PLDF Chapter 30

> Chapter 30: "The New Status Quo" (Sub-Entries 291-300)
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## Sub-Entry 291: "Block Party Begins"

Boy oh boy.

What a month it had been.  And so much accomplished in so little time.

Undertalers were integrating into Miranda society nicely.  And vice-versa.

Economic trade between worlds had practically doubled the world economy overnight.

Who knew there'd be this huge a market for Nice Cream?

Rabites were all the rage as the new pet of choice in Newest Home.

Magical research, though hampered by the incompatibility was still pressing forward.  Maybe the Mage Academy would find a way.  A universal adapter spell or something? I don't know.

I wasn't going to set my expectations too high.

Reach to far for those stars and well...we know what happened when Icarus flew too close to the sun.

Asriel and Frisk hadn't slowed down in their attempts to synergize diplomatic relations.

I have to say...Frisk is one HECK of a good ambassador.  It was like she was born to do this.

Asriel...well...he could be a king that could surpass Asgore and his predecessors.  That is...if he even wanted the royal position.

But he made up his mind.

He was prince, only in name.  Though he took his responsibilities seriously, he was more frivolous about the title.  It was just enough being called the Prince of Our Futures.  Working his tail off to deserve that title really put him over the top.

So I have to ask.

How DO we...both Mirandians and Undertalers decide to collaborate to properly cement our relations?

Simple.

We party hardy as Michelangelo of the 80's edition TMNT (who Violet keeps pointing out sounds a LOT like popular voice actor, Townsend Coleman...wink, wink) says.

Shoehorned references aside...

Yeah.  That's what we decided.  We'd take as much time as we wanted to celebrate and ease into a proper status quo as the festivities would eventually burn themselves out.  Until then, we were going to put to the test...just how much we could shake both towns.

It was decided to host a block party.

One that started one half in Miranda and extended through the gate into Newest Home.

That way would be fair.  That way commuting would be at its easiest.

That way, Azzy could show off just how impressive a cyber gate he had made based on our designs.  And I was already impressed.  How much more could you wow me, Goat Son?

From morning's light, it took off like a shot and only accelerated.  How do I know?

I was actually awake at a what most consider a normal hour.  And I'm not a morning person.  The energy was so strong I actually woke up in my own bed in my own residence in time for breakfast with the family.  When...was the last time this happened?

Shame on me for not even remembering when that was.  But...I guess now's a good a time to make up for lost time.

From that moment I could sense the dynamic around here as changing.  For the better, I hoped.

"Oh wow."  I saw as soon as I stepped outside.

The town had spared no expense to decorate for celebration and the people from both sides were gladly using their newfound freedom to party in their own way.

As soon as I neared the park I heard it, my werewolf ears perking straight up.

"I know that song...albeit remixed..."

What I was hearing was "The Little Sprite" from Secret of Mana; that energetic 'Coke Bottle' percussion tune that plays in Kakkara Village after you use the Sea Hare's Tail to bring water back to the people.  Only the rendition I was hearing was remastered and arranged.

In fact...I dare say it sounded like the Playstation 4 remake...almost exactly like it.

"Violet burned the candle at both ends in her personal lab to ready the sheet music for this."

I mused as I watched Gadget thunder out the beat on a power kit drum set.  It had that impactful snare to it that really drove home.

And there was Papyrus...playing a xylophone?  There's a meme in there somewhere.

Unsurprisingly Sans on trombone...and actually PLAYING and not doing wah-waaah riffs whenever someone told a bad joke?  What did you threaten him with, Paps?  Heheheh.

Jon on guitars, Lupe...and CHAMELEON on flutes?  There was Vidian on bass, Undyne on keyboards (and it sounded like Goat Son had been giving HER lessons).

Chameleon shot me a look. Daring me to comment.  I just raised my hands in a "I'm cool with this" gesture.  I wasn't going to even think about daring to ask him who bribed or threatened him into this?

Few of us even knew Chameleon played the flute.  It was...a secret guilty pleasure.  Like his affection, he kept  it in the closet.  Isn't that how a heart of gold works?  You have to maintain that mercenary reputation or lose face to your enemies, after all.

Nearby, Tithius and most of Rainbow Wing were bopping to the beat with Monster Kid, Fuku Fire, Snowdrake, and others as backup dancers.

Well.  It's a party.  What's a party without music and dance?

Once I made it to the square, that was when I saw the booths set up.  And unsurprisingly I saw Muffet and Grillby in hot competition with each other...literally in some cases.

I could see the anime lightning arcs between their piercing eye levels; like a scene playing out between Ryuko and Tatsuki of Kill la Kill.  And Muffet had five of them to stare with.  Grillby...hard to say with those thick glasses actually making it difficult to see his actual eyes.

Not far away I in a cordoned off area I could see Napstablook hosting Thundersnail games.

"That's pretty cool--"  I started moments before one of the snails exploded in a small mushroom cloud and its charred shell dropped down and smoked.

"...I mean pretty hot."  I sweat dropped as the competitor whapped herself over the head for encouraging her snail a little TOO much...

I stopped at Nice Cream Guy's kiosk where Burgerpants was hanging around.

I of course treated myself...and tried to forget how little time had passed since breakfast.

And low and behold in sizeable parking lot, a miniature carnival had been set up; Ferris wheel, carousel, and super-tiny roller coaster (for toddlers) set up.  And a few Midway games and a test-your-strength bell among it all.

"Wow.  All out."  I rubbed the back of my head.

I wasn't sure what to make of this all.  I'd been so miserable in my own self-pity for so long...it was like fun was new to me all over again.  It wasn't even really a nostalgic fun.  It honestly felt like something I'd never experienced before even though I'd done so many times.

"I wonder..."

I pondered if somehow...in Lady Destiny's gambit, which ultimately paid of, she'd somehow cleansed me.  Hit a reset button on me so to speak.

Is this what it feels like to be reborn?

Maybe I'm over-selling it.

And really...this was happening in February of all months.  How many times had I told Asriel that February was the armpit of the year.

No one had gotten sick that I knew of.  There was no snow on the ground in fact…it felt like spring was already starting.  I guess this counts as the groundhog not seeing his shadow.

Still feels too soon.

And then I soon discovered the Temmie's had made their own "sister city"...though it was more like an unused alley that was more like a cul-de-sac than anything.  A design quirk of the city planning commission when they arranged the property lines perhaps?

Either way...it was their own...society away from home.

I guess it was a problem that solved itself, eh, Azzy?

Of course I got offers for trinkets by the shopkeeper for lots of "muns".  I didn't have any to spare...and got told I'd regret it.

Oh yeah.  It was that SAME one, too.

Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai...

"Hmm?"  I heard it above and looked up.

And low and behold...

All of Team Acorn and Team Solar Storm, in combined formation were flying through the sky via Jet Suit mode...and leaving colored smoke behind.  Impromptu sky-writing!?

Oh gods...they were going to host a stunt show.

"Rockin--"  was all Ripper got out before they skywrote an added message directed at Ripper.

"...aww maaan..."  He practically deflated like a collapsed balloon when the message made very clear that he was not to come within ten city blocks of the jets.

I could practically hear Sans' laughter from all the way over here--

"Guess your chances went from up-in-the-air to nowhere...and that's the "plane" truth, huh, buddy?"

...oh wait.  He teleports.  Duh.

"Harsh!"  Ripper pouted.  "And dude!  The whole city saw that!"

"And Chameleon will just be glad it didn't cost him one copper worth of advertising the message."  I mused as I went on my way.

I stopped in front of Computer Valhalla and paused...for a very, very long time as I gawked at Vi's neon likeness beckoning me in.

"Aww, what the Hell..."  I shrugged and decided to check it out.

I rank the bell and got blasted with more Skrillex.  I entered and was greeted to the Closing Credits of Tron Legacy as only the now-disbanded Daft Punk could deliver.

I signed in with the red quill with my password which was a blatant Altered Beast reference.  Ehh.  I'm not worried about anyone using it.  There is after all a bio-metric check after all.

Vi wasn't at her Dr. Claw swivel chair which sat at that desk and that massive curved bank of sixty-four plasma screen 8K monitors behind it.

Nor was she performing on stage.

No...this time the commotion drawing me to it was the huge crowd around what seemed to be a new Dance Dance Revolution Super Deluxe Model.  And...it was apparently geared for 2 on 2 couples competition?    Four sets of DDR pads to accompany two teams.  This ought to be interesting.

Sounded like someone was causing quite a stir and breaking records.

I expected it to be Frisk and Asriel but as soon as I got a clear view...

...my jaw hit the floor.

"I don't believe it...!"

There was Asgore, very much barefoot as always but in a 1970's LIESURE SUIT!?  And Toriel in sparkling outfit that made me think of Foxxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers Goldmember.

I could hear Peter Venkman's words from back in 1991 when he asked Mayor Mulligan how he'd like "disco to come back...bigger than ever".

I pointed my finger upward and opened my mouth to speak...then let my finger droop back down and just hesitated, not saying anything.

Why do I keep ending up in a situation where I do this?

And when the song wrapped up I had to blink a few times to comprehend how much they tore up the dance floor to a whooping, cheering crowd.

They did it.  They really did it.  They brought friggin' DISCO back in style.  A half a century after it died a sudden but agonizing death.

And on top of that, they shattered the high score.  On the hardest difficulty.

And did I just see Asgore dip Toriel while clenching a rose between his teeth!?

I was so not ready to see this.

I quietly located to a pinball table on the other side of the room and cleared my head before it all sunk in and I decided to just accept this.  Yeah...they...they earned this.  Let them have their happiness.  This is a good thing.

But...

Disco!?

What have you done, Asriel?  What did you bring to Undertale?

Not long after, I was called to the airport to deal with a...situation.

I sighed.

"Tsunderplane!  Get off the runway already!"  I yelled over the intercom.

I'm not sure but I think she went full Sakura/Nami on me.  Just shy of pounding a non-existent fist through the top of my head and calling me "baka" over and over.

I eventually got her in the air...pretty sure she actually stuck her nose up as she was lifting off.  Like...deliberately snooty nose-in-the-air scoff.

Sometimes anime girls are aggravating.  Even ones who happen to be 747 airliner monsters.

All over town it was like this.

People accepted them very quickly.  While I couldn't speak on the other side of the gateway, I'm sure Mirandians were being welcomed warmly as well--

That was about the time Marcel's 1940's gangster car barreled out of the gateway...moments before the royal guards,  RG-01 and RG-02 clanked out after him at full tilt.

"Stop!  In the name of the law!"

I could see a few things spill out of the back.   Looked like a lot of items from MTT Resort.  Expensive ones, too.

I could only laugh at the situation...which got even funnier when I saw Hyperion's police cruiser chase after a tidal wave of Temmies, collectively carrying a pile of gold pieces and unsold Temmie merchandise as they passed Marcel and the guards buy and went through the gate.

"Hoi!"

"Hoi!"

"Hoi!"

"Hoi!"

"I'm Bob."

"Come back here you law-breaking...puppy...cats...kitten...dogs...whatever you are!!!"

So I laughed even harder.

"If this is what we do to celebrate our friendship now, I gotta be here for a ten-year anniversary down the road."

I finally had a seat at the fountain after touring the whole town.

"Impressed?"

I turned and sure enough.  Azzy and Frisk.

"Hello, Doctor."

You know I was going to allow it.  Still prefer to be on a first-name basis but...give Frisk time.  She'll get it.

Sure.

And Alphys will stop calling Asriel "prince".

"You outdid yourselves."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short.  Miranda's got the old town back home hopping and bopping.  We're digging your style."

"Thanks, Azzy."

"You seem happier than when I last met you, Doctor.  Are you...?"

"Yeah.  Doing better now.  Though..."

"What's up, man?  You sound like you're on the fence about something."

"It's overwhelming.   I think...I think I understand how you must've felt those days when I first brought you to Miranda City.  And everything was so new and overwhelming and you weren't in a good place."

"Role reversal?  Yeah, kind of.  But I guess that completes us both in a way."

"Hmm..."

"Hey.  I get it.  It's going to take a period of adjustment.  Let me remind you that I wasn't in a good place either before you invited me to take a vacation from Undertale."

Frisk placed a hand on my shoulder and rubbed it gently.  Like a daughter-in-law comforting her step-parent.

That was the vibe I was getting.  Like she was accepting me as another adopted parent so to speak.  Or an adopted uncle.  Or cousin.

Sans would probably coin some term like "kluncle".

Oh god.  I just made that a thing.  I just made that another Undertale meme thing.

"Yeah.  I'm more surprised you didn't come back in the summer outfit and flip-flops after spending time in Animal Crossing seeing as how one of their recent game iterations is more tropical island-themed.  I'm actually kind of surprised you find that outfit in Stardew Valley."

"Well I ran into this person who said I should reinvent myself like Lisa Simpson when she tried to hide that she was a nerdy outcast at her own school...whoever that is and found a place to get me a wardrobe overhaul."

"Heh."  I knew EXACTLY what episode they were referencing.

"Anyway.  I think I'm warming up to sandals, lately.  Is it like a social necessity over here?"

"Not...exactly."  I rubbed the back of my head.

"More of an orthopedic recommendation for zoanthro-sapiens."  Asriel explained.

"And a minimalist way to not be busted for walking around inside public places in bare feet."

"Just...try to put up with Violet's antics over it."  I shrugged.

"I don't see Chara anywhere."  I changed the subject.

Asriel pointed over to the snack kiosks.  Sure enough there was Chara by the chocolate dipping fountain, buying up probably a week's salary in the Seireitei.

And I used to complain about how much Rangiku used to spend on alcohol?

That gigai body of hers better have industrial strength teeth with all the sugar she's putting into it.

"Drew's going to ring in the block party tonight with fireworks. And he's going to cap the week off with fireworks again."

"That's Drew.  He's a pyrotechnics guru.  He could make A-list fireworks out of kitchen supplies if he had to.  But we afford him the best chemicals and propellants on the market just so he can bring his S-rank game."

"Everyone's been great about this, Doctor."

"Yeah.  I knew they would, Frisk."

I nodded.

"Yeah.  Well, you're seeing us at our best."  I put my hands in my lab coat pockets.  "But I'd be hard pressed not to warn you that the real test is going to be when you have to put up with us at our worst.  Under adversity.   Which we shouldn't see any time soon but it will be inevitable with the passage of time."

"Pretty sure we'll have to ask the same luxury.  Humans or monsters.  None of us are perfect.   I had a whole log of resets to prove it."

Frisk looked down and rested the back of her open hand in the other open palm like she was carrying something.

Asriel one-arm hugged her close.

"There will be bad days, Volt.  I know you're already worrying about them.  But we'll overcome.  It'll be fine.  We stood the test of time together and apart.  If that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is."

"You're right."

"So.  Who's up for dropping in on Rock-Afire Pizza for lunch?  Mitzi's got the new pizza dogs ready to try.  Soft pretzel crust.  Mozzarella and marinara.  A hot dog wrapped in pepperoni.  Add ham or bacon if you like.  And all kinds other customizations."

Pizza hot dogs?  Okay I am so ready for this.

"You're not going to put mustard on yours, are you?"

I turned and licked my lips.

Frisk just blinked.

A moment of silence.  Then Asriel laughed.  "That's my best friend.  You be you, man.  You be you."

What an opening act for the first day.

You know what?

Like Nintendo's Reggie memes used to say...my body is ready!

Bring it on.

## Sub-Entry 292: "Setsubun Overdrive":

February 3rd.

By now if you've kept up with both my logs and Asriel's online diary (which he showed to me and graciously helped me update my Project Lost Dreemurr FINAL dossier.  There's your meta-joke for the entry.)...

...then you know what today is.

In lieu of a Groundhog's Day...and yes...I also acknowledge things went a little...not according to plan on Earth realm.  A moment of silence for the small woodland creature that predicts either and early spring or six more weeks of winter.  I know somewhere Bill Murray is amused (And there's your movie reference) by the irony.  At least he can expect something different on the clock-radio alarm.

I guess we'll find out in time which Earth will get.

That said...

I was awakened...by Spot?

"Hey...what are you doing here?  Shouldn't you be with your master--"

Then I caught on.

"He sent you here as my wake-up alarm, yes?"

Spot did the rabite equivalent of nodding.  Smart guy.

"Okay.  Hop of my stomach and I'll get out of bed."

One day later and I was back to the cot in my shop.  But I had an excuse this time.  We partied all night and I needed me sleep.

Spot was up and on his way and I followed him out the door.

"Huh.  This is new..."

I widened my gaze a little as I watched the swirl of pink sakura blossoms drift past...almost in a dancing pattern.  Almost...dripping "anime" as they carried through the town on a breeze.

"I...think I know what day it is."  I turned to Spot who was hopping in place for a bit at the sight.

"To...Rabbotou Dojo?"  I questioned.

Spot hopped up in my arms.

"Chuuu!"

"I'll take that as a yes."

It didn't take long to reach the ceremonial pagoda of the Rabbotou Dojo Temple property.  A place that hosted a sizeable shrine and all things associated with a public Setsubun celebration.

"Well, being as how you brought me here, the least I can do is make sure you have the best seat in the house to scope out a good path to the after-ceremony feast.  Better get in quick.  Wrench holds the record for most number of mamake soybeans eaten."

"Chuu!"

Maybe...I was reading into it...but I had the strangest feeling that if Spot could talk, he wasn't telling me something.

Nah.

"The Major has to be getting ready for the celebration.  She's been...darn it...how do you pronounce it again?  Um...Toshioko...yeah, that's it.  Toshioko representing her temple for years.  I've come to understand it's kind of irregular since it's supposed to be a position held by the paternal father of a family but...

Yeah...I know Shiroshi "Akira" Rabbotou is long gone.  Soft spot to bring up and I always feel like it's a sin to even imply I want to ask about it to her.  I...just respect her too much to hurt her with something deeply personal.

Am I...overthinking it?  Am I being TOO sensitive about it?"

I blinked a few times.

"I'm asking a rabite."  I sighed.

"Chuu..."

"Sorry."

I didn't mean any offense by it but...I didn't really expect a meaningful reply.

I noticed Miyamoto Usagi and Nikita Lynx at an information kiosk, handing out pamphlets that explained Setsubun.

And yes, I even saw Mettaton in full, lavish Jangese emperor getup for a photo shoot to promote his...well...galactic tour.  Something he was leaning on me and UCIAT to make happen.

Oh boy...how many worlds were going to be ready for him?

I noticed Bunnie's foreign exchange students from Jang arrive and head to their spots at the Taiko drums and instruments.

"She has to be about ready."

I sharpened my gaze and tried to pick her out of the approaching staff.

"Where is she?"  I cocked my head slightly.  Not too much because I knew Spot was riding atop.

"It's not like her to--"

"Be late?"

I felt her hand on my shoulder.

I turned around and saw her...not in her ceremonial robes but a more simplistic Yonkou oriental dress and open-toed heels and some matching hair pieces not unlike Chun-Li's.

"Major?  But...you're not...!"

"Dressed for the ceremony?  There's a reason for that."  Bunnie mused.

That's when I saw him.

"Asriel?"

There he was in the ceremonial robes and accessories as he set up the large container of roasted soybeans.

"We're very proud of our Asriel."  I heard Toriel come in, dressed in similar oriental fashion with Asgore in a more casual Jangese outfit.

"Indeed."

"I take it he educated you on Jangese customs."

"A crash course.  Though...some of us needed a little more guidance..."  Toriel gave a disapproving stare to Asgore.

"He tried to come as a komuso monk."  Frisk clarified.

She had her hair done up in Sailor Moon type dango and trailing pigtails and was also in oriental guise.

"You mean one of those flute-playing guys that wear the basket on their head and a heavy-padded umpire vest thing?"  I blinked.

"That's the one."  Frisk nodded, putting her arms behind her back and looking up at the clouds.

"I thought it was very fetching."  Asgore protested.

"The only good thing about it is that with the tengai hat would have kept your identity obscured."  Toriel said dryly.

"Though that would have probably started rumors of who you were seen wandering around town with, Mom."

"Point made, Frisk."  Toriel relented.

This conversation had distracted me with how much Asriel had imprinted Jangese culture and fashion on his family and away from the fact that Asriel was now the center of the ceremony.

"The torch has been passed, Commander."  Bunnie mused.

And so he began the ceremony.

"Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (Translated: "Evil demons out! Good luck in!").   The chant was recited and the soybeans scattered appropriately.

As the festivities wound down, that heralded the next part we all anticipated.  The traditional feasting of the soybeans by the rabites in town.

Granted, more than PLENTY of soybeans had been scattered, consecrating the lands with good luck.

Only this time...

The rabites had competition.  And not just each other!

"hoi!"

Here come the Temmies.

Some of course feasted.

Others gathered them up as shinnies to trade for muns.

"Well...this is new."  I rubbed the back of my head.

Oh boy...and the rabites and Temmies just kept coming in.

"Umm...this is more of a crowd of critters than last year..."  I noted as the streets started to empty of people...and started to fill with Temmies and Rabites.

"Uh..."  Frisk started to back up a bit to give them their space.

"Huh...never had this problem before..."  Asriel sweatdropped before hopping on the NXS Board and flying over to our spot moments before the sea of furry animals started to get into the reserve containers of fuku-make beans.

"I think we've created a monster, sensei..."  Asriel hopped off his board, tugging at his goatee for a bit.

"It is of no consequence.  We will simply expand the ceremony next year."

"Yeah..."

I think we managed to attract every rabite and Temmie in town.

Oh boy...I get the feeling it was probably not a good idea to televise Setsubun last year.  Because now everyone knew about it.  And with Wrench's reputation as camera rabite, it became widespread as the place to bring your little puffball if you owned one.

Or if you happened to have access to the rabite nature preserve and decided to play "concerned nature activist".

Hell, no.  We won't go.  Hell, no.  We won't go.  Chicago.

Oh boy...

"At least we never have to pay for a street cleaner much less sanitation."  I shrugged.

"C'mon.  Let's take this indoors to the main temple mansion.  Megami will have an extravagant feast prepared."

Bunnie invited us in while we maneuvered our way around the living carpet of clustered rabites and Temmies.

"Sounds good to me."  I nodded.

"Man.  This has been like Setsubun on OVERDRIVE."  Asriel chuckled.

"It's never been THIS crazy before."  Shishiko joined us.

"And...sorry again about the slap."

She muttered a little half-heartedly.  Like she was obligated to apologize but still had...anger issues over it.

"Just don't let it happen again, or get ready to step to me."  Frisk burned daggers through her.

"Better bring your A-game if you do."  Shishiko growled back.

"Ladies?  Please?  Peaceful holiday?  Let's not do anything we'll regret?"  Asriel got between them.

"Fine."  Both said in unison.

I heard Chara chuckle as she leaned up against one of the pillars of the Torii gate.  She just grinned that creepy face and kept her arms crossed.

"I'm glad YOU think it's funny."  Frisk muttered as she joined up with us.

"Hilarious."  Chara mused.

"I trust none of you have to be reminded to abide by my dojo's rules?"  Bunnie eyed them all.

"No, sensei.  We're good."  Asriel said, leaving his footwear in the designated holder outside.  Each of us, did the same before entering.

Asriel was the last in, only stopping to look over his shoulder.  Out of the vast sea of fluffiness, he managed to spy his lone rabite, Spot.

"Eat hearty, old friend.  You've earned it."

## Sub-Entry 293:  "Movie Night, an Old Tradition":

"Welcome back to the VARS Lab old friend.  And new friends!"  Sophia was there to greet our combined movie night group.

"Man, you really spruced the place up since I was last here."

"What is this place, Azzy?"  Frisk held onto his arm.

"This is a long-decommissioned laboratory in which the VARS project was carried out, originally.  It was abandoned for years until we started using it to host Movie Night.  I mean...look at the size of that mainframe's main screen.  It's like a drive-in movie theater in here."

"And the acoustics are to die for.  A bit of tinkering and updating the P.A. system and sound equipment and this place puts Dolby Digital Stereo to shame."  Sally gave a thumbs up as Drew finished the connections on the last of the new speaker set.

"What's taking Mr. Jon so long?  I thought he said he'd meet us here?"  M.K. asked.

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"He's getting snacks."

"Where?  Renalia?"  Honey mused.

"No...he just needs a bigger transport..."  I groaned as my ear twitched at the sound of the 18-Wheeler trailer backing up to the service entrance.

"What kind of transport w-would he need for--"

That was when the transport door rolled up and the truck's doors burst open and a huge wave of popcorn spilled out...with Jon already in the pile crunching away.

"...that answer your question?"  I said dryly.

"Now I remember..."  Frisk recalled Azzy's story about the 18-wheeler.  "And I thought you were kidding back then."

"Oh, how I wish I were..."  Asriel had a cheesy grin as he sat down in his set and retracted his horns to feel a bit like his younger child self.  And so they wouldn't get in anyone's face behind him.

"Oh my stars...!"  Toriel put her hands on her cheeks.

"FUHUHUHUHUHUHUH!"  Undyne cracked up.  "That is AWESOME!"

"Oh d-d-dear!"  Alphys scooted back a bit to avoid being buried.

"Goddammit, son-in-law!"  I cursed.

"What?"  He said, mouth still full of popcorn.

"You're hopeless."

"Nah.  I'd say he's a-maize-ing."  Sans winked.

"Oh I get it!  Corn.  Maize.  Clever."  Azzy tugged at his goatee a little.

"Please do not encourage my brother."  Papyrus deadpanned, his eye sockets actually shaping to look "unamused".  Kind of reminded me of the Luigi deadpan.  You know I had sworn I'd seen the beanpole plumber do that face during a plumbing commercial he and his brother had aired in Brooklyn that Ray just happened to have a tape of while I was hanging out in the Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse with my mentors.

Heh.  Proof that my mentors and the Mario Brothers share a world?  Maybe...maybe not.  Maybe it's just the Mandela effect.

Either way...I could also swear the lady in the commercial sounded familiar.  Maybe missing a pink and rose gown and poofy red hair?

Nah.

Anyway.

Movie Night.

You know it by now.  A Tuesday tradition.

And you should consider yourselves warned that what follows probably won't make a lick of sense without excruciatingly detailed context and description of images I can't show.

That said...just bear with me and try to put together what's going on.

"Shall we get this party started? T-minus 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

We have ignition!"  Violet launched it.

Movie night kicked off the same way it always did.  With pre-show music.

Vi started it off with a selection that Tiem had picked out based on Violet's computer lessons.  And the lesson she imparted last time was on the concept of "vocaloids"; the artificial programs that consisted of CG generated A.I. characters that could actually sing.  Their choice?

Touhou [東方] Hardstyle: Marisa Kirisame's Theme: Love Coloured Master Spark (Common/English Vocal).

"Vocaloids are an acquired taste."  Violet mused.

Of course Sally had to weigh in.

"They used to be all the rage in Technopolis a couple decades ago. They're delightfully retro now. "

"And colorful."  Asriel mused as Alphys just held her cheeks and tried not to squeal too loudly.

"This one is actually from my own findings... After all, I have information that the girl of this song is rather bold."  Tiem proudly declared.

Which Vi only had one thing to say.

"Yeah...but really. sandals with SOCKS?"

I sighed and nipped this in the bud.

"Just stop talking, Vi."

"She is also... VERY good with magic."

Ripper, with Chameleon's okay, found one that Bunnie recognized:

"Title Theme / Stage 1 & 5 (Journey to Silius)" - GaMetal Remix

"I am actually familiar with Journey to Silius from my early UCIAT tenure..."

"Oh my!  What a dystopian image!"  Toriel gaped at the 8-bit depiction of Journey to Silius on the screen.

"But DUDE, that song's ROCKIN'!"  M.K. spoke out of turn.

"Is it true that it's world is a weird AU of the Terminator universe?" Asriel asked.

"...huh. Journey to Silius...and the Terminator? I never thought to make the connection! But now that I see the archival footage, it's so obvious!"  I was astounded.

"Those who tried to convince you shouldn't believe it would be... Conners!"  Chameleon mused.

Asriel snickered in response.

Toriel and Asgore looked at each other and shrugged.  Goat Son hadn't shown the Terminator movies yet.

"Please.  Don't encourage the prince to partake in the lowest denomination of humor."  Papyrus said dryly.

"Sorry to rattle your bones."  Chameleon followed up.

"Saaans!"

"What?  How's this my fault?"

"Don't take it hard, Sans.  I guess fault is a matter of being asked to suppress your sense of humor nine or... ten-nis times?"

Sports humor.  Good one.

"OH MY GOD!"

"This one, however... This I thought would get Asriel's joy."  Chameleon lead off with the next one.

Another rockin' tune.

"I like it already.

Then Mitzi had one to show off.

"My contribution is this little song called 'Autumn Leaves' from my Toxic Audio acapella days. Back when I was performing under the name Shalisa James II after my mother's maiden name."

"Ahhhh... More TOXIC audio.

I can't help but think Tiem only appreciates them for the name of their band, being his acid element.

Still, that was flattering enough for Mitzi.

"I warmed up to the name after a while."

"Ah, autumn. The point which the climate is still tolerable. Before that accursed winter sweeps in."  I interjected.

After a plethora of Eurobeat songs in honor of Antoine's birthday coming up, Sally was soon introduced to some headaches after Violet found an old tabloid video centering around that guy, himself...Sonic the Hedgehog.  And the question the expose asked?  Should Sonic have a girlfriend.

Sally's reaction was pretty obvious.

"...Violet...I have a feeling I'm going to have to hurt you after this video...  Just give me an excuse."

"It'll be TOTALLY worth it to see your reaction to what your counterpart does."  Vi giggled.

Sally cracked her knuckles.

"Oh I can't wait to get that excuse...

And of course it started with that pink hedgehog that she "doesn't like".  You know her name...

"I still don't like her."

And then it centered on her.  Sally.  Or rather her ACM-001 counterpart.

While it was mostly a tender story about childhood friends who grew close together.

There WAS one infamous scene that had our Sally up in arms:

The slap heard 'round the world.

"I did WHAT to Sonic!?"  Our Sally's jaw dropped as she gaped at the red hand-shaped welt on the cheek of ACM-001's Sonic the Hedgehog.

"Oh god...my counterpart was a selfish, hot mess back in that issue..."  Sally facepalmed hard, unable to image herself ever getting THAT mad over her marriage proposal getting turned down because Sonic couldn't stop fighting against Robotnik.

Then...there was Princess Elise.

There's...a can of worms that everyone in the room was hiding a grin and laughter over.

"......I'm sorry. I can't take THIS implied romance seriously. XD

00:40

<Sally> Okay THAT'S universal.

00:41

"Sonic seems cool but complicated."  Frisk shrugged.

"You had to know him to understand him.  Some of us...didn't understand him until they walked a mile in his high tops."

Sally unsuccessfully looked away.

"Well, now that we're all cool--"  Violet started as she tried to leave to get a soda.

Sally grabbed Vi by the back of the kimono.

"...I'm not getting out of this one, am I?"

"No fighting."  Toriel warned.

"Yeah.  Wait until Movie Night's over to slug it out!"  Undyne chortled.

Chameleon showed some old 1970's TV show about and married couple; a sweet old lady married to a real hardcase grump.  I forget the name of it though, but pretty sure what they showed back then would offend a lot of millennials now.

You could get away with saying and doing a lot of things back then.  I guess.

I contributed an archival tape I found that I'm sure Garfield would want me to burn.

"Roughly 5 more minutes of Jon Arbuckle becoming increasingly unhinged without context?"  Alphys questioned.

"You know the more I see of this guy that played the owner of my father figure's cartoon likeness when he licensed his image out to that animation company, Paws Inc.....the more I think this guy may have ACTUALLY been insane..."

"Is human going insane?"  Tithius asked.

"...going...?"  I hid my silly grin.

"Not "going".  Tiem replied.

"I think it's way past that..."

At a scene where Jon was handing over all his money to some scam artist...

"If only it were that easy to get money, huh, Tiem?"  Violet questioned.

"...It is. You merely have to know the proper sources."  Tiemtiaren replied with a reptile grin.

"KINKY."  Violet chuckled in response.

I facepalmed as did Toriel and Frisk and Alphys.  Chara just grinned.

"...I just realized this guy made me understand the reason why Al Dente exists...to give people hope. And be glad they're not HIM."  I joked.

"Impossible... Al has no reason for existence."  Chameleon hissed.

"Why isn't the sensei wearing gi trousers?

Bunnie narrowed her eyes at the giant man in the gi jacket...and suspiciously no pants.

"That's what a record is?"  Asriel questioned.

"Well.  Now I feel old."  I moaned.

"Join the club, sonny."  Gerson popped out of nowhere.

"He has to do WHAT!?"

I admit I hadn't seen that scene from Garfield's old cartoon series.  Let's just say it involved a man's pants and leave it at that.

"Oh my!"  Frisk covered her face, even though they didn't show anything.

"Oh my..."  Chara grinned mischievously.

"Uh...let's just move on to tonight's lesson."  Asriel interrupted.  "...and ask questions later. MUCH later."

So then we got a crash course in Chameleon's favorite online gamer, CobraMercenary1.  An instructional video in war simulation strategy known only as:

"Minion Masters Monday - Close For The Holiday"

The lesson of course was...

...wait...

What WAS the lesson from that night?

Let me get back to you.

It was Lupe's choice for cartoon for us to submit so she picked out episode 6 of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors.

Good show.  I'll probably end up visiting that world when the UCIAT off world missions start up again.

So.  Someone else managed to find an old cartoon series called "Ring Raiders".

Even if I had context to give...it would definitely be one you'd have to see for yourself.

So far...Gadget's biggest question is "why is that surfer bum's call sign "Hubbub"?

"She knew the risks."  Sally shrugged at the obvious trap that got a female member of the good guys caught.

"Man, that got has the most rugged chad man face I have ever seen."  Prince James rubbed his chin.

By this point it got harder to contextualize everyone's comments.

"She'll be fine."

And even harder.  But at least this one had to do with air force rivals.

"Okay, seriously...this is got to be against regulations.......Okay, I like good competition as much as anybody but seriously...this is not smart.  \*gasp\* Now he's taking it too far."

I was surprised Sally was more invested than Gadget.  But maybe it was the athlete in her, speaking on rivalries.

"A win is a win even if it's--

Sally's jaw dropped...then she lowered her eyebrows and crossed her arms.  "...tainted."

And at the scene of a guy leaving his wingman to crash because he was afraid of getting reported and drummed out of the academy.

"...COWARD."

"Wait a second, I have that thing in War Thunder."

It was only a matter of time before the show's script dropped something Violet found amusing.

"Playing footsie with dinosaurs?"  Her grin was a mile wide.

"...low-hanging fruit. That was practically gift-wrapped for Vi's low standards."  Bunnie glared.

And of course there was no shortage of the  weird...

"...your grossness?"

But I had a different thing to comment on.

"Time travel. He just made STC-A's list."

By this time Sally was practically commenting on every other line.

"You're gambling with your life, man.  Don't do it.  How gutless are you to be this afraid of the consequences--"

And bad guy crashes.

"...well. He made his own bed."

So back the present after Sally was on the edge of her seat for the flashbacks.

"...you really should trust in your team."  It was Willamina who chimed in this time.'

"Mmm-hmm."  Frisk nodded, arms crossed.

And a meta-commentary on why bad guys cheat and good guys have team-work.

"It's not cheating if you rely on your friends.  Just think of them being referees..."  Willamina observed.

Undyne fist-pumped as Papyrus got all teary-eyed.

"It's the power of friendship!"  He said at the same time as one of our kitsune friends.

"Reminds me of the smokescreen from that Spy Hunter incident. Only with planes."

Which left Asriel a ripe moment to make a John Cena reference...

"So....U can't C me? Is that it?"

"Fear the Ma Deuce."  Tet taunted.

A scene of Hubbub’s stereo speakers in his plane getting shot up...

"Heheheheh. A cruel fate indeed. A D.J. knows "cruel".

Add a splash-landing with sharks...

"Fear the shark."  Sally chuckled at Mako's predicament.

"I would say the shark has much to fear."  Lupe countered.

"There's puns here.  I just know it."  Papyrus groaned.

"Sounds like they're gill-ty!"  Sans capitalized.

"Stooooop."  Papyrus warned.

"...you know Siren sounds a lot like my rival, Susan "She-Lion" Silo on Team Kopy Kat..."

"Ahem."  Shishiko leaned forward and glared.  "That's MY counterpart you're talking about.  And we're practically identical clones of one another."

"My bad."

"She even has a very catty hair style."

"Watch what you say about catty."  Honey complained.

"Make it double."  Shishiko grimaced.

"Oh, they're dead."  The kitsunes mused among themselves.

"Hoi!"  A Temmie even managed to sneak in to chime in.

"The irony is so thick..."  Asriel started.

"You could cut it with an industrial laser."  I finished.

There is nothing I could say to string any bit of context together that could make our collective comments make any more sense without actual video of what we were watching.  But an online log like this doesn't support that so...you know.  Use your imaginations."

There were other videos as well, ranging from Gaijin Goomba's Which Ninja to Sally's customary dis rap from Vi's extensive Epic Rap Battles of History library.  To Chameleon and Tithius showcasing the Three Stooges doing what they do best.

Someone loaded a video showcasing Donatello from the TMNT being weird.  And even Violet submitted an expose on the long lost flash game centering around Waluigi's toenail clipping game.  I am NOT kidding.  And I wish Vi didn't show proof it existed.

The movie itself ended up being some suspenseful murder movie about a psychopathic locked in a sound stage while hunting everyone down in a full owl mask.

I think I was the last one still awake by the time the last scenes and the closing credits rolled.

Chameleon and his crew had to leave before hand.  Everyone else either passed out or left.  The last thing was Violet commenting about keeping a firearm concealed so the killer could be taken by surprise.

By morning, Toriel was just all out of sorts over letting us all stay up to such late hours.

I tried to take in some of the responsibility.

But eventually we all just dropped it and agreed that it was a great movie night, even though I couldn't really make sense of the notes I made for this transcript.  I'm sure a lot of our MST3K commentary was lost in translation or from sleep deprivation.  Whatever the case...some traditions are just meant to last forever.

## Sub-Entry 294: "Karaoke Night, a New Tradition":

"So you finally did it, huh?"

"Did it?  We've been doing it for years on my side of the UltraVerse."  Asriel mused.  "Been trying to top Mettaton for a while now.  He's a tough act to beat, y'know.  But Frisk and I feel like we're getting closer."

"Technically, Azzy, we DID beat him in our debut."

"Yeah...I suppose if he were his old self," I pondered.  "Then he would have called it beginners luck."

"I'm not going to say he let us win."  Asriel smiled.  "Not after we put our hearts and souls into it.  We tried and we won on our own merits."

"That we did."  Frisk stole a kiss before the two of them nose-nuzzled.

"Thinking of taking Doggamy and Dogaressa’s nose-nuzzling titles?  It would be fitting.  The son becomes the father.  In the one way I think you'd want to, yes?"

"Aww, cut it out, Volt."  Asriel blushed.

"You know it might be something to shoot for, Azzy."  Frisk cocked her head and widened her smile.

"Well you nerds better not get your hopes up.  That tin can is going to win again like he has been for the last few years of this Bee-Ess."

"Undyne!"  Frisk scolded.

"What?  I didn't say the whole thing.  That's not really swearing."

"Oh brother..."  Asriel rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'd better get my piano tuned up.  Later, nerds.  Sure you don't want in on this, Alphys?"

"S-sorry, Undyne.  I've been practicing this new O.V.A. title sequence for months now!  I've g-g-got it perfect!"

Leave it up to Alphys to do a perfect rendition of an anime theme song.

The competition had doubled now that Mirandians were in on it.

Mitzi of course entered as did many of Rock-Afire Pizzeria's staff.

Pit even was coaxed into entering.  Is it that believable he didn't even KNOW he had an angelic singing voice?

The irony writes itself.

So the usual acts and ones I wasn't prepared for.

The good with Mitzi reprising her Toxic Audio persona under "Shalisa James the Second".

The bad with...Toriel and Asgore unable to get on the same page.  It was more his fault than hers.  Someone should have told him to lay off the scones and the side of butter rum ice cream before hand.  Oh boy...

And then the what the heck with Burgerpants about to do a dis rap rant about how much he hates his job...before he had a wardrobe malfunction and tripped over his own pants.

And someone thought it funny the drop a whole mess of cheeseburgers from Beefy Burger on him from the rafters.

Oh well.

They probably saved him from getting fired by Mettaton.

Which left the even weirder with the Temmies performing...uh...at least I think they were performing.

"hoi!  hoi!  hoi!  Hoi!"

"Ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya!"

"Such a CUTE!"

"We get all da MUNS!"

I couldn't tell if they were doing J-pop, Korean rock, or hip-hop...or...uh...I don't even have a word for it.

Afterwards there was and awkward applause and murmurs.

"...we're just too ahead of our time."  The Shopkeeper grumbled as he lead them off stage on all fours.

"You'll all regret this!!!"  He said as he left his...hovering...scowling...face behind.

And then there was just dead silence.  Before the blank-faced Temmie came back and super-imposed over the hovering eyes, nose and mouth before walking off stage, complete, while sticking his butt in the air.

"Well.  That happened."  Sarina gaped.

"Yeah."  Marcel agreed.

"Can we pretend it didn't?"  Chameleon grumbled in his seat.

"Could not, should not.  Should not, could not."  Kid the Cat hovered over his chair with a Cheshire grin.

"Who asked you?"  Tiem scowled.

"Master?  Was music?"  Tithius cocked his head as he perched on Chameleon's shoulder.

"If it was, I think I hate it."  Chameleon growled.

And of course Mettaton was the second to last act, due to scheduling conflict.  One in which he couldn't close out the night as the main act so Asriel had to go after him, giving him more prep time.  But not a lot of hope of competing with Mettaton's blockbuster extravaganza.

"I don't know about this."

"You'll do fine."  Mina Scalnistro was an unexpected bit of support.

Nowhere were Frisk or Chara to be found, though.  Did they skip out on watching Azzy?

"We've made all the prep. All diagnostics are green."  Rotor assured.  "Nikita gives a full guarantee this will work out."

"I know but...I feel like I'm walking into the lion's den."

"Oh just get out there already."  Shishiko practically shoved him across the floor, as his heels instinctively dug in.

"Hey, don't wear my sandal treads off!"  Azzy proposed.

"Break a leg."  Violet perched on Undyne's piano after it had been rolled back stage.

"I have enough problems with the tin can doing that!  Get off!"  Undyne snapped.

"You didn't say pleeeease!"

"How about do it now before I send you to KNUCKLE JUNCTION!"

Vi rolled her eyes.  "You're no fun."

"Get...out there!"  Shishiko pushed out past the curtains.

And then Goat Son found himself coaxed out on stage.

"Oh boy..."  He was still a bit nervous at the expanded audience.  It wasn't small like it was back in Undertale.  And it was being televised.

Mettaton had spared no expense.  And Violet only threw gas on the fire.  And by gas, I mean MONEY.  Lots of funding.

This was going global.

"No guts no glory, Azzy..."  Asriel muttered before Sally queued up his song choice.

"No way...he's really going with THIS?"

I figured it was something Violet got him to joke about once.  But seriously going with this Made-For-Internet-Fan-Movie?

Only the Hoff could hassle him about this.

Though in all probability I figured Violet would have gone the extra mile and hooked them up with the costumes of the Cybertronic Spree to go the distance.

None the less...Asriel hit the ground running and belted it out with the full scope of his pipes to...True Survivor from Kung Fury.  By the legendary David Hasselhoff.

The lasers, the fog, the holograms, and the effects went on full force.  It looked like Azzy had matched Mettaton's budget.

***"Dominos falling.***

***Riot in the streets.***

***Baby, this time***

***There's no retreat***

***There's no surrender.***

***A devil is rising.***

***A shadow from the past.***

***Feeding the flames with fire***

***On the edge of fury.***

***All the time running in and out***

***of time***

***Hear the ticking of the***

***Countdown clocks tonight.***

***Go! We need some!  Go!  We need***

***Some***

***ACTION!***

***If we gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor!***

***We need some***

***ACTION!***

***If we wanna take our love away***

***From here***

***We need a***

***Living passion, to believe in***

***Burning hearts and a brand***

***new feeling***

***ACTION!***

***If we're gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor."***

And then Asriel dropped the pretense that he matched Mettaton...and revealed that he'd surpassed him.  With the use of Nikita's nanotech and Bunnie's jutsu's, without warning...

Asriel made his song from a solo into a team effort as Frisk joined him on stage...then Chara...and finally M.K.  And all of them suddenly deployed mecha-morphed costumes.  Costumes directly referencing Cybertronic Spree; with Azzy as Hot Rot, Frisk as Arcee, M.K. as a Quintesson, and  Chara as Unicron.

With Gadget on drums and Violet on key-tar and Jon on bass guitar.  All three of them in costume; Gadget as Rumble,  Violet as Soundwave, and  Jon as Spark Plug Witwicky.

And then the performance took a next level turn as the whole stage transformed with each scene depicting a different Kung Fury moment done Cybertron style.

And Frisk picked up where Azzy left off.

***"Whooooa!***

***Crawling from the ashes***

***The Phoenix Rise again!***

***Fighting for life, for good***

***For all that we believe in!***

***Go! We need some!  Go!  We need***

***Some***

***ACTION!***

***If we gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor!***

***We need some***

***ACTION!***

***If we wanna take our love away***

***From here***

***We need a***

***Living passion, to believe in***

***Burning hearts and a brand***

***new feeling***

***ACTION!***

***If we're gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor."***

Then it became a duet...and gradually a trio...and finally a full quartet.

***"The hero stands alone***

***When all is said and done***

***The enemies are falling***

***One by one***

***All the time running in and out***

***of time***

***Hear the ticking of the***

***Countdown clocks tonight***

***Go! We need some!  Go!  We need***

***Some***

***ACTION!  YEAH!***

***ACTION!  ACTION!***

***YEAH!  ACTION ACTION!***

***If we gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor!***

***We need some***

***Action!  Action!***

***If we wanna take our love away***

***From Here***

***We need a living passion, to believe in***

***Burning hearts and a brand***

***New feeling!***

***Action!  Action!***

***If we gonna make it like a***

***True Survivor***

***True Survivor!***

***Ooooh!***

***True Survivor!***

***Ohh!***

***True Survivor!"***

And the song ended with a massive barrage of pyrotechnics, fire, lightning, show, wind, rainbows, lasers, and more.

And it was immediately drowned out by massive applause and a standing ovation for what seemed like ten minutes.

"Oh myyyyyyyyy!"  Mettaton was in shock and aww.

Asriel smiled, with tears in his eyes.

The audience had spoken.

"We did it, Frisk.  We did it, Chara.  We did it, M.K."

"Yeah.  We really did."

"Duuuude."

"We finally beat Mettaton at Karaoke Night.

I think this was going to be a new tradition to stay.

## Sub-Entry 295: "Valentine's Day Means Finally a Happy Birthday to Antoine":

Every year, straight, for as long as I can remember Antoine showing up in town...

His birthday has always been a dumpster fire.

What day was that mind you?

Valentines Day.

Bummer.

Aside from quoting Peter Venkman...yeah, we all know it was never the end of the world any more than the stroke of midnight, New Year's Eve/New Year's Day from the bridge of 1989 into 1990.

But the thing that held true was that Antoine had always overstepped his bounds with Sally and also did something stupid to get her attention (the Cupid act was the worst).

But slowly...while Asriel stayed with us...

...it was like Antoine slowly found his sanity.  His reason.  His backbone.

And then I guess it finally clicked for him to see things from Sally's point of view and...he bid her adieu as a romantic interest once and for all.

The weird thing was...Sally suddenly didn't know how to feel.  Just that she wasn't going to try to chase after him for a pity date.  Sure she was feeling guilty now that she could practically feel his heartbreak from the other side of the room...but...I don't know how to finish that sentence.  And neither does Sally.

It seemed like only yesterday she smelted her royal tiara down, gave the gemstones to Marcel to pawn for however much cash he wanted from them and made it clear the royal family was dead and buried.

It broke Antoine D'Cooliette irreparably.

To the point that Violet, before Goat Son's time mind you...had to have Antoine committed to our psychiatric ward in the medical bay.  Yes.  We HAVE a psychiatric ward.  A far-more civilized and ethical facility than that infernal Fell's Point asylum or the likes of Arkham.  If you were sentenced to either, live by the credo: Abandon hope for ye who enter here.

I didn't know what therapy Violet prescribed for him.  Only that it was...probably not as ethical as our standards SHOULD have held her to.

I questioned her a lot if she utilized shock therapy in any way.  And I meant electric, not traumatizing jump scares.  Though...she probably used those too.

She neither confirmed nor denied.

At least when it came to Antoine.  Only because of doctor-client privilege.

For Al Dente, she TOTALLY violated that policy.  And proudly.

You really don't know how to react to seeing Al Dente's medical records plastered on billboards all over town.  Aside from it being probably illegal, if it were any other person it would be in hugely bad taste.

Though...two wrongs still don't make a right...that didn't stop us from continuing to use Al as our lightning rod for grievances.  We needed him to be the bad guy so we wouldn't let our own differences cause us to eventually be at one another's throats during times of high stress.

But I digress.  This is about Antoine.  Not Al Dente.  And Heck.  Even Antoine hates Al.  That says something.  Ant even considered it an upgrade to no longer be the town joke if that mean Al was the town pariah.

Back to more positive notes...Asriel had helped Antoine remember his passion for sword arts...namely fencing.  And he was good at it.  Really good.  Once he re-discovered his military roots...his background.  When he remembered that his father was General D'Cooliette; one of the most elite, badass Royal Guards King Acorn could have asked for...

...yeah.  There was an upswing and he was on the rise.

While I don't think he'll ever quite make it to "cool" in Vi's opinion...

...he has stopped sucking to such a degree even Chameleon stopped picking on him.

Though I still don't think he should ever train Antoine in proper sword fighting.  Just yet.  Even Antoine's newfound bravery has its limits.

Something new Antoine has begun to show interest in...piloting.

You read right.  Antoine was starting to follow the path of his ACM-002 counterpart and wanted to take up flying lessons next.  That's a pretty brave step up.  That's coming from me; a noted werewolf with a fear of heights.

So Azzy's time away, you'd think D'Cooliette would backslide.

He didn't.

He keep improving.  After all...he was the on person even Goat Son couldn't defeat in weapon combat.  At least in fencing.

Change the combat to kendou?  Azzy would best him EVERY time.

So.

Valentines Day.

Antoine had slowly warmed up to the idea that this day was slowly becoming NOT a bummer.

A lot of baggage to drop.

But I think...he was glad to now that he was over his PSTD from escaping Vorostov.  While he wasn't a Wounded Warrior per say; at least in the physical sense.  Getting over that kind of trauma?  Admirable.

To this day he still wouldn't say SPECIFICALLY what he endured to cross continents and find his way over here and back to Sally.  Just that...it was UNPLEASANT.

Though...if the rumors were true?  Unpleasant more for his would-be captors and executioners when they got jinxed by his overwhelming bad luck.

How exactly a firing squad manages to kill each of themselves, I'll never know.  Just that Antoine made it off the post he was tied to and of the base's quad is beyond ALL of us.

Now these were only rumors and not very well confirmed.

From there a series of unfortunate events that he somehow survived and earned him the reputation of calamity coyote.  Vorostov High Command eventually disconnected the phoneline over how many reports of squads and security depots and stations leading up to the border ended up turned upside-down and filled end to end with impossibly stupid accidents.

One report even called for the surgical removal of a  breached tank barrel from a corporal's buttocks.  How it managed to be EXPLODED off the tank and wedged up a guy's nethers is something I hope I never discover.

"Sacre bleu cheese."

I still wish I knew why he keeps butchering that expression.  He's from Mercia, just like his ACM-001 and ACM-002 counterparts.  He should know his own language.

So how did Antoine know it was going to be a good day?

It started with him waking up in his oversized luxury bed.  Like the kind you'd find in a mansion or something.

From the moment he took his sleep mask off and got out of those ridiculous feety things he called pajamas.  Heck, they had EPILETTES on the shoulders.  What pajamas have EPILETTES on the shoulders like a military uniform......

Well...I AM talking about Antoine, after all.

Oh.

Right.

Back on topic.

"I am feeling zee extra spring in my step, yes?"

He must've.  For the first time he can remember, he didn't actually trip out of bed and land on his nose.

"I am feeling far too good!"

By the time he was dressed, he considered fixing breakfast.  On a whim, he decided to have a peek at Hestia's online menu.  Just to see if there was something he could complain about.

To his surprise...

\*gasp\*  Crepe Suzette!?"

Somewhere Baloo just sneezed and someone would have to correct him that Antoine said "crepe" not "Cape".

Minimalist joke aside...

And out the door...

"Hmm?"

This was a first.  His allergies weren't acting up on an early spring day.  Usually he had to spray about two or three different nasal spays up his nose so he wouldn't be a wreck the rest of the day.  But today...

"Ahhhh!  A wonderful day this could be!  I shall have quite zee birthday to remember!  Oui-oui!"

He turned the corner and continued on his way.

From behind the building, leaning up against it, all loitering and such...

"Does he suspect?"

Asriel pushed up slightly on his bamboo hat, revealing his identity.   It was certainly an impressive cosplay of Mighty Number 8, Countershade.  If you can do a perfect impression of Steve Blum's voice acting, consider me completely impressed.

"Not even a little, laddie."  Foxy mused as her eyes stopped twinkling emerald green like  glitter-covered clovers.

"He deserves a good day.  Sooner or later more than just me and a few others are going to remember his birthday.  Today could be that day."

"He's a lucky one to have it in Valentine's Day.  You're a saint for surprising him with this."

"Nah.  Just being a good friend."

All throughout the day, Asriel and Foxy followed along before being joined by Monster Kid and Papyrus; who had a few ideas of their own how to make his day even better.

"Nyeheheheh!  I admire the furry soldier's spirit!"

"Yeah, he seems like he could be pretty awesome if he got a little push or two here and there."

"I know, right?"  Asriel mused.  "Okay, drop the next bit of good luck on him."

And with that.

Antoine gasped as he picked up the shiny pile of gold pieces on the ground.  He of course looked for anyone it belonged to.  Surprisingly...no one claimed it.  In fact one person complimented him on how lucky he was.

"I know it's Valentine's Day and all...but I'd say St. Patrick's Day came a little early."

"Saint what?"  Foxy inquired.

"Oh.  We call it Green Day over here.  Or Mitzi Day.  Long story."  Asriel clarified.

"Wowee!  I had no idea that your cooking friend had an entire holiday named after her!"

"It's the name we went with."  Asriel shrugged.  "Because she's always wearing green."

"Hey.  How come I'm not credited?  Foxy put her hands on her hips.

"We owe you, too."  Asriel chuckled.

"That's better."

It was like this all throughout the day.  Gradually, we let the others in on this.

"Hmm.  A noble endeavor, my former student.  Antoine has shown tremendous progress.  Very well.  I shall mend old grievances this day.  I will join in on wishing him a happy birthday."

And of course Rotor...

"Y'know...no one else would have gone through as many troubles helping him out over the years.  I guess if I want to continue being a good friend it wouldn't be a good idea to snub him on his birthday...like...we've done for years.  Yeah.  Let's make up for old times, Azzy.  You're a good friend, you know that?"

"I try."

And Jon was in.

"Oh too right, I'm on board!  A birthday means cake and ice cream.....er....which I'm sure Antoine will appreciate."

"Don't try so hard to cover up your moment of gluttony."  Foxy crossed her arms.

"Duuuude!"

And so on...

"I'd be happy to!"  Gadget was in, too.

Antoine of course ate hearty at Hestia's.  We even made sure Hestia was in on it and tried her darndest to put up with any criticism.

And to her surprise...he had none.  He was definitely in too good a mood to be sour and nitpicky.

Who was this and what did he do with Antoine?

The day ticked down and Antoine's day continued to be on the rise.  His classes at the fencing school went perfectly.

I have to say...for a day that was in fact on Valentines Day...we'd certainly made a lot of effort to avoid anything particularly romantic or even Valentine-related.

This felt more like Antoine's day than a holiday adorned with hearts and red, pink, and white decor.

Though...I'd say the closest was Violet's pin-up calendar depicting Valentine's Day Ciel, Iris, Rico, and iCO from Mega Man X DiVE.

Bunnie was actually shocked that they were SFW depictions, too, giving Vi's history.

I guess I did also see Chara scarfing down a box of chocolate...she bought for herself.  Yeah, not surprised.

So finally, the trope of dropping him a letter from a secret admirer went into effect.  A bit of a risky gambit; lest we lead him back to his Pepe Le Pew act...

...it brought him to Rock-Afire Pizzeria where...

"Surprise!  Happy Birthday, Antoine!"

"Mon Dieu, mon ami!"  Antoine had his hands on his cheeks in that starry-eyed look I'd only seen from Papyrus.

Of course everything was to his liking.  But there was one moment that would truly make his day.  And it was a hard one to get her to agree to...

"Antoine?"

"Oui?  S-Sally?"

.A moment of hesitation before she give him a little peck on the forehead.

"Happy Birthday.  Happy Valentine's Day."

It took everything he had not to faint.  Then Sally made one thing clear:

"That lasts...the rest of your life.  Don't.  Even.  THINK..of milking it."  She pointed at his nose.  "This is for the holiday and it's entirely platonic.  Understand me?"

"Oui...I understand."

"Good.  Now.  Let's get your celebration underway."  Sally put on her D.J. headphones and headed to her turntables.

"Asriel?"

"Yes, Antoine?"

"Merci.  Merci boucoup."

"You're welcome, Antoine.  You're welcome.  Have a happy birthday, my friend."

"I already am."

Nearby Foxy and M.K. gave a high-five for mission accomplished.

"Isn't it wonderful, Undyne?"

"Ehhhh.  A little mushy for my tastes."

Alphys could only squee in delight over things.

I just gave Azzy a thumbs up.  He returned the gesture.

Only in Miranda could our calamity coyote...finally get his due.

## Sub-Entry 296: "A New Stomping Grounds for an Old Murderflower"

A heavy sigh followed by a grumble.

"Yeah, yeah...move along..."  He kept a blank look as the crowd snapped photos and posted videos.

Once they dispersed.

"Why do you do this to yourself, Flowey?"  Lupe sat down beside him.

"Spare me the waterworks, druid."

"I never once asked you to parade yourself around like some kind of--"

"Freak Show attraction at the circus?"

"Not...how I'd put it.  But you do seem to be punching your own ego for some reason I can't explain.  Are you doing this out of protest against the Commander?"

"What's done is done."  Flowey folded his leafy vines like actual arms.

"Then why?"

"Do I need a reason?"  Flowey smoldered.

"I don't understand why you are unhappy.  Is this not what you wanted?  Something different than the resets?"

"I thought I wanted that once.  Only I thought it would be on my terms.  Not Arcade's.  Not yours."

"But we have not set any terms.  This was an open-ended invitation."

"One that the stupid goat badgered me into."

"Are you not misdirecting your anger?"

"I don't know why he insists on carrying on Arcade's desire to reach out to try to save another Asriel that's looong since lost.  He's not coming back.  He can't come back.  And even if he did, he wouldn't.  I have his memories and--"

"And you seem to be acting on his desires."

"Don't try to group me together with the Dreemurr brat.  I may have been him, but I'm not him anymore.  Seriously.  Why does it still escape you people that I don't have a SOUL!"

"We have not forgotten."

"Without a soul I'm NOBODY.  I'm just a plant that has a will of its own.  A survival instinct and not much more."

"If that were true you wouldn't be arguing so passionately with me.  Something is still clearly there."

"For crying out loud, Lupe.  Stop beating that dead horse!  The whole crying thing before Asgore in those other timelines...the ones I can remember being in...?  Just a ruse!  Just a way for--"

Flowey stopped short.

"...just a way to make up for not doing what they asked."  Lupe finished.

"Grrrr...they're gone now.  Several times over.  Aside from the brat that's now stuck in Gaster's VOID...who can even say how many other Chara's there were while I got recycled through the timelines.  Who can say how many other Flowey’s there were for them before they got retired?"

"Madam Fate made a mess of all of your predecessors.  Did she not?"

"Oh her sister's not blameless, either.  Why, out of all the runs did she only show favor to one Asriel out of billions of timelines, AU's...why did Asriel Arcade have to be the one time she finally broke the cycle!?"

"I...cannot answer that."

"Yeah.  Yeah, I figured."

I had been pondering for a long time if the replaced assets of Undertale were truly gone or if Madam Fate...and possibly Lady Destiny had preserved them for later.

The way Violet tried to think of it was...each one was like a backup disk containing a file.  And when one file in the game got too damaged or...Fate got too bored of how "stock" and "generic" they were...the Goddess of Chaos and Discord put it in a "decompiler" and started playing around with code.  Maybe a few lines...or maybe a complete overhaul.  Who could say how it worked.  Then they just switched out that part of the game.

And here we were...some assets deleted...some copies existing side by side.

And somehow it all kept existing after Frisk and Asriel crashed the pseudocode.  In a way it was like Undertale was reborn.  It found new life.  New purpose.  It wasn't a spinoff per se.  It wasn't a fangame world now.  I don't know what to call its new meta-existence.  Very much part of the UltraVerse...and very unique unto itself.

"For what it's worth...you're always welcome here."

"You don't get how much that stings."

"Stings?"

"I know Arcade told you every little thing I've done."

"Yes.  And they are all in the past.  Let it go."

"Let it go?  When it's all I have?"

"You know that's not true."

"All I have are my memories and this...excuse that passes for a body.  Take those away and what am I?  Just...pseudo data those infernal goddesses have on some kind of celestial hard drive in all probability.  I'm just a card in their stupid Yu-Gi-Oh deck."

"I see you've learned a little more about our pocket worlds in the Ultra Verse."

"Don't remind me.  It's bad enough that the others are becoming real otaku nerds.  Just like the lot of you."

"Well.  That is the nature of our UltraVerse.  It's a melting pot of not just people but fandoms.  I guess that's how the Commander put it.  Undertale is in the mix.  Mobius is in the mix.  Little Tokyo is in the mix.  Makai World and Angel Land are in the mix.  So many worlds colliding and uniting.

When I first learned about it all...I never thought I'd be able to take it all in.  I thought it was too much to fathom.  To much for anyone to know.  I felt...like my universe grew...and shrunk at the same time."

"An infinite number of aggravation."

"I do not understand why you see them that way.  You were plagued by boredom from all the resets.  I would have believed this would be plenty of fresh new territory."

"And Adonis ruined it forever.  Every world...every reference he used against us all...it just made me realize it's ALL THE SAME.  Same old good vs. evil.  Same toxic fanbases.  Same people drawing us as rule 34......no thanks to Evil Chara for dropping that on me when we last crossed paths."

"Wait...when did--"

"Didn't Arcade ever WONDER why Evil-Chara called me an abomination?"

"I see...so..."

"Yeah.  I was aware of his plan the whole time.  And I kept my mouth shut under threat of Alloicious Adonis doing something...even beyond Chara's nightmares.  And let me tell you, his dreams could get DARK.  Really dark."

"You had the ability to stop this long ago.  But--"

"But I didn't.  I let him play out his sick game because I thought it would be more interesting.  Arcade's proposal to do the right thing?  It's tired.  It's played out--"

"And?"

"...and it was still the safer options.  It was the path without the risky gamble.  It was the one that he wanted me to have faith on.  And I blew him off."

"And you're punishing yourself even now for things you've done."

"Now do you see what "Asriel" always was?  Someone who can't forgive himself..."  Flowey's petals drooped like he was wilting.

"...and then your goat had to go and break that dynamic."  Flowey raised his head and straightened out with the psycho face.

Lupe was unphased.

"And I can't even blame him entirely.  The goddesses could have shown mercy to me...but they gave it to a REPLACEMENT.  An Asriel REPLACEMENT.  I'm probably not even the original, either!!  How many times have they scrubbed us from their game and started over?!"

"Oh.  I see."  Lupe's expression actually softened.

Silence for a long time.

"This thing you and I have.  Don't you dare call it a friendship."

"It is what you want it to be."

"You and your lack of resistance.  Every time.  You never push back.  You're just--"

"..."  Lupe was tempted to reply with "say it".  But that wasn't in her nature.  It was a would not kicking.

So Flowey said it for her.

"...just like I was.  And that's why Chara is dead.  I pushed back once...and we died.  Your Asriel didn't push back...merely hesitated  when Chara-Wraith tired to get him to play his part in the Plan......and he got the keys to paradise handed to him."

"What a twist Lady Destiny and Madam Fate scripted.  Is it not?"

Flowey crossed his vine-arms...and sulked...then replied.  "Sick and twisted."

"We...all suffered under Adonis.  You can't understand a person until you know the same pain they do."

"I guess that much is true.  Isn't this where you say something like...but also the same joys they do?  In case you haven't noticed...I don't FEEL joy.  I don't FEEL anything."

"I suppose if you wish to keep on

"I suppose if you wish to keep on believing that--"

"Don't.  I expect it from the others but don't you dare call me a liar."

"I did not call you a liar.  It's not a lie if you believe something so strongly.  But it doesn't make it true."

"You're calling me out on--"

"We all know what happened in the Genocide Timelines.  The Commander declassified it among all UCIAT personnel."

"...It...doesn't...proove anything!"  Flowey was noticably disturbed.

"Can we not just have this common ground?  We have a common foe who did us all wrong.  Horribly, horribly wrong."

Flowey pondered that.

"There's no point to arguing that."  He looked a bit deflated, metaphorically speakig.

"He'll never come back for you.  He'll never take his revenge.  You are in a safe place.  This is my sanctuary.  And it is yours as well."

"Why...why...?"

"What do you mean 'why'?"

"Lupe.  You know what question I want to ask."

"Why are we being so nice to you?  Why...not?"

"I still...can't... understand..."  Flowey's voice broke a little.  "I...I can't...understand...I can't understand.  I can't understand..."

"Then don't.  Just accept it.  Our compassion is here.  It's ours to give freely.  There are no strings attached."

"There's such...a disconnect between who I was and who I am now.  You tell me why...my head makes sense of it.  But that's all.  It's just words.  It doesn't mean anything.  There's not emotion there.  There's no feeling.  There's nothing compelling me."

"I know.  But you're not completely void of the spark of life.  And life...is love.  Love...is life.  You go on living because of determination, yes?  But...there has to be more.  Just a will to live is not enough to live.

Flowey.  Find something to live for.  And then you won't just be surviving.  You'll be truly living."

Flowey turned away for a moment.

"The brat was the only one who ever went out of their way for me.  At least until the other me...that other Asriel; the one you all love and cherish so much.  He went out of his way for me.  And now...here you are...doing the same.  Why does this keep happening!?  Why...does it keep happning to me?"

"To you?  Do not think of it that way.  Think of it as this happening for you."

"...you...are too good for this world, Lupe.  This worlds deserves you a lot more me."

"No.  It's not about deserving.  We're in this world, together, Flowey.  Take all the time you need to try to figure this out.  I'm always here for you."

"You...have to get going, don't you?"

"I do.  But...you know how to find me if you need me."

Flowey didn't answer.

Lupe took a moment to fix her daisy-buckle sandals and adjust her leg greaves before getting up and going on her way.

"Hey.  You know...if you want...you can tell the goat he can come around here any time.  Not that I miss him or anything.  He...probably can't go that long without little old me in his life."

"I will do that."

And Lupe was off.

"Take care of yourself, Flowey.  But you don't have to do so alone."

As soon as Lupe was gone...

"Yeah...you too.  And...I will."

## Sub-Entry 297: "Greedy Spider Shakes Up the World of Pastry and Profit":

"Show of hands.  Who saw this coming?"

Bunnie was the first to raise her hand.  Then Mitzi.  Then Chara. Then Grillby.  Then Asriel.  And so on.  Eventually Toriel...though a bit reluctantly.  I think she just didn't want to say anything bad about anyone.

"Hestia and I may be in for fiercer competition than we bargained for."

"I honestly thought the high prices would offset it but...if you have a product good enough to gain this kind of attention...?"

"Then yeah...business is going to take a hit for both of us."

"I suppose if you want to level the playing field you could reveal that there's more to their slogan than "Made For Spiders, By Spiders".  Violet grinned.

"Vi, no."  I grimaced.

"It should read...Made For Spiders, By Spiders, OF Spiders!"  Vi chortled.

"Oh gods..."  Mitzi facepalmed.

"I still know the recipe four hasenpfeffer."  Hestia growled bending down to look Vi in the eyes.  I did say Vi was shorter than average.  And Hestia was taller than average so...

"I'm not going to win back my customers by mud-slinging, Vi."  Mitzi crossed her arms.

"Don't think of it as mudslinging.  Just think of it as being a concerned citizen making sure everyone aware of the ingredients beforehand.  Buyer beware!"

"You know, technically we never ACTUALLY confirmed that Muffet puts her own kind in her wares..."

"But we never disproved it, either."  Vi argued, gleefully.

"Goddammit..."

"It would be rude to ask."  Frisk rubbed the back of her head.

"And a good chef does not reveal her secrets, my child."  Toriel agreed.

"That's magicians."  Violet stuck her tongue out.

"Rude."  Asriel glared at her.   Then he sighed.  "I can't apologize enough for bringing this upon you girls."

"Don't.  I'm sure sooner or later someone would have brought stiff competition to the town."  Hestia assured.

"Besides, it's not like she's doing anything wrong...outside of the price-gouging."  Mitzi wrinkled her nose at the menu that Chu-Chu had absconded with from Muffet's place.

"This is one time mamma's not going to scold you for being a little thief."  Mitzi pet her little puffball.

"Yikes.  That's how much she's charging for a glass of water?  That's highway robbery."  Chara snatched up the page.  "Wish I thought of it."

"You're not IN the restaurant business."  Frisk replied.

"It's the principle of the matter."  Chara shrugged before handing it over to Asriel.

"...yeah...this is all too familiar."  he actually shrunk down a little.  "Ouch.  My wallet is in pain and I haven't even bought anything from her yet."

"I'll try to talk to her."  Grillby scratched his er...cheek?

"Thanks, Grillby.  At least get her to promise that we'll keep our rivalries civil.  And don't let this get out of hand."  Hestia sighed in relief.

"You're a peach, Grillby.  I'm totally popping over for some burger and fries later."  Mitzi smiled.

"Always glad to serve one of my favorite customers."

"Make it two."  Hestia wrapped her arm around Mitzi and hugged her in a sisterly way.

Mitzi giggled with a smile.

"If I do, Sarge is going to have me hit the treadmill."  Asriel rubbed the back of his head.

"What Sarge don't know..."  Chara said slyly.

"You presume she won't find out."  Frisk scolded.

"Oh boy..."  Asriel rubbed his temples as his fiancé and his sister started to argue.

"Girls, girls, girls!  Please!"  Violet seemed to be breaking up the confrontation.

"At least wait for me to Live Stream this!"  She said as she got out her cell phone.

Annand there it is.

Goddammit, Vi.

"You know I know this kid from my time at Totsuki Academy for culinary arts."  Mitzi spoke up.

"Kind of a rude and blunt guy but more so because he's so direct.  But darned if he didn't have talent.

Don't spread it around but his dad was a cooking legend at the same school.  Almost could have been top dog but...the pressure got to him and...he felt the responsibility crushing him.  Lost sight of his goals and stopped having fun.  So he left the academy to wander the world, settle down, and start a small diner.

The kid wouldn’t stop competing with his father and kept losing to him."

"Sounds like an interesting person."  Hestia pondered.

"Yeah...he was...interesting.  When he was taking cooking seriously, his meals were INCREDBLE.  Buuuut...when he wasn't so serious...he'd cook up some of the weirdest and grossest things on a whim and get some poor sap to taste test it."

"Annnnd...you were that poor sap one of those times."  Chara grinned.

"Guilty as charged.  Ohh...I think I felt it wriggling in my stomach.  I think I still do every time I think about it."

"There's one the Weed would find familiar."  Chara took a shot at Flowey.

"So.  There a point to your story?"  Chara retorted.

"No...I guess not.  Just feeling nostalgic.  But my goodness...such good memories of all those Food Wars."

Yeah.  She could only be talking about Soma.

"Actually, there was a train of thought I was following.  You know I was there when he shook up the world of fast-food fried chicken while in Jang."

"I remember."  Bunnie was leaning up against the wall, arms crossed, head down and eyes closed.

She stood up straight and uncrossed her arms, opening her eyes.  "You may not know but fried chicken isn't just a proud tradition of my mother and Southern Ecotropia.  It's hugely popular in Jang.  There's one particular brand name that has an almost religious following; appearing in anime and such."

She could only be talking about our world's counterpart to Colonel Harland Sanders.  Back when their tagline was "we do chicken right".  Some things carry over from Earth realm into our world.  A lot of things, coincidentally, mind you.  I'm actually surprised our world wasn't considered an "Earth" dimension.  Remarkably similar.  A lot of historical and cultural similarities.  But...still distinct.

"And you were just thinking that if your friend were here, he'd be one who could quell the unrest that Muffet  has stirred up."

"You think this kid could honestly put the greedy spider in her place?"

"I don't know about that but..."

"Would we all have a "reaction" to his cooking?"  Violet grinned before being thwapped.

"Let's not take it there."  Bunnie narrowed her eyes.  "It's on thing to reference Yakita! but don't remind me what happens at  Totsuki Food Wars when the judges experience true flavor.  It's...undignified."

I think that was about the time Alphys passed by the door.  As soon as she overheard Violet's reference I think her jaw dropped and her glasses fogged up.  Oh yeah.  Anime weeb most CERTAINLY read into it.

Goddammit, Vi.

"I...g-gotta use the restroom!"  She squeaked out before dashing to Rock-Afire Pizzeria's ladies room."

Asriel just shrugged and indicated NOT to ponder that.

"Subject change?"

"How about we get going to Grillby's?  This talk of food worked up an appetite."  Frisk smiled.

"Glad to serve.  I should be getting back to the restaurant anyhow.  Lunch break is over."  Grillby lead the way.

"Yeah.  If we're nice, we'll even invite the greedy spider."  Chara mused.  "Offer her a discount?"

"Not happening."  Grillby replied.

Laughter all among us.

It was going to be an interesting landscape among the culinary artists and the food patrons.

## Sub-Entry 298: "Pizza Flambe.  Grillby's Collaboration with Rock-Afire Pizzeria"

"You know I somehow thought this would be a better idea than an alliance with a money-hungry spider."  Mitzi pondered.

"But really...Grillby promoting the new brick oven baked pizza is a stroke of genius.  And really, the crust is just perfectly crisped on the outside and like a soft-pretzel inside.  I don't know how the two of you did it!"

"When you got a Man (literally) on Fire dressed in fine barkeep attire, Commander it all just came together.  And yeah...it kind was, Azzy.  Thanks."

"Rare moment of putting the modesty on the shelf?"

"Oh, I'm still plenty humble.  But come on.  Even a humble person has to acknowledge herself every once in a while.  Just for the confidence boost."

"I'll give you that one.  You do at least know how to do so in moderation.  Unlike some people..."

I was staring across the street at Violet's gaudy neon sign on Computer Valhalla.

Mitzi giggled.

"She has certainly assigned us some...interesting logins."  Frisk sweat dropped.

"Any idea why Grillby's is "Johnny Storm"?"

"Ohhhhh...I can think of a reason."  Asriel immediately replied.

"Wouldn't Johnny Blaze fit better?"  M.K. asked.

"Yeah, but...different character.  The name would better fit Napstablook, honestly.  Not for lack of fire theme, mind you.  It's more about being...spectral."  Asriel explained.

"How'd we segue from pizza to Marvel superheroes?"  Mitzi asked.

Azzy shrugged.

'So.  Who's ready to drop on in and try a slice?"  He asked.

"Duuuuude!  What are we waiting for!?"

"Hey, slow down!"  Frisk called after M.K. as he had already fired up the  Arm Rotor copter.  Still weird how that worked.

"You know this reminds me of an old toy called Sky Dancers."

"Vi showed me that commercial.  Yeah, don't tell M.K.  He might get flustered being compared to something "girlish"."  Asriel chuckled.

"And breathe a bit of fire in the process."  Frisk nodded.

I don't think I ever saw that in this Undertale AU.  Maybe it happened in AFAC?

Anyhow.

To Rock-Afire Pizzeria we went and it was already busy.

"Oh, Land o' goshen!  Ye be a sight for sore eyes, Mitzi lass.  We're up to our Faith and Begora in patrons since the new menu dropped"

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Foxy.  Just let me at a countertop and I'll get to work."

"Hey, if you got a spare apron, I'm in."

"Azzy!"  Mitzi was delighted.  "For old times sake."

"You worked in Rock-Afire Pizzeria?"

"Part time.  To augment my expenses and college tuition."

"Didn't you have enough after all the times Violet paid into the swear jar?"  I joked.

"Swear jar?"  Frisk chuckled.  "I should have thought of that around Undyne.  I could have gone to university for free!"

"And maybe picked up a coin or two from mom.  I know she liked to hide that she could drop an H-bomb or two."  Asriel couldn't resist bringing up Toriel's rare swearing.

Grillby was already minding the brick oven, stoking it to the right temperature.

"You sure this isn't going to take too much time out of your own place?"  Mitzi asked for the second time today.

"No trouble at all.  This is a collaboration.  I can certainly do a bit of...crossover, if you will, to help a friend."

"Then pencil me in to help out at your diner."

"I'm all for that, too."  Hestia walked in.

"Then it's agreed.  We'll all take turns as guest chef's at each other's place."

"So...what do we do about Muffet?"

"Umm..."

"Err..."

"We'll...talk it over."  Grillby replied with what I guess was an awkward expression.  Hard to tell.

Speak of the spider and she'll appear.

"Ah-hu-hu-hu-hu..."

"Uh-oh..."

"I guess we shouldn't have talked smack behind her back."  Azzy muttered.

"Soooo...I sense collaboration.  Are you all ganging up on little old moi?"

"No, no, no.  It's fine!  It's just a little project we wanted to get off the ground.  For fun."

"And profit?"  Muffet grinned wider.

"Uh...not as important..."  Mitzi tugged at the collar of her green turtleneck underneath her trademark white and green "M" cheerleader dress.

I guess with the Varia Belt on, it didn't matter how unbalanced Mitzi's outfit was...a turtleneck sweater coupled with a long-sleeved cheerleader dress but with sandals and no socks or leggings.

Though in winter, Mitzi, sometimes liked to put on a green pair of leg-warmers.  Just for show.

"Okay...how do we get out of this one?"  Hestia whispered to Mitzi.

Mitzi shrugged.

It would take something very unlikely to keep this from spilling the beans and igniting a heated price war.  No doubt she'd use the idea for herself and take things a little too seriously for monetary profit.

For spiders by spiders, indeed.

Fortunately...the probability was so low, I'm guessing Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy's on Probability Engine made it happen.  Or....maybe Lady Destiny just penciled in a way to get out of this.

"Ohhhh there you are, darling!"

What?  Mettaton?  Back from his Jang tour already?

"Nothing quite sets the mood like a surprise visit from your favorite superstar."

"Hey, Mettaton.  What's the occasion."

"Oh!  Always astute as always, Prince Asriel.  As a matter of fact, there IS an occasion.  You see while I'm in town I've decided to endorse a nearby hotel chain.  PROVIDED they can...agree to a few cosmetic changes while I throw my clout behind it."

I bet.

"MTT presents?"

"But of course!  However in order to be up to standard, I simple must have the best catering spread."

"Ohhhhhhh?  Do tell me more, dearie."

Someone smells Gold Pieces.  And Mettaton had built up a nest egg to rival Violet's.

Maybe we could talk to him, later, about an auxiliary funding source so we wouldn't repeat what happened during the Crossover Wars?

"My patrons must have only the best.  And in my experience the more expensive it is..."

Say no more.

"Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh....I think we can arrange something."  Muffet lead our favorite metal man out the door and to her bakery.

"Should we be broken up over losing our business to Mettaton?"  Mitzi asked.

"I think we'll survive."  Hestia covered up a laugh.

"You know, I do believe we came here to try some brick oven."  Frisk reminded.

"I'd say with Muffet properly occupied, lassie, our luck has turned around for the better."  Foxy mused.

"Then let's not waste a moment."  Grillby adjusted his apron and got started.

I think they're going to work out just fine together.

## Sub-Entry 299: "Reptiles of a Feather Flock Together?"

Show of hands.

Would who would have seen Monster Kid hanging out with Tithius?

Probably a few or more.  They have similar personalities, really.  Scale up Tithius' grasp on the Common language and I'd probably see them as long-lost relatives, behavior-wise.

Plus they both could fly.  Just be different means, mind you.  One being an actual dragon wyrmling.  The other thanks to Azzy's invention of Reaverbot helicopter propeller arms.

Now...show of hands.

Who would have figured that Gerson and Tiemtiaren would hang out?

Well...in all fairness Tiem did give some kind of props to turtles on a recent movie night.  To which Violet immediately shot down by claiming he (Tiem) once said: "Turtles are nature's D-student".

To which he immediately dismissed.  Though I'm still unclear on his reasoning.  Oh well.  Maybe he's giving them another chance.

That and maybe Gerson's at least intellectual.  And not mentioned "pizza" or "cowabunga".  And to a lesser extent "Kamehameha" much less an interest in what Bulma is wearing under her shorts.

Yeah.  Alphys immediately got that one.  And turned beat red in the cheeks and stammered around before immediately needing to use the restroom.  Now where and when have I heard her use that excuse?

Don't think too deep into it.

I'd be surprised if ANYONE raised their hand.

Which leaves...Alphys meeting Chameleon.

Ohhhh boy.  Never would have seen that one coming.

So I should probably start with...how did that come about?

Well one thought is maybe Alphys pegged our merc with the million ways to punish his subordinates when they cost him money and time, due to things they should KNOW better than to attempt (I mean YOU, Ripper) as an anime character who's wandered in from another universe.

Chameleon from an Anime world?  I never would have envisioned that.

So that thought's flimsy.

Maybe Chameleon had heard through the grape vine (He does have his ways of getting info that even baffles me) about her work on Mettaton and probably had concerns about putting a ghost in a machine.  He does have strong opinions about the dead and the undead.  Never setting foot back in De Midian if he can help it.  And no force on this planet can put a bounty high enough to tempt him to.

Maybe he heard about the Amalgamates and had...even stronger opinions about bringing the not-quite-dead back to life...in twisted forms, no less.

I don't know HOW he'd learn about that from any of us, especially me.  Though...on Undertale it was pretty common knowledge by that point.  Though...it was infinitely more accepted.  Really.  people just wanted their family and friends back.  It didn't matter if they looked like they had been melted together in an EZ-BAKE oven.

So what really brought them together?

Well...it honestly came down to...cherry desserts.

Yes, really.

Despite my advice to be wary of Muffet's new additions to the dessert menu; especially with the tagline "Made by spiders, for spiders..." and implied to be "...of spiders"......I'm going to shudder now...

Ahem.  Let me finish that thought, it went nowhere and I didn’t' finish that sentence properly.

Despite my advice, Chameleon's curiosity couldn't be sated by my own warnings.  I think it was because Mitzi assured that she wouldn't allow anything on her or Hestia's menus that the Health Department would shut either of them down for.

And it all came down to two cherry-themed dessert items.

The supersized cherry tarts that might as well be an entire personal pie.

And the cherries and creme dipped Pocky sticks that Mettaton gave her the idea for during his tour of Jang.  I think he just found the color scheme to his liking.  Honestly the hot pink would have made me think they were strawberry flavored, but then I saw the more pale pink colored coatings and it just made sense again.

Either way.  A chance meeting over guilty pleasures?

One thing I can confirm was...it was a tense first moment when Chameleon made the first move without even turning around in his seat.

It was almost like...he was waiting for her.

"So.  You're the brainiac that Arcade's been reporting to all this time.

"!!!"

Alphys about jumped out of her seat.

She slooow turned.

"Why so jumpy?  Guilty conscience, Doctor?"

"Y-y-you most be Ch-Chameleon."

"You consider going to speech therapy for that stutter?"

"I...uh...uh...!"

"Why so nervous, Doc?  You act like someone's about to get killed.

"Eep."

"Such fear...delicious..."  Asmirus rose from Chameleon's shadow.

Alphys was moments away from fainting.

"I see you over there.  I'm going to ask you not to traumatize the other customers.  I still have things to discuss over the unsettled debts from Ripper's motorcycle incident."

Chameleon growled and reciprocated.  "Asmirus, stand down.  We've apparently offended the owner and proprietor.  I don't want to find out if she has a recipe for dragon's tail."

"Fine."

He turned back around in his seat and addressed Alphys directly.

"You can rest your brain, egghead.  I'm not here for a hit or a bounty.  Just here to talk."

"Oh...um...okay..."

"So.  I understand you have a think for bringing back the dead."

"Um...technically not dead, per se.  J-just fallen down."

"It was a mistake!  A stupid, stupid mistake..."  Alphys about broke down.

"Just to be clear.  I'm fully aware of your Amalgamates.  Can't say I'm a fan but, I'm not going to..."rectify" a situation just for my own insecurities.  That said...I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for trying to help keep families together.

Though...from the looks of how many were melted together from Arcade's photos.....pretty sure he wont appreciate me getting into his cloud server to check up on him...I'd say there's a little TOO much togetherness."

Alphys moaned.

"Okay, okay.  I get it.  You're not in a good place over it but you've at least accepted it.  So.  You tampered with life.  You self-punished.  You did your time.  That's all I'm going to say about it.  I'm sure you could dig up MOUNDS of dirt on me.  But you don't seem like the type to get vindictive.  So...let's just call each other square.  I'm letting you know I don't like the dead much less the undead."

"Then...if we have nothing m-more to talk about?"

"The day's still young.  Since I already busted your scales over something of your past, let's talk your present.

Rather...your taste in dessert."

"Huh?  You mean these?  Just Pocky sticks with cherry coating."

"Ahh.  Now we have common ground."

"Wait...common ground...over cherry flavoring?  I'm not even sure it's natural cherry flavor--"

"Let's not ruin semblance of a pleasant conversation with words and chemistry babble and get to the point.

The goat trusts you."

"P-prince Asriel?"

"Aha...so he IS royalty.  The parents wearing crowns seemed like an obvious tell but...I wanted to hear it from one of his people."

"Y...yeah.  It's...well...I'm sure someone in your profession knows th-the story."

"Heh.  You give me credit where credit is due.  Good choice number 1."

Alphys swallowed hard.

"So if the goat likes and respects you, you're on my safe list.  Just think of yourself as being in the same boat as Arcade."

"V...Volt?"

"Careful.  He's taken."

"W-w-w-what!?"

"That's a priceless expression."

"And priceless fear."  Asmirus peeked out from Chameleon's shadow again.

"Oh...y-you're just messing with me."

"You don't quite get the concept of a dark sense of humor, do you?"

"N-n-not really."

"Well I must confess.  I didn't address you simply to give you the third degree.  While I am here to enjoy a dessert, you see solid food doesn't exactly bode well for my familiar here."

"It...uh...seems different from the one Volt described."

"Oh yes.  He probably told you about my other familiar.  Tithius is...currently in time out for a mishap involving some potions I had stored.  Though I suspect certain someone’s had something to do with putting him up to what happened."

"Oh.  That's...unfortunate."

"I did come here with initial reservations about you.  I wanted to see for myself the lab coat Arcade's so chummy with.  I had a pre-conceived notion of your demeanor going in."

"Uh..."

"You seem every bit what I was expecting.  That said...you remind me of him when he first formally met me.  He looked at me like deer in headlights.  Deathly afraid I was going to devour him.

That's how I knew he'd grow to respect me.  Fear, when properly tempered by the ones who know best, can establish boundaries.  It can set the stage for properly educating someone.  Or it can make them forever terrified of you.  Either way is a controllable situation."

Alphys blinked, not sure where he was going with this.

"I'm getting the impression a lot of your Undertalers are molten marshmallows underneath.  Your king?  Obvious pushover.  Your queen, however...she reminds me a little too much of someone I crossed."

"Y-you mean Queen Canciaris?"

"The ones close enough to her she'll allow them address as Brooke.  Time will tell which case you may be.  That said...

I crossed her.  And she sent me to a Hell I won't be forgetting any time soon.  There's something poetic about your philosophy of intimidation backfiring on you drastically.  That was a day I learned the line.

I have a feeling if I slight your queen...I will be nursing burns beyond third degree for years to come."

"Y-y-yeah.  She's quite fiery when angry."

"I can imagine.  She simply must meet Dragonius.  I have a feeling they'll be two peas in a pod.  That is if she's forsaken a life of violence for more...spiritual inner flame.  Get me?"

"Uh...I'm...sure I'll figure it out."

"So.  Consider this meeting a bit of a test."

"D...did I pass?"

"Barely.  Had you run out the door, I would have consider that a disappointing failure.  But seeing as how the fish lady hasn't dropped you like a trash bag in a garbage can...you're redeemable.  Like that coyote that was useless for years until the goat made something of him."

"Hmm?  You mean Monsieur D'Cooliette?"

Chameleon chuckled.

"Oh is THAT how he asked you to address him.  Heh.  Grow a bit of a spine and your ego grows with you.  Amusing.  Well, if you're going to refer to our favorite baguette in a military cadet uniform and boots shined to a mirror polish...you can refer to him as "Antoine".  Apparently Goat Son preferred I call him that instead of the drop-out from the Glass Joe academy of boxing."

"Eheheh....ehhhhh..."  Alphys rubbed the back of her head again before snatching up another Pocky stick.

"I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, being a fellow reptile.  But just a friendly warning.  Mind how you conduct yourself.  The Septus do not like the image of dragons slighted in any way.  I, myself, am a bit of an outcast for going against their rules.  Marrying a commoner after snubbing a lot of eligible.  Including a former headache known as Aurelis."

"Oh.  I s-s-see."

"Well.  I freely gave you a bit of information about myself."

"Um...th-thank you?"

"Don't thank me yet.  As of now we don't have an alliance per se.  Just a mutual understanding of boundaries.  So.  I do not believe I should have to educate you should those boundaries be crossed."

"I will mind my p's and q's."

"Good answer.  The same answer, not in the same words mind you...that your prince gave me those years ago.  So I believe you've earned a bit of a reprieve from my line of questioning.  Let me now say...I do appreciate your taste in fruit-flavored confection.  Cherry is the fruit of excellent taste."

"It seemed like a good thing to try.  I've had every variety from chocolate to strawberry to cookies and cream to green tea.  Oh, and banana."

"Decided to...monkey around with new horizons?"

Alphys blinked before it set in that the pun was deliberate.  And there was the sign all ways right with the surliest mercenary in town.

"Oh!  Y-y-yes!  Ha...haha..."

From there Chameleon decided to see how much he could impress with his pun skills.  Inevitably...he attracted Sans to the conversation.

And then Asriel walked in and added to the pun war.

"So I heard Al Dente was hospitalized after insulting a guy playing the Oregon Trail."

"Oh dear!  Was he beaten savagely?"

"Yes, but severe beating wasn't what he was admitted for,  Alphys."

"What...?  But I don't understand.  How could he not be admitted for a sever beating?

"I guess that's to be expected when you make fun of someone named Terrance.  He shouldn't have said it was a girl's name."

"Oh this will be goooood..."  Chameleon rubbed his clawed hands delightfully.

"Al Dente was admitted to the emergency room for...dissin' Terri."

"Heh heh heh heh heh!"  Sans' boisterous laughter filled the room.

"That a boy."  Chameleon grinned a toothy grin.

Alphys...didn't know what to think of this but...when in doubt.  Do like the Romans...or...the Mirandians do.

Laugh.

Or go crazy.

Alphys decided to laugh with us.

## Sub-Entry 300: "Block Party Ends"

For all week...heck, all MONTH, the parties never seemed to end.

But as the lyric of the Tears for Fears song, "Everbody Wants to Rule the World" goes, nothing ever lasts forever.

It was a golden era dawning and no one had plans of ruling the world.  At least not to the degree of reporting to Ultra Crew Institute or the Space Time Continuum Agency.

Jon and I hosted the biggest of cookouts, both at ground level and on the clocktower balcony.

Bunnie's entire dojo put on a martial arts stunt show.  Something I didn't expect of her.

Violet had specials all week in Computer Valhalla.

Azzy and Gadget took turns giving flight tours aboard the Golden Condor.

Sally and Team Acorn held exhibition races with Team Solar Storm.  For once they had rivals they actually liked competing against.

Gaia's Navel was abuzz with tourists all day and into the night up to closing hours.  Flowey begrudgingly condemned himself as a unique star attraction that was here to stay.  Grumpy little bud was only in his environment when he had enough to complain about or enough to irritate him.  Then hed unload what he bottled up on Asriel, Frisk, and Chara.  But not to an effective degree.  They just accepted he had to vent.  Though none of us understood why he had to keep torturing himself.  Maybe...that was a lingering piece of Asriel Dreemurr?  Asriel Arcade know what it was like to self-punish.

Drew hosted the very biggest fireworks extravaganza his budget could swing.

Alphys coordinated with Nikita to make a stunning laser light show.

Undyne and Saly INSISTED on a Renaissance Festival.  WITH SWORDS.  LOTS OF SWORDS.

And all of it topped of with the star attraction, Mettaton, himself.

Poor Burgerpants.

"Like we're totally stoked for our sister city!"

Like we're totally stoked for our time to celebrate!"

Bratty and Catty.

Kind of a low-key surprise to see them.  But you know...where one went the other followed.

Like I said.

It wouldn't come to a crashing end.  Or a sudden stop.

It took its time to slowly unwind even beyond this log entry.

The block party may have officially been over once the sun set and everyone retired back to where they beonged; Undertalers especially to replenish their magic.

A few stayed behind.

Some who didn't have to worry about magic like Asriel, Frisk, and Chara.

Others...who were going to take the risk and find out for themselves if life as a VGM-098 naturalized citizen was in the future.  Though we were born into it, I hoped that Asriel wouldn't be the only one who could be adopted into it.

I was less worried about the anthro-type monsters.  It was the smaller and unique ones that concerned me.

Bunnie suggested that maybe they could find an existence as the new youkai of Jangese lore.

From what I understand youkai were basically Monsters.  Some good.  Some bad.  Some helpful.  Some mischievious.  Just like us.

As the day came to a close th five us us, Bunnie, Asriel, Frisk, Chara, and myself decided to have a bit of a meeting in some place isolated, spacious, and quiet.  A perfect place to look at the night sky.

"It's everything we hoped."  Asriel smiled.

"Everything we dreamed."  Frisk clasped her palms in delight.

"Everything we wished."  Chara leaned back, head rested in her interocked hands, elbows outward.

"And it all came true.  Thanks to all of us."  I finished.

"Who would have ever thought our paths would intersect, split apart, and intersect all over again."

"I did.  Many times, Frisk.  Many times.  That was all I could think about."  Asriel looked up at the stars.

"Not a world...but two worlds.  Two worlds where no one is ever lost again."  He reached out, like he was grabbing the moon.

"That's a beautiful thought, Azzy."  Frisk smiled.

"A beautiful reality."  I corrected.  "Our shared reality.  My god...is this what my life's work lead up to?"

"Oh, you know very well it's going to lead beyond.  Right now we see the golden kingdoms united.  But we don't see the road beyond."  Asriel furrowed his brow.

"It could be paradise or purgatory waiting ahead."

"Yeah.  No matter where you are in the timeline that part's always a scary X-factor."  I sighed.

"Each of us faced it alone at some point.  Now we don't have to."  Chara decided to chime in.

"Yup."  Azzy nodded.

"It takes a village.  Does it not, Commander?"  Bunnie asked.

"Good thing we have two."  I thought of our town and I thought of Newest Home.

"A bridge between worlds.  That was my ultimate destiny, wasn't it?"

"An experiment of a goddess in the making.  She really pulled it off for us."

"She had  help, Best Friend."

I chuckled.

"Yeah."

For the first time my position in STCA was enjoyable.  I liked myself.  I liked what I did.  I liked what I had created.

This was it.  This was why my mentors and I all worked together toward this agency.  Sure...there was plenty of corruption and flaws to go around.  But this was proof we could overcome them

I wonder what Daimou and Kommand are up to now in that unspecfied future?

Eventually...it seemed like everyone from the entire town and everyone from Newest Home had gathered at the most ideal star-gazing spot between worlds.  Was it on their side?  Or our side?

Yes.

Sorry, but you'll have to speculate on your own which side of the fence we took it to.  Just because these ten logs took place in Miranda...doesn't necessarily mean we didn't visit the other world along the way.

"Now that this is the new normal...what next?"  Asriel pondered.

"Yeah.  Now that we're officially part of Ultra Crew Inistitute...where do we go from here?"  Frisk asked.

I turned around and smiled.

"That's an easy question to answer.  Now?  The adventures beging anew.  Now...we see the world...or rather...worlds."

And I had a few lined up I'm very sure our Undertale allies would love to check out.

I'd need time to prep but...it was coming.

Boy oh boy, it was coming.

The old future was now.  The new future?  Right in front of us.

Time to see what lies beyond the defunct save file.

Chapter 31

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