, little dizzy here!" He admitted, rubbing his still-sore skull and grunting a bit, feeling some sticky wetness and a dark warmth throbbing in his skull. "I've had worse, believe me!" He said, ignoring the blood on his fingers.

Meanwhile, Christa had looped the footage, the cameras peering down at Underfell Gaster and "True" Gaster were currently seeing nothing, the two scientists leaning on the rails, unaware of how weak they really were. Gaster had brought his intellectual equal a little present.

"Here." He said, pulling something out from his dark coat, smiling as Underfell Gaster took it in his clawed, skeletal hands, his eyes wide, the red throbbing of the pupils in the dark sockets now pinpricks as he stared...at a small patch of grass with a flower, a little tulip, growing up in the middle of a tiny box that Gaster had brought him. "A bit of the surface world from where we're from."

Underfell Gaster felt over the texture of the tulip...every tiny little blade of grass, his body slightly shivering, his expression longing, clearly on the verge of tears, looking as though he was about to burst out and trying to restrain himself. "It is...beautiful." He murmured.

"I knew it's something you'd appreciate." Gaster said with a little grin. "And should all go well, you'l be able to plant your own under a proper sun."

Underfell Christa's hologram inducer had activated. Frisk and Underfell Flowey now saw "Fluttershy" walking away from the exit/entrance to the exterior of Underfell Gaster's laboratory, Frisk's heart leapting into his throat as he realized what was happening, "Fluttershy" remarking "I didn't want to do that, but...he left me no choice! I just didn't think he'd...if he'd just listened, I wouldn't have to..."

"They're trying to make it look like one of my friends pushed him into the CORE?!" Frisk gasped. He wasn't gonna have it. He could see, faintly, embedded deep in the wall and out of sight of the cameras on the inside, the glowing lens of the Hologram Inducer, and he dove right through the hologram of Fluttershy, disrupting the illusion. It scattered and spazzed about, turning into tiny dots of light as Frisk kicked the door in front of him open, letting out a yell of "DOCTOR GASTER, GET IN HERE, NOW!" He cried out.

Underfell Gaster and normal Gaster turned away from each other, stiffening up, standing on the large metal concourse and looking in confusion upon Frisk and Underfell Flowey's terrified face...just as the railing they'd been leaning on seconds before finally gave way and fell down, down, down into the magma and deep, horrific heat below, the two Gasters staring in sheer shock before racing over to Frisk.

"Frisk, did...did you know...?"

"It's Underfell Frisk!" Frisk insisted. "He wants to kill you and make sure the monsters don't ever get out of the Underground! He had Flowey trapped in a closet and he's got the Six Humans working along with him, Christa tried to bash my head in with a wrench and everything!" Frisk explained, Underfell Gaster's face becoming cold and furious, normal Gaster looking saddened...yet also angry.

"We need to alert our friends in Ponyville." He remarked.

"We need a plan." Frisk said quietly. "...and I think I have one."

And what WAS happening over in Ponyville? Well, Underfell Sans, Papyrus and Toriel had been lured out of hiding by the one thing they absolutely could not resist.

...pie. Snail pie.

Go figure.

"Oh, what a terrible, terrible shame!" announced Underfell Anthony, putting an arm over his forehead, the sun softly beaming down upon him as he stood in the middle of a forest clearing deep in the Everfree, acting like he'd never acted before. "I've such a lovely, delicious pie to take to my grandmother, but it's just such, such a shame! She'll NEVER be able to eat all this delicious snail pie with her rotting gums and rheumatism!"

Watching from nearby trees, hidden in the dark expanse of the woods, the rest of the Underfell Six Humans and Underfell Frisk peered on, seeing the unmistakable glint of dark eyes watching Anthony...followed by two skeletons in dark, foul attire, and a goat-lady in a slightly ragged robe with reddish, almost insane eyes floating through the air, drawn by the delicious, tempting waft of snail pie that made them circle around and around Underfell Anthony. They moaned happily, the delicious smell of the pie invading every pore of their nostrils when...

"Hello, mother."

The three were snapped out of their baked-goods-induced delight, flopping onto the grass below as Underfell Frisk and her companions hopped out of the trees they were hiding in, Underfell Frisk grinning like a devil. "So good to see you! Have you lost weight?"

"Well, frankly, YES! I haven't had a single child to eat in years now. Can't even nab a foal or filly from the nearby town. Been living off squirrels and chipmunks." Underfell Toriel grunted sadly. "Ah, but snail pie...my favorite!"

"I knew it was all your favorite." Underfell Frisk said with a grin. "A good daughter would always know. And like the dutiful daughter I am, I'm here to bring you home...and put you back on the throne, like you so rightfully deserve."

Underfell Sans and Underfell Papyrus grinned in delight up at Toriel, who clasped her clawed paws together and beamed. "Oh, darling! You know EXACTLY the kind of gift I'd want! I've yearned to have control of the Underground for years, I...wait." She blinked, tilting her head to the side. "I don't think these pastel pony fools would allow that. They're now all...buddy-buddy with the current head of the Underground, Dr. IDIOT." She grunted, folding her arms over her chest, glowering off in the distance, imagining the strange skeletal monster that was Underfell Gaster.

"Oh, true, true. But I thought ahead. He's being "dealt with", and the ponies will take the fall. Then we can seal Underfell off from their dimension so they can't possibly interfere with you retaking the throne! We have to destroy the portal from this side first, though. Luckily I've learned AAAALL about the magic they use." Underfell Frisk said with a big grin, taking out her notepad and showing it off to their mother as she flipped through it, eyes widening. "I took lots and lots of notes."

"What's this I see?" Underfell Toriel inquired. "They call this colt "Jolly Rancher" because he stays so ha-"?

"OHMYGODIGNORETHAT!" Underfell Frisk said quickly, flipping off to the next page. "Nothing, nothing! J-just um...did a little testing of my flirting style on, um...some of these, er...p-ponies, nothing important really!"

...

...

...

...the dark of night had fallen, bathing all of Ponyville in its velvet cloak, as deep rolls of clouds swept across the night sky. Not a single star poked through the expanse of clouds high above, as the Underfell gang of saboteurs made their way towards Twilight's private ramparts under cover of darkness. It hadn't helped, though, that Underfell Sans had that stupid tooth. It stuck out like a sore thumb. So they'd made him eat it.

Turns out it wasn't gold. It was a candy corn piece.

"You are PURE EVIL." Underfell Sans grunted darkly at his brother, Underfell Papyrus surpressing sniggers as best he could whilst Underfell Frisk fidgeted with the door, opening it up as they slunk towards the room where the portal was kept.

"Even I wouldn't make someone eat CANDY CORN. It's the one candy that always tastes the same no matter what...OLD." Underfell Toriel said, sticking her tongue out in disgust as their dark shadows stretched across the long hall, just as the moon seemingly poked its way through the cloudy blanket hovering over the land.

"Here we are." Underfell Frisk whispered out as she pointed into the room before them, a large, circular portal machine set up with magical runes encircling everything. "Here's what we need to do. All of the runes are based off of different magical virtues. We need to remove them in order, or they'll snap right back into place. I would know, I asked that stupid purple pastel pony to demonstrate."

"And, evidently, you asked for her measurements." Underfell Toriel snarkily intoned as Underfell Frisk deeply blushed.

"WHAT?! N-no, of course not, no way, she's not my type, uh-uh-uh, absolutely untrue!" Underfell Frisk insisted firmly, shaking her head back and forth as Underfell Papyrus suddenly found himself asking...

"Did you ask for MY counterpart's measurements?"

"...........no comment."

But then they heard a voice speak up, turning around, seeing a young, mixed-race, half Asian-American, half Caucasian brown-haired lad standing there in their blue and pink long-sleeve, arms folded over their chest. "I had hoped you wouldn't do this. I had hoped you'd be better, because you're my counterpart. I had had hoped you'd see grass was greener on this other side. Looks like you're just not interested in that. So I'm going to give you once more chance, here and now. Go home. And don't come back." He insisted, frowning deeply.

Underfell Frisk gave normal Frisk a big, smirking look. "Naaaah." He remarked.

Underfell Sans held up a bony hand, bones shooting forth, knocking poor Underfell Frisk clean off his feet, as Underfell Toriel swept her arms through the air. Barreling balls of fire slammed into Frisk, sending him spiralling into the wall nearby as Underfell Frisk sneered in dark delight. "Rule number one. Whoever's got the power makes the rules. This isn't about "Peace, Love and Understanding". This is about Kill or be Killed. This is about getting results. Being a friggin' hippie hugging folks left and right who'll occasionally slap them on the wrist then they're bad ain't gonna do JACK SQUAT."

Frisk let out a scream, apparently in mortal agony as Underfell Papyrus's "Special Attack" manifested, a hulking, foul, three-eyed, almost canine-esque skeletal head popping up right over Frisk, jaws opening wide as energy coalesced into his mouth and Frisk tried to rise off the floor...

"You're just the first, and you sure won't be the last. When your friends try to avenge their fallen "hero", they'll get even worse. Well, let's finish this up!

A beam of pulsating, powerful light, flashing through the air, thick, powerful blindness that made them all reel back. For about ten seconds of solid pulsating pain, there was nothing but the blinding whiteness and then...

Nothing but a scrap of sweater as Underfell Frisk picked it up, frowning. "How is it that no matter how badly you massacre a stupid goody-two-shoes type, some shred of their clothing STILL survives? What is this, a bad comic book plot?"

"I call it a trophy." Underfell Toriel remarked, plucking it up before...she frowned. "...wait. Something's not right, I smell...something odd in the air..."

"I get it now. I made the mistake of treating you people like...well, people. I should thank you. It really is kill or be killed."

All of them glanced around, as Toriel sniffed at the air. "His scent just...VANISHED! What in the heck?! All I can smell is scorched air and..." She listened. "...I can't hear where he's coming from, what's going on?"

"Goodbye, Mom." A voice rang out, as suddenly Frisk, his sweater tattered and torn, shot something through the air, stepping out from behind a nearby pulsating computer console, holding up a glowing, magical rune. The round thing he'd tossed slapped itself onto Underfell Toriel's chest...

And they saw her front blow open in a disgusting, horrific, loud wet SCHPLORCH-THLOORGGHH that made her reel back, gasping, plowing through into the next room...

Silence. Horrifying silence as they bolted after her, Frisk vanishing into the darkness, all of them staring, seeing...seeing her body dissolving into dust. Underfell Papyrus and Underfell Sans stared for a moment, at the pile of dust she'd become, at the remnants of her clothing, and Underfell Sans finally let out a scream, racing over to her.

"He...he blew her up?!" He screamed out, clutching at the remnants of her clothing, his dark sockets gazing down in sheer shock. "You...you!" He gasped, mouth agape. "You can't have, you...oh my GOD, she's-"

THA-THROOOOOM! A pillar of harsh, immense, flowing wind barreled down from above as they turned, seeing Frisk standing there, holding that same rune up, high into the sky, the roof above having been torn open as Underfell Sans was surrounded by a horrible, terrifying little tornado of hundreds of mile-per-hour winds, Underfell Sans barely a blur before...before even the dust was gone, dissolved into nothingness. Underfell Papyrus gaped, his body quivering, his bones rattling, Underfell Frisk just staring in sheer shock before...

"You die SLOW!" He roared at "normal" Frisk, who smirked and then launched something at Underfell Papyrus, a big burst of gas that slammed into him, knocking him up, up, high into the air...as a SONIC BOOM ripped through the sky, Underfell Papyrus's screams vanishing into the starry, starry sky above, and Underfell Frisk stared up at the spot where he'd vanished, then looked around. Frisk was outside, leaning against a tree, their clothing torn, their face cold and furious as Underfell Frisk twirled the combat knife he always kept, holding it up, glowering balefully.

"Your friend just took a trip into space thanks to a Sonic Boom Slap-On. Specialty of Alphys after chatting it up with the Wonderbolts. A multiple-stage explosive that can either, say, knock someone clear through a room and focus the blast squarely into one's chest, or unleash a series of sonic booms that'll send them soaring up into the sky. If you had super hearing, you might have heard a big, bony CRA-CRUNCH as his bones shattered under all the pressure from flying up into the sky at oh...Mach Seven?" Frisk remarked with a shrug. "It also helped that I put a few Tornado-in-a-Can canisters on the roof. I WAS gonna activate one over you, but I wanted you to watch."

"...you wanted...me to watch...?" Underfell Frisk foully hissed as she sneered. "And why's that?"

"How does it feel to watch your friends suffer and die?" Frisk snarled. "I imagine how you wanted ME to feel. Doesn't feel too good, does it?!" He yelled back. "Doesn't feel too good, being MANIPULATED. Being EXPLOITED. Being TRICKED!"

"Oh, I'll show you, you self-righteous little hypocrite!" Underfell Frisk roared out, shooting forward at him, the knife held high...

Just as Twilight stepped out from the nearby tree, holding him up, her horn glowing powerfully as she stared firmly into Underfell Frisk's face, and then pointed with her hoof, her face stony and resolute. Underfell Frisk gasped, feeling, for a moment, an awful blunt end of SOMETHING that seemed to jab right into the center of their brain before...she noticed she was bleeding from both nostrils. She fell to her knees, feeling over her bloody nose, gaping in shock as she stared up at Twilight. "Wh...what did you...my-my head, my...its all swimmy..."

"It took us a long, long time to come up with this idea. But Frisk wanted us to have an option. The option to remove DETERMINATION in case they ever went evil. To strip it away from them. Guess we ended up using it on a Frisk after all." Twilight said. "Consider it a magical lobotomy. You're nothing but a harmless little girl."

Underfell Frisk stared for a long, long time at them...and then they saw furious, angry tears coming to her eyes as she pounded into the grass below. "No, no, NO-NO-NO! You! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! You...you're supposed to be BETTER! They'll know! All your friends will know you aren't ANY different than me! You're not any better! You're just as much of a MONSTER!" She screamed out. "You hypocrite! You big, fat fuckin' HYPOCRITE! You're a killer, just like me! That's all you are!"

Absolute silence seemed to reign in over the grass as soft winds blew through all of their hair, the walls of Twilight and Alphys's joint venture still faintly crumbling, pieces dribbling down from the sides and the roof. Frisk and Twilight looked from each other, to Underfell Frisk, staring silently, not making a sound as Frisk's darker counterpart quivered with pure, raw outrage. Then, at long last, Frisk broke the silence, with a small little smile.

"No. That's not all I am." Frisk intoned quietly. "Guys...you can come out now."

With that, Underfell Frisk looked around. Underfell Toriel, Underfell Sans and Underfell Papyrus were all lying in a pile nearby, as Underfell Frisk gasped in alarm, Frisk holding up the rune.

"This rune is a rune of Magic. Based around ILLUSION magic. I had Twilight and Toriel help me spice it up to come up with a perfect illusion to cast, then used Alphys's special concussive explosives play the second part along with Rainbow Dash."

"The bombs here are pretty harmless. They really just feel like a burst in the chest." Rainbow Dash said with a grin, tossing one up and down in her hoof. "We had a few done up with special effects for extra "oomph" to make the illusion seemed real, and then while all your friends were being "blown away", I snatched them all up. Here, watch!" She cracked one open, and fake organs barreled forth as Rainbow Dash was sent reeling back through the air. "WAAAUUGH! My intestines! Blaaauugh, I'm dying! BLARGH!" She proclaimed, now flopping onto the ground, her "organs" splayed all over the grass as Alphys grinned and adjusted her glasses.

"It wasn't too hard to craft some proper "stagecraft" for the show we put on. We just had to make you think they were dead. Looks like it worked well."

"And that "Determination Lobotomy" is just a nullifier spell. I popped you with a bit of a "chill pill". It's just a mild stunner, really. You'll be fine in a few hours." Twilight offered. "Though you'll be feeling woozy for a good day and a half. Plenty of time for us to send you home with these clowns." She added, gesturing at the unconscious pile of Underfell monsters as Dr. Gaster walked over to Underfell Frisk, slapping on a pair of handcuffs over her wrists and legs, Underfell Gaster walking over to Frisk and shaking their hand.

"I cannot thank you enough for this." He remarked with a deep bow. "I admit, I was...surprised you chose this path."

"I admit, I was frightened by my own performance. Being so mean and ugly and hateful is...disturbingly easy." Frisk admitted sadly. "It really scared me. I don't want to be that ugly. I don't want to take the easy way out. The wrong way out."

Underfell Gaster was quiet for a long...long time. Then he sighed.

"You want me to take away the AEONs...don't you?"

"I can't MAKE you, sir." Frisk remarked. "I know that. I don't want to make you, you're a lot nicer than my counterpart. But I think you know that what you're doing really isn't the best way. I'm sorry. It's just how I feel."

Underfell Gaster sighed, rubbing his head with one hand, shaking his head back and forth. "...I'll...think it over." He remarked, snapping his clawed, skeletal fingers as giant, floating spectral hands lifted his "compatriots" up, carrying them off as Twilight and Alphys got to work on manifesting the portal, Frisk watching him head off with Dr. Gaster standing by his side.

"...I feel so bad for him." Frisk murmured. "Trapped in a world, all alone, the only "good" one there...resorting to...to all THAT just to get his neighbors to understand the difference between right and wrong. All alone and...and maybe doomed to fail."

"Makes you think, does it not?" Gaster confessed, watching his counterpart vanishing through the portal, as Twilight approached Frisk, who hung his head, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Frisk...you gonna be alright? I know it was...a lot...to play up the part of...I mean..."

"Do you think what he's doing over there is worth it? That he's trying too hard? That it's pointless?"

"...I don't think so." Twilight finally said. "You can never try too hard to make the world better."

"C'mon." Dr. Gaster said with a smile. "You've had a long night. Let's get you home, and to Toriel."

"You think cookies will cheer me up?"

"She's a mom. Cookies and counseling are her specialty."

A smile.

"Yeah. You're right about that."