¨Alphys.................?¨ I mumbled to myself, shocked to find this person. Whoever spoke to me. Whoever told me her name............. There must be something about her that this being wants me to know about. She shuffled uncomfortably as a heavy silence filled the room. I'm not one to be shy but it's just very awkward. Telling this complete stranger about a voice talking to me seems a little bit absurd. She smiled nervously, pulling up her glasses.

¨B-b-but, ahhhhh, I'm not one of the 'bad guys'! Actually, since you stepped out of the Ruins, I've, um............been 'observing' your journey through my console.¨

¨So.........you were stalking me?¨

¨N-n-no! 'Observing'¨ she corrected me.

¨When you put it like that, you're pretty much saying you've been stalking me. Not that I find that flattering, but.............it's kind of creepy.¨ I replied, an unsure frown on my face. She seemed a little flustered and ignored my comment.

¨I was originally going to stop you, but............... Watching someone on a screen really makes you root for them. S-so, now, I want to help you! Using my knowledge, I can easily guide you through Hotland! I know a way right to Asgore's castle, no problem!¨ Alphys said, smiling even wider.

I smiled back and seemed a little relieved to find another monster who's rooting for me.

¨Why do you want to help me so much? Do...........do you know something?¨

Alphys face fell and she looked down, fiddling with her claws.

¨T-to be honest..............I......I do.¨ she replied, glumly. I may be on to something. I walked towards the smaller dinosaur and crouched to her level. I looked at her, dead in the eyes and spoke.

¨Is it about a 'fractured soul'?¨ Her eyes widened at what I said and she shook my head.

¨N-n-no! I was talking about something completely different!¨ she exclaimed, her eyes looking at mine frantically. I sighed.

¨B-b-but! W-why? Did you find someone with that?¨ she whispered softly.

I can tell that something was off and that she knew a lot more than she claims. I barely know anything about Alphys, for Pete's sake! Well, except that she likes 'observing' me. I took a deep breath and allowed my soul to conjure in front of her. A faint glow blinking slowly and the cracks bigger than last time. She gasped and watched in horror at my disfigured heart, struggled to beat. Just looking at it makes me want to throw up. I, carefully, placed the soul into the scientist's hands and waited for her.

She seemed a little nervous about holding the fragile thing. But, after some time, she observed it and quickly went to the work desk I saw earlier. Alphys placed the heart on the table and fumbled through the papers scattered on her desk. Standing beside her, I look through the stapled papers and scanned through them. I would like to learn what these notes were about but they were in some weird, wacky font. Dismissing it, I flipped through more papers and found some strange blueprints. They had the same mysterious font and it seemed to be an outline of a machine, seeing that it was poorly drawn. I scrolled through the next page but find that there was one missing. Like it was......ripped out...........

¨F-f-found it!¨ Alphys shouted, moving aside the papers and placing the single folder in the center. Wanting to observe it more, I stuffed it in the open flap of my pack and looked over the dinosaur's shoulder. It had the weird translations like everything else and had a translated title.

¨Project Ultra?¨ I asked, looking at her questioningly. She shrugs bluntly and opens the folder, pulling out a small booklet of files.

¨I-I've been t-told about f-fractured souls from a 'friend' b-but it only happens with monsters. It w-was never reported about a h-human with s-something like this.¨ Alphys explained. She gestured to my soul. ¨I-It's kind of h-hard to understand h-h-how a m-monster could get it. S-So figuring out f-for you would be n-nearly as i-impossible!¨

¨But, don't you observe the behaviors of these monsters with fractured souls? Isn't there anything that could give us a clue about what's happening to me?¨

She sighs and shakes her head. ¨I-I can try to d-dig deeper through more of the f-files but I-I can't promise a-anything.¨

I nodded and looked back at the papers. I frowned and traced my fingers across the intricate lines.

'I hope Alphys knows what she's doing.' I silently hoped.

¨Well, actually, umm, there's just a tiny issue.¨ I perked up, my danger senses immediately kicking in.

¨Alphys............¨

¨A long time ago, I made a robot named Mettaton. Originally, I built him to be an entertainment robot.¨

¨Alphys, what do you mean by 'originally'.........?!¨

¨Anyway, recently I decided to make him more useful. You know, just some small practical adjustments.¨

¨Alphys, what is small-¨

¨Like.....umm......anti......anti-human combat features?¨

¨Oh my god, Alphys.......!¨ I face palmed before being disrupted yet again.

¨Of c-course, when I saw you coming, I immediately decided...........I have to remove those features! Unfortunately,¨ Alphys said, breaking into a nervous sweat.

¨Oh god, don't tell me-¨

¨I may have made a teensy mistake while doing so. And, umm.................Now he's an unstoppable killing machine with a thirst for human blood?¨ she smiled nervously. If this was a cartoon, my head would have exploded from all of the rage I'm bottling up. I put my hands through my hair and groaned loudly. And to think, this was supposed to be my break!

She started to laugh nervously and scratch the back of her neck in embarrassment.

¨But, ummm, hopefully we won't run into him!¨

As she said that, I hear immediate thumps; shaking the lab. Mugs vibrated as the shaking continued. Like someone or something was trying to break through a wall. I was gripping onto the opposite wall and trying to keep myself up. Why did she have to hex us? 'UGH! Why me?! As much as I want to save monsters, I am SERIOUSLY reconsidering this!'

¨Oh no.¨ she said before the wall was blasted and the lights shattered. Glass flew and I covered myself with my backpack while Alphys took cover under the desk. I looked around but was only met by darkness. The only sound I could hear was my own breathing and the royal scientist's. Immediately, a male voice called out in a loud yet charming voice through the dark.

¨OHHHH YES! WELCOME BEAUTIES.............¨ At that, a single light flickered on and my eyes changed from widened fear to utter confusion.

Under the single spotlight stood a box-shaped robot with only two limbs. Its tiled screen was an extravagant yellow-orange and his box body was a cool metallic grey. The arms were the same metallic color and had deep ring-like indentions from the shoulders to the wrists. The hands were pure white like they have never shedded any blood or have gotten dirty. The various knobs and switches in the front adorned the robot. His legs were missing and were replaced by a single pillar connected to a single wheel. In his right gloved hand, he held a typical microphone and waved excitedly towards a non-existent crowd; his tiled face changing some of the tiny screens to orange.

¨........TO TODAY'S QUIZ SHOW!!!¨ he shouted and I was immediately met with colorful lights flying around the room. Confetti of the same colorful variety falling and a red and pink sign spelled out 'GAME SHOW' in thick bubble letters. For a human-killing machine, he sure knows how to present himself.

¨OH BOY! I CAN ALREADY TELL IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT SHOW! EVERYONE GIVE A BIG HAND FOR OUR WONDERFUL CONTESTANT!¨ Mettaton cheered and clapped. A light shone on me and I squinted, trying to see my surroundings. The charismatic robot drove towards me and had a hand on my shoulder.

¨NEVER PLAYED BEFORE, GORGEOUS?¨ he asked, gesturing the microphone towards me.

¨Uhhhhh..........No?¨

¨NO PROBLEM! IT'S SIMPLE! THERE'S ONLY ONE RULE. ANSWER CORRECTLY..............¨ He broke character, temporarily with a sinister cackle. ¨OR YOU DIE!!!¨ At that, I was immediately taken into a fight. With Mettaton towering in front of me and Alphys looking towards me, nervously. Despite what's happening...............

I was filled with DETERMINATION.

¨LET US START, GORGEOUS!~¨