PLDF Chapter 21

> Chapter 21: Mother May I, Your Flower Child, Cherish All You Do For Me As We Go Deeper Into Queen's Castle (Sub-Entries 201-210)
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## Sub-Entry 201:  "Komodo no Hi/Boy's Day":

Technically, the phrase translates to "Children's Day".  But if Hina Matsuri, literally Doll Festival, can be understood as Girl's Day...why not a holiday for the other gender?  Fair is fair, right?

In all seriousness, I've been looking forward to celebrating this part of Jang's Golden Week.  Namely because I spent a good while constructing my own set of koinobori carp wind-socks.

I suppose it's only formality I should bring up that May 5th is also known for several other red-letter dates.

Obviously?  Cinco de Mayo.  Now a favorite of the Skele-brothers...er...right under Dia De Los Muertos/Day of the Dead.  Really, how do you hold a candle to "Mexican Halloween" as Vi called it?  It was practically MADE for skeleton monsters.

Ahem.  Anyway...May 5th.  A lot of things tied to that date.

But I knew it as sensei's birthday.

It was one of those special days that was double meaningful.

Children's Day, as it were of course meant the koinobori.  But it also meant other things, as well.  Proper celebration during the "Tango no Sekku" period.  A time for appreciating youth and enjoying grilled squid and creamy potatoes.  And of course even time to collaborate with Alphys on constructing an authentic samurai kabuto helmet.  A nice display piece, don't you think?

But of course...it meant sharing these weird ways with...who else?  The kids in town.

At first...no one really knew what to make of it.  It was the closest I'd come to a holiday that could have been called a dud.

Alas...all was needed was a bit of time and patience and before I knew it...I had a sleeper hit on my hands.

It was nice.

It was reassuring.

And it made me feel like a kid again seeing actual kids come around to it.

"We'll live our lives bravely and never give up.  Just like the koinobori."

Okay maybe they didn't say EXACTLY that but...the idea was there.  And that idea, on our world we called: Determination.

Yeah.

I think it was probably the first holiday that Frisk and Chara stepped back from.  Mostly because of the implication of it being a "boys day".

However, I assured them that gender wasn't as important these days.  I understood it more as Children's Day than Boy's Day.

Still...they gave us our space.

It's just as well...because the guys, rather the not-so-young boys of the town sure didn't waste a minute to bro it up.

"Duuuuude!"

"I know, my dude!  I know!"

"Nyeheheheheh!"

Papyrus took the holiday as another good reason to keep active, keep busy, and keep exercising.  And of course...another reason to make spaghetti...in mass quantities.

Lucky us.

Sans...wasn't as into it.  Big surprise.  He thought it sounded like too much work.  Lazy bones.  Well...you do you, dude.

While, yes, they both DID take part in the festivities...they both kind of mixed the holidays.  So yeah...they did come in full Cinco de Mayo themed attire like they were booked for a Mariachi Band gig.

I think at some point Papyrus even attempted a sombrero dance.   Not sure if that's standard practice on the 5th of May in Hispanic countries but...seeing skeletons do the dance?  Yes, please.  We all were very moved and very entertained.

I just rolled with it.  You two do you.  It's all good.

I think Mettaton saw it as an excuse to study up on all the male icons of the silver screen.  From Elvis to James Dean.  David Bowie (The Sexy Rectangle sure loved the Labyrinth), Michael Jackson (Yeah, he liked Moonwalker, too.).  He drew from John Travolta, Johnny Depp...anyone who fit his archetype, really.  Any sex symbol he could identify with.  He was intent on refining his performing art.

Was it a mistake to let him download directly from my NXS board?

Then there was Dad.  Well...what can I say?  All he really did was...what he usually did.  Flowers and writing his own journal.  And trying to be roasted by Mom as little as possible.  Figuratively!  Figuratively!  Eeeeesh.

I think just for giggles, I even saw fit to put on a men's yukata and host a bit of a festival celebration; even digging out, of all things, some taiko drums.

"You really knew your stuff, Megami-chan."  I smiled as I soon got a party in my back yard in full swing.

Granted, I still think the guys in town didn't QUITE get it...but I don't think they really had to.

We were all having fun!

What more was there?

I think at some point I even taught M.K. how to make his own set of Koinobori for next year.

"This is sweet, dude!"

"Glad you're down with it, my man."

But a real surprise to me...was that it was the first time I didn't see Burgerpants particularly stressed.

Oh, don't get me wrong...he was still on edge...on pins and needles...practically anticipating the moment Mettaton would have him do some menial task off the clock.

But it never happened.

Really...I think that actually drove him MORE nuts.

"You...um...?"

"Eat drink and be merry, right?  All the more to set me to a bigger disappointing going back to work tomorrow!"

Okay...major buzzkill vibes.

I was about to tell him to eat a trademarked chocolate bar known for peanuts, caramel, and nougat...what was it called again?  Something having to do with laughter?  It'll come to me.  But yeah...like the commercial said that you aren't you when you're hungry.  Or something like that.

No matter.

At some point we even took the party on the road to, of all things...Mettaton's Theme Park.  Apparently I'd inspired him to host a Kodomo no Hi celebration there, as everything had been retrofitted with the proper decor, midway games, and even the rides had an overhaul.  And yup.  Plenty of flying koinobori wind socks.

Most of us were all still young adults...but it was like we were back in grade school again.  Feeling young all over again.  Young and hyped and full of hopes and dreams.

I couldn't help but remember that song Vi had playing in her lab that one time...a song set to Dr. Wily Stage 1 from Mega Man 2.  Something like "Okkusenman" or something like that.  Which, when translated was the number, 100 million.  The lyrics themselves, at face value, were kind of depressing; reminding that all the things we were enjoying now were things we would or already had abandoned for the mundane repetition of adult life.

When I thought about it...it gave me something to latch onto.  Maybe not necessarily cosplaying as Ultraman by putting silver spoons over my eyes or bending my arm in an L-shape like I was flexing...but...really...I took as a reminder to not abandon those things.  To not let my heart grow dark and cold no matter what kind of a grind I was in for in the years to come.  Easier said than done?  Well...we'll see about that.  At my age, now, I was still pretty optimistic.  If I still feel this way in another ten years, then...maybe it's just who I am.

"Hmm."

Even...Flowey didn't seem as grumpy as usual.  Though...he took as many opportunities to get into minor mischief.  Eventually that ended up backfiring on him after a while.

"..."

I pointed my finger upward as I opened my mouth to speak.

"Don't.  Even.  Think about it."  Flowey growled, trying to wriggle out of the colorful carp costume that Mettaton had managed to put on him.

Come on, Flowey.  Sooooo many puns in my arsenal at this moment.

"I see my boys have gotten into quite the festive mood!"  Asgore of course walked in on us.

"You know it."  I said as cheerfully as possible.

Flowey just growled.  The costume prevented him from pulled himself completely into his pot.

I shouldn't enjoy this.  But you know...karma is a vindictive lady, isn't she?

As the day wound down, I'd entertained my guests with some fire-juggling.  It was more of a Hawaiian practice than Japanese/Jangese...but I figured if it got the blood pumping and boiling hot with energy...then why not?  It kept my solar hybrid ability sharpened.

I finally ended the night with fireworks, as only Drew could have shown me the basics through the advanced tricks of the trade.  And boy oh boy...was it ever a hit.

I'd gotten many comments by then that I was on my way to being man/monster of the year.  I laughed and shrugged it off, not really taking it seriously.  Maybe I should have but...y'know.  If they want to appreciate me for being me, it would be rude to decline the invitation down the road.  But honestly...celebration...ceremony...adulation.  It didn't mean all that much to me.  But it meant something because it came from everyone around me.  It would be their gift when that time came.  I wasn't about to be ungrateful for it.

Before I get off track...yeah...this was an enjoyable holiday.  I'm so glad I brought it over here.  It just feels right.

Well, sensei...I hope you're enjoying a slice of strawberry birthday cake and some strawberry ice cream.  Pink was always your color.  Irony of irony for someone who rode the line of identifying as male...but fully acknowledged she was born female and there was no sense living in denial of it.  Really...being a tomboy defined her.  And I guess that's why she enjoyed celebrating Kodomo no Hi more than any Jangese I'd ever meet in my time on VGM-098.

Try as I might to pad out this entry...well...

There's really only so much you can do with a journal entry during peace time.

Explain a few thoughts, narrate some backstory of what's going on in recent times, make a joke or two.

But yeah...if I try to drag this on any further, it's going to be forced.  And that's not something that has a lot of integrity to it.

If this log is going to be me, it might as we be me keeping honest.

I can honestly say...I'm out of material for now.

So...I bid whoever might read this...good fondue...er...I mean adieu.  Sorry, Antoine.

Until next time!

## Sub-Entry 202:  "Mother May I...Celebrate Your Day With You?"

Take that title as a pun, as yes.  I've made it very clear it's May.  The very home of Mother's Day.

As if I was going to drag this out.  Let's just spell it out very clear what this entry's about, cool?

You know one of the gems that Aunt Vi shared with me back in my time growing up was a tribute by one Lawrence Terrude...god I hope I'm spelling that right... \*ahem\* ...better known as Mr. T.  And what the mohawked, gold-chained had to impart on us were a couple things to identify him by.

1) Pity the fool that crosses him.

2) Always drink your milk.  Good for the teeth.  Good for the bones.   Kids should drink more milk and less soda.

3) A character of his on a certain TV show made it VERY clear he does NOT fly in any semblance of aircraft; especially piloted by one Howling Mad Murdock.

4) The original bully-stopper.  He may look like baddest dude out to cause you a mischief, but he's a trouble-breaker, not a trouble-maker.  Again...this ties back to rule 1.

5) You can never wear enough gold chains.  Also blue, frilly jean-jackets with the sleeves ripped off are a fashion statement that go well with them.  Oh yeah.  Respect the mohawk.  Even if it's a hairstyle you'd never be caught dead sporting, much less by your parents.

But most importantly, and this is not a suggestion but a rule: respect your mother.

So of course Violet showed me his music video of him making it clear that when it comes to "mother", there is no other.

On today of all days it was good to go back to that video and remember that even tough guys can have that warm spot for mommy dearest.   And I un-ironically appreciate this very 80's jewel in my collective of NXS videos saved to its tablet mode.  Thank you, Aunt Vi.

Speaking of Aunt Vi, I'd come to learn that her own mom, Lady Frieda Tokugawa is definitely not your average matriarch.  Spending more time travelling aboard and looking more like a professional camper/hiker than an Empress...she outclasses Peppermint Patty when it comes to being a tomboy.

Anyway...back to my mom.  This time I was speaking of Toriel.  I would get to Callista in due time but...let's take care of the present before tending to the past.

So...what does a goat hybrid nipping at his 30's get for the woman who birthed him?

Well....love.  That should be a no-brainer standard.

But thinking practically?  Thinking tangibly?

I...wasn't as confident in those lines.

Flowers would have been my go-to as a child.

Though...with the way things were now, she'd pretty much know they came from Dad's place.  While I know we weren't as extreme a case as DeltaRune...I still had worries and images in my head of that bouquet ending up in the kitchen trash can.

Grudges are ugly.  Like butt ugly.

I of course expected the cliched "Oh, you don't need to get anything/do anything for me, dear!" to downplay things.  There was a certain humbleness that came with Motherhood or so I presumed.

But why WOULDN'T I just let all she does...or would have done for me go unappreciated?  Unrewarded?  I wasn't shallow.  I wasn't ungrateful.  And I sure wasn't going to let her have any reason to think so.  Even in the briefest of passing thoughts.

This was her day...well...technically tomorrow.  And I intended to celebrate it somehow.

But to plan something in 24 hours or less?

Naturally, when you're in over your horns you call in help.

Not from Dad.

Just want to clarify that before I go on.  Asgore means well but...uh...what is it they say about the road to failure?  Oh yeah.  It's paved with good intension.  Sorry for the roast, Pop.

Not to say it was a complete DISASTER waiting to happen...more like it was inevitable awkward.  That sort of realistic "yeah, this was a mistake" you think to yourself as opposed to a Lucille Ball inspired moment that has Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo swearing in Spanish.

Jokes aside, allow me to get back on task.

When you need help with mom, who you gonna call?

Actually...that's when I turned to Frisk and Chara.  More so the former than the latter to avoid any playful mischief but...even Chara can stay on task, right?

Naturally...Flowey was going to be no help.

"Pssht.  Don't come whining to me over trying to do anything for the old cow."

Harsh.  Really harsh.  I'd have my mouth washed out for less than that if I said things like that.  Or at least I think I would have.  I'd definitely get the burning glare.

Back to Frisk and sister dearest.

"You worry too much, Az."

"Chara, worry is--"

"A sign of potential.  You sound like a broken record."

"I've become that predictable?"

"Don't worry, Asriel.  We'll help you out.  I've had plenty of moments of appreciating mom for the years we've been living on the surface.  I'm sure if we put our heads together we can get something put together before tomorrow."

"Besides, what are you worried about?  It looks like already have a head-start."

The girls had of course met me in a room of the house I'd converted for artistic projects.  In this case painting on canvas just like dearest mother Callista used to do.

Hey, when I learned my lessons back then, I was like a sponge.  And I learned from the best.

"Wow!  That is so amazing, Azzy!"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far..."  I blushed in the cheeks.

"Naaaw.  That's the real deal."  Chara admired my work.

I'd worked with oil and matte paintings before so being able to do what Callie did was yet another way I didn't lose my roots.

It was of course a portrait of Toriel and the most flattering one I could make.  With 100% less instance of her vaping......Aunt Violet.

I really should have called her out on it when I was old enough to understand, despite how much she cropped the pic.  I was only naive for so long, y'know.

As for the portrait of Dad as WWE Superstar, Daniel Bryan?  Yeah.  That wouldn't see the light of day over here.  In any real or digital shape or form.  I had my standards, too.  Right, Pappy?

"You know..." Frisk started.

I think somehow...we all caught on immediately when it came to us almost at exactly the same time.

"I think I know where you're going with this."  Chara mused.

"Yeah...you still got some music talent, sister dearest?"

Say what you will about Chara...while she didn't really seem to have anything that made her stand out as a Soul Reaper or much else in her Gigai Body...I do remember she could still carry a tune.  And that was back when we were kids.

So after a lot of time in the Soul Society, she learned how to play the shakuhachi flute.  And with my help, I helped her compose a song and put it to sheet music.

As for Frisk...she decided to that a Mother's Day for Toriel wasn't complete without a Butterscotch-Cinnamon pie.  And I was glad to help.

As a final touch, all three of us signed the portrait at the bottom after I finished.

Yeah...I think this triple delight would do nicely.

And sure enough...it did.

"Happy Mother's Day, Mom."  We all said in unison.

"Oh my!!!"  As Toriel covered her cheeks, I was pretty sure she was trying to hide the blushing.

"Such wonderful children I have!"  It even made her misty-eyed.

I think when it came to a gift straight from the heart...no better factory than showcasing your artistic talent.  After all...something made from the heart spoke a lot louder and prouder than something with a price tag.

Sure Mettaton could  have made it an expenses-be-darned extravaganza on every television network...but that wasn't how we wanted to roll.  And I know it would have overwhelmed her.

This was the way to go.  And boy oh boy...did we hit it right out the park.

We made Goat Mom cry.  But it was a happy cry.  You can't beat that.

\*sniffle\*

And...I think the crying was contagious.  Excuse me while I wipe my eyes on my sleeve...as you know my family does.

I...guess there's not much more to say.

This is her day.  And I think we made a whole year's worth of appreciation fit into 24 hours.

So yeah...anyone out there should probably take the time and effort to appreciate your maternal parental unit.  On average, disregarding step-mothers from re-marriages...they're the only ones we'll ever get.  Appreciate them while they walk the Earth.

And...when you're ready to do so...repay them with some grandkids some day.  Preferably before they start asking you "when?".  Just kidding.

But yeah...mother.  There is no other.  So respect Mom.  Respect her.  And give her a hug and a kiss and thanks.

Asriel says.

## Sub-Entry 203:  "Thinking of Lupe on Her Birthday":

By now you're picking up a pattern that I'm in a real alone-in-my thoughts kick these last couple of entries.  Sometimes there's just no slice-of-life adventure to have, no family or friends to pop in on you, no working day to challenge you and keep the bills paid...

In short...yeah.  I recognize more than my fair share of days like this when you're just in your own head and you just...make an entry based on whatever's prominent in your mind at the time.

When the day started...I didn't have much to put on the clean slate of the day.  I didn't have much to springboard off of when considering what I wanted to write down in my journal.

Flowey was no help.

"PPPPPPPPPPPPPTH!!!"

Yeah...he just blew a raspberry at me.  Mature.

How DOES a flower even have a tongue?  Then again...how does one have eyes and a mouth?  That liquid determination Alphys shot him up with sure works in mysterious ways.  Do I need to clarify the Amalgamates?  Nah.  Didn't think so.

Although...Flowey could be an entire entry to himself.  But for being so rude to me, he doesn't get rewarded with that.

As I say this, I'm being extra sassy.  He could care less and will most likely find something else to complain about.

Though if I were to think a little less deep, rather than deeper...the answer is right there.  He's a flower.  And there's my starting point.

Flowers have plenty of things to associate with and take any path in this mental goulash I'm trying to cook in my own cranium.  Gonna steer clear of morbid things like accidentally poisoning dad with desserts made with buttercups instead of better.  Obvious Chara poisoning herself fits hand and hand with that and definitely a no-no, no-go.  Heh.  Word play.  I slay me.

If I really want to stretch this out why don't I think back to my first rekindled memories of such and my long road to recovery...or should I say...my long road to coming to terms with how I felt about flowers.  And who made that happen?

Lupe.  Ayla.  Lycans.

Yeah...I was thinking about the wolf druid who was my first shoulder to cry on in 100 years.   The first person I realized was...at her core...just as broken as me for similar reasons.  Someone who lost everything and everyone and had to start over.

"Don't tell me you're think of--"

"Her again?"

"...I hate when you do that."

I on the other hand enjoyed it when I finished Flowey's sentences for him.  It just reminded him how much we were alike.  Dude.  We've beaten it into the ground that each of us is still technically an Asriel.  Same person.  Different timelines.  Different forms.  And different fates.  While we both called for help...for him...no one came.  For me?  Everyone came to me, sooner or later.  Starting with Volt...and before long...I'd united multiple worlds and galaxies...and yes...even six other Undertale variants in addition to UTPR-3235.

Back on topic...Lupe.

And low and behold...May 12th.  Her birthday.

So.  I guess I should mention, in anticipation of spring, I had a greenhouse constructed in my back yard.  I had the zoning permits and everything else in order, well ahead of time so...now that it was complete and I'd started purchasing some items from Dad (Hey, support family business, right?) I'd begun dabbling with a little horticulture on the side.  Maybe I wouldn't become a botanist as a professional career...but it was good to always have a hobby to fall back on.

"Hmm."  I took deep breath of that humid environment inside those glass walls.

"Worth every unspecified monetary denomination."

What?  You assume we have pennies on our world?  A common misconception.  But some common phrases don't translate well from Earth or VGM-098 over here.

Okay, that unnecessary diversion out of the way...

I had all manner of plant in here.

"Feeding time."  I mixed the plant food into the watering can and dispensed it appropriately from pot to pot and bin to bin.

Obviously I had all the basics.  Roses.  Tulips.  Daisies.  Violets (I know you're grinning, Aunt Vi), Carnations, Mums, Daffodils, And so on...and so on.

And of course...buttercups.  I guess if I were at my most Batman, I'd make a one-liner about Newest Home having to share my fear...but y'know.  I'm not Batman.

Though...thinking about the Dark Knight also made me default to one of his rogue's gallery.  I speak of course of one Pamela Isley.  Also known as Poison Ivy.

"Hrrm."  I furrowed my brow.  What Usagi, Splinter, and Bunnie had said about their observation of Arkham Asylum during that crossover had me pensive.  Joker and Harley had pumped the fire sprinklers full of mutagen "ooze" and mutated the entire gallery.  I'd been told that Donatello and Barbara Gordon worked overtime to make a large enough batch to turn everyone back though...Jonathan "Scarecrow" Crane had gone missing.  I'd been told he'd been...recruited by Adonis as  means of...punishing Evil-Chara.

"Still too easy to feel sorry for him."  I couldn't be mad at him...not after what happened to him.  Anyway...back to Pammy.

Having a rare mutation, already, gave her two abilities; floramancy--controlling plants; both by a combination of will and pheromones...and the innate chemical knowhow to fashion toxins that could bend the male gender to her will.  This also came at the cost of being sterile.  I was told Vi peeked into the Bat Computer and found a file marked "House & Garden" in Poison Ivy's dossier.  It...was horrifying...and tragic to read.  And it sent Vi's blood pressure through the roof to find out what Pam Isley was doing with her bio-chemical and botanical knowledge in order to have a family..."on her terms".  \*shudder\*

And then when it clicked at that moment...I realized what she had in common with Mom...Toriel.  Being...cheated out of BEING a mother.  Considering Mother's Day wasn't long ago...the subject was fresh in my mind.

I set the watering can down as I let out a deep exhale as I looked over the Venus Flytraps I had.  Sure enough a fly was unlucky enough to land...and the trap was sprung and the digestive juices would do the rest.  Nature is harsh.  Flora sometimes has disturbing nutritional requirements.  But was it any more morbid than what we fauna consumed sometimes?

I'd heard of other iterations of Pam Isley in other AU's.  One that hung around Harley Quinn after being released from Arkham.  Though...their troupe being questionably legally sane was up for debate.  And with each iteration, it also varied just how human she appeared.  Some had green skin.  Some were closer to what Swamp Thing was.  Some...just used designer lipstick to give a certain District Attorney a death sentence for plowing up a field of flowers to make a penitentiary for "a better, safer Gotham".  How did that work out, Harvey?

When you got down to it?  Ivy was the flip-side version of Lupe.  An eco-warrior...but taking things too far and crossing that line.

If anything...Lupe had more in common with a florist from one of Mega Man's AU's.  Specifically a flower-shop owner named Saloma...or Sal.  Something like that.  Green-haired.  Had spiral-shaped rosy marks on her cheeks.  A pattern she adopted for her NetNavi, WoodMan.EXE

She too knew someone who was as passionate about the environment; lamenting how fools pollute the Earth.  But...unlike her friend, Speedy Dave...she wouldn't cross the line to wage war like he did using QuickMan.EXE to attempt to blow up a hydroelectric dam in order to return nature to its proper place.  Not sure how that would have worked, though.

It was weird how I couldn't help but dissect Lupe's character...and discern exactly what she would...and what she wouldn't do.

I'd glossed over...she was so much like me, too.

I'd already said it: she lost everything, just like I had.  And yet...she rebuilt.  Just like I had.  While she had far less to start out with, Bunnie and the others gave her the massive boost when they recruited her into UCIAT during the Raxis Tournament intermission; less so hours and a couple days to make repairs to the stadium and get the competitors ready.  Enough time to fly out to the declassified (and still illegal) Vorostov Reservation where Lupe's people had been pushed from one end of the continent to this pathetic hidden village in the middle of a wasteland.  Somehow...not visible from even aerial view...their secret had been kept all this time.

The government declassified it...yet still had NO idea what was really inside it.  None.  How did that happen?

"You really are a survivor, my old friend."  I mused as I examined some healthy tomato plants in the veggie section of my greenhouse.  When I first planted them, they were wilted and seemed like they had no chance to thrive.  But a month later...!

"I'm going to have some good salads and BLT's soon.  I promise not to prune you too much.  Gotta survive to the next harvest, right?"

It was expensive to set all this up and maintain.  But...were grocery prices any less so in this economy?  I can only imagine what it must've become on the various Earth AU's as of recent but...I guess that would be incomplete research without Volt to observe and report.

I was still curious as every to know about Earth Prime.  The world nobody could visit.  No alien civilization...no dimension had cracked the way in.  As far as they must know...we're all fiction and folklore.  The stuff of TV, movies, and games.  And that made me ponder that weird Umbilical Cord theory of why...all these worlds and universes exist for real to the UltraVerse...but they're just made-up in other corners of the Axis of Reality.  Earth Prime in particular.

It still boggles my mind that someone could be reading my journal some day...it wasn't even me who actually wrote it...just an unseen author/creator who somehow loves the fandom around my world.  The meta is especially strong in this moment and I didn't know what was a healthy amount of it to wonder about before I have an existential crisis.  I wonder what the person even reading this must be thinking?  Is that what I really want to know or is that what I've just been...written to ask?  This is getting deep.  No wonder it bothered Volt so much whenever we talked about it.

"Is it really a case that we...don't really exist...or is it just that we'll never be able to PROVE we exist.  And not just to ourselves..."  I pondered the philosophy and metaphysics.

Wow, I'd gotten way off track after thinking about Lupe all this time.  Let's...step away from that metaphorical fourth wall.  Clever writing is clever writing, whether it's my own or not...but the subject of this entry is (or still should be) Lupe Ayla Lycans.

"You know, I could really go for some mint chocolate chip cake and ice cream.  It would be just like the others to get Lupe her favorite desserts for her birthday, am I right?"  I smiled before examining the leaves on various specimens.  One of which happened to be mint leaves.

"You taught me so much...patience being probably the most valuable of my lessons."

I considered going as a druid next Halloween to honor her.

"For now...I'll just keeping on doing the one thing that should be easy as breathing: live life."

I finished up my work and headed in, preparing to hear more complaints out of Flowey.

You know what?

I think I can take it.

This bit of Zen has me feeling like...I could endure anything.  For seemingly eternity if necessary.

Wherever you are, Lupe...happy birthday, my friend.

## Sub-Entry 204: "Salute the Sun: Missing the Solaris and the Golden Condor"

I admit it.

I've been staring at the Medallion of Esteban for a long time now.

I miss sailing.

I miss flying.

In case it wasn't obvious?  I had my mind on a pair of golden artifacts a million lightyears away in another dimension.  This was most certainly about the Golden Condor and the Solaris.

I'd never mentioned it but yes...Nikita did separate the Neo Nebuchadnezzar into its component parts after we returned from the Chaos Realm.  From breaking Chaopolis' ranks.

Now that we owned the museum; much to the chagrin of the former curator...in those years after, I could take either for a spin any time I wanted.

Then, slowly...

...I...didn't want to as much.

And that's what shamed me most.  That I was guilty of growing bored...growing out of some pretty big boy toys.

I was in my early 20's and still young.  But I shouldn't have given up the ghost on something that most people won't ever DREAM of in their wildest imaginations.

I had the keys to the most awesome vehicles that Lemurinopia ever forged.  And...I...stopped wanting to do anything with them.

My inner Henry "Indiana" Jones was telling me...they belonged in a museum.  And that was it.

I was more concerned about dinging them...scratching them. Tarnishing them...than actually using them anymore.  How cruel of me.

But at the same time...I couldn't deny that this was something I'd inherited from Sensei.  Just because she COULD Cybermorph and use incredible jutsus and had a powerful telepathic Sixth Sense...didn't mean she had the urge to use them.

I think it was kind of like...the philosophy of the Owls in that Mobius AU...where they were at war with the Echidnas over the Master Emerald.  One giant gemstone could turn thoughts...feelings...into reality.  Into POWER.  One person wielding it could topple entire armies...conquer nations...maybe even rule the world.  The Owls, however, decided no one should have that much power.  No one should use.  It had to be safeguarded and those who guarded had to resist its temptation.  I could only imagine what kind of dangerous thing Dr. Robotnik could use it to create.  Something to conquer Green Hills, Montana...then the country, the world...the multiverse.  Something tells me that would most CERTAINLY not be enough.

Diversionary thoughts aside...maybe that was the part of me that was speaking as to why I was no longer craving a flight or inviting Drew to sail aboard the Solaris.

What a difference a couple years makes.  Now I wanted to ride again.  But not for my own sake.  I wanted Frisk to experience these wonders of the world.

I wanted her to come along with me and M.K. aboard...like we were this generation's version of Esteban, Zia, and Tao.  I guess we should invest in 16th century tunics and sandals...whatever it was that a Spanish boy, an Incan girl, and the descendant of the lost city of Mu collectively wore.

Yeah.  Nikita finally told me the ancient legends.  I was surprised humans were involved in the story as it was the legacy of Lemurinopia.  Yet, once I considered that...so much of VGM-098 was a...variant...adaptation...alternate reality of other worlds all smooshed together?  It made sense. We had our own telling of El Dorado and the Mysterious Cities of Gold..

I couldn't help but feel like Volt was my Mendoza.  Violet even had her own robotic Kokapetyl parrot.  And I still was trying to make up my mind whether Jon was more Sancho or Pedro?  Heheheheh.

I showed Alphys the medallion and how it came apart and fit back together.

She was more than intrigued but...eventually she hit a wall with researching it before returning it to me.

It seemed...I'd found Undertale's limits to technology.

We just couldn't replicate all of Nikita's secrets.  Nikita may have taught me all I know about nanotechnology.  But...she didn't teach me all that SHE knows.  Just the same as Bunnie did.  Unlike Dr. Lynx...Bunnie eventually decided to trust me with that knowledge.  Nikita...most certainly would live beyond all of us and carry her secrets to whatever semblance of a grave she was destined for...if a day ever came.  Perhaps...she'd be the first artificial being to live forever.

Just thinking about that made me depressed when I realized not even Mettaton would be around for all time.  At least not his body.  Sure he could upgrade to new ones...but...the question wasn't a matter of if he could...it was a matter of who'd be around to provide him with one?  After Alphys was gone...who would carry on her work?

This was getting me thinking again.  Thinking about these deep subjects.  And...where there was deep thought there was worry.  There was feelings of loss.  There was feelings of missing people, places, things, and situations.  There was...a realization that the good times weren't necessarily over...but they'd changed.  In other words...while the good times weren't over...they'd grown up...and so had I.  It could never be the same no matter how much nostalgia was fueling it.

Depressing, isn't it?

That was what I was feeling.  And that was where I had to kick myself and remind myself...you learned this lesson, Azzy.  The lesson of letting go.

You can't take it with you.  The saying relates more to...going to the grave.   Morbid.  But also a fact of life.  What I'd enjoyed was temporary.

But did it have to be that way?  Wasn't there at least some way I could...I don't know...simulate it?  I mean if TV, movies, and games could reboot what was old and make it new again; then a guy who'd learned every programming trick in the book of Violet Tokugawa should have no problem coding this in the simulator?

Well.  Guess it's after-hours project time again.

While I couldn't replicate the innerworkings...I could replicate the size, shape, composition and function of both vehicles.  On a whim, once upon a time, back in Miranda City...I made sure to take measurements and study the Condor and the Solaris in intricate detail.  I'd ask Nikita for a spec sheet.  What she didn't redact was still immensely useful for compiling a 3D model to work off of.

"Well, Alphys?  Can it be done?"

"I d-d-don't see why n-not.  W-we'll have to g-g-guess on the inner m-mechanisms."

"Yeah...I thought you'd say that."

"Our tax dollars at work."  Flowey grumbled.

"Actually, most of our original funding came from Mettaton's success.  At least until we were able to get self-sufficient and were able to secure proper contracts from the city and the state.  The real backing comes from those rare federal government contracts."

That took Frisk's touch to put into motion.  And it paid well and it benefited so many in the long-run.  I think our country was more than a little appreciative, too.

"Never mind the cost.  I'm more concerned with how accurate we can make them."

"All this just to relive your stupid perfect childhood."

I wrinkled my nose at first then decided to nip this in the bud.

"Just for that, you're going on a flight wit us."

"Tch!  Like heck you're getting me on a fake boat or a fake...whatever bird that's supposed to be."

"A giant golden condor."  I clarified.

I knew it wouldn't be exactly the real thing...but simulation was the only way we'd ever make it happen without Dr. Lynx and whatever rare materials we needed...and without the secrets of Lemurinopia.

"How about, you Doctor?  Want to sail on a virtual cruise or fly by solar bird of sun-fire?"

"Oh m-m-my gosh!  This could be a m-major scientific experience!"

Who knew?  I got Alphys to overcome her nervousness.  I didn't think she of all people wouldn't be scared to fly or sail.

"But really...I also want this to be a really special gift for Frisk."

"A r-r-romantic c-cruise!?"  Alphys let out a squee of joy and excitement.

"Yeah.  A lot of people try to impress their girlfriends by trying too hard and being something they're not; bragging about the things they can do or have.  It's a matter of just being myself.  And being myself means creating.  Or recreating.  I want everyone around me I care about to know and share the experiences I grew up on.  The experiences that shaped and molded me.

It's not even about the having or doing.  It's about living.  And to live the dream alone is no dream at all.  This is my wish.  I wish to bring everyone along for the ride.

I guess in the long run...that's the essence of my master plan.  When my big project is complete...I'm going back...and taking anyone and everyone who wants to come with.

So...let's fast forward a bit to closer to the end of the month of some intense all-nighters...

"...final debug complete.  Last of the checklists done.  All bugs and glitches eliminated.  The two of them are running perfectly."  Alphys was able to keep her stutter under control.

"You ready for this?"

"I was born ready, Azzy."

"Computer.  Holo-environmental geo-simulation preset 5-20."

\* LOADING. \*

I decided to one-two-punch this one.  We were going to sail out to the virtual airstrip where I had the Condor waiting, way across the sea.

I had plenty of jokes to make about a 3-hour tour but...y'know...last time one of those happened, some cast-aways aboard the Minnow ended up stranded on an island for years.  Heavens to Alan Hale, little buddy!

Okay, blatant Gilligan's Island reference over with.  Let's get to it.

I held up the medallion...and separated the gold coin from it, leaving the crescent-moon section behind around my neck.  I installed the coin and let the solar sails do the rest.

"Setting the auto-pilot."  I stepped away from the wheel and took Frisk's hand as we crossed the deck.

"Oh wow..."

The feels and smells and the wetness of the ocean felt so real.

"So.  This the part where someone screams out "I'M KING OF THE WORLD"?  I asked.

"I don't know what you mean, but I'm sure you'll explain it all, Azzy."

"Oh that is so it.  We are watching the Titanic movie."  I mused as I had another to unzip and decompress from NXS into the watch queue.

The trip was short enough that it wouldn't take up the whole day...but long enough to enjoy.

"Land ho!"

And we landed at the dock at the virtual air-strip.

"Oh wow!"

"Yeah.  There she is."  I had the staircase ramp ready to go to reach the cockpit.  I retrieved the coin and fit it back into the medallion.

"Ladies first?"

"Just try and stop me."  Frisk said with that tomboyish edge that I respected so much.

And we up...and in.

"Surprisingly comfy for something invented before upholstery."  Frisk joked.

"Yeah.  It's surprisingly not cramped at all.  I've gotten older and bigger but...this is just how I remember it.  For guesswork...I sure nailed the feel of it from all those years ago."

I was misty-eyed.  I'd recreated something special.

I removed the coin and installed it.

The control panel opened up, revealing that cobra-shaped control stick.

"...!"

"You okay, Frisk?"

"Y-yeah.  Just not expecting a s-snake."

"It's fake.  It's just the control stick."  I don't know why it never bothered me.  In my single-digits this would have scared me spitless.

As I heard those loud ratchety clicks of the wings snapping in place, the head raised, partially sealing up the cockpit but leaving plenty of the glass windshield to see out and around us.

Before we knew it...we were lifting off...hovering...and completely airborne.

"Where to, Miss Dreemurr?"

"Fly my to the moon and back, Mr. Arcade."

I guess that was her way of saying...wherever we wanted.

And so we flew off; toward the path of the setting sun.

You know...maybe that's not such a bad idea.  Maybe...we could explore our way toward a virtual version of El Dorado and the seven Mysterious Cities of Gold.

And Frisk and I united in song over it to the theme by one Haim Saban and Shuki Levi with a version out there by Mindwipe that Sally introduced me to.

***"Children of the Sun, see your time has just begun;***

***Searching for your way, through adventure every day.***

***Every day and night, with the Condor in flight.***

***With all your friends in tow, searching for the Cities of Gold.***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Wishing for the Cities of Gold!)***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Some day we will find...the Cities of Gold.)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***Children of the Sun, some day soon you're going to find:***

***That your destiny holds the secret, holds the key.***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Wishing for the Cities of Gold!)***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Some day we will find...the Cities of Gold.)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)"***

As we sang I wished Lupe could be here with her flute and maybe Jon on an old lute or similar guitar instrument.  Something foreign sounding.

***"(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***Every day and night, with the Condor in flight.***

***With all your friends in tow, searching for the Cities of Gold.***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Wishing for the Cities of Gold!)***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Some day we will find...the Cities of Gold.)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Ahhhhhhhhh!)***

***(Doo-doo-doo-doot-doot-doot!  Cities of Gold!)***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Wishing for the Cities of Gold!)***

***(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Some day we will find...the Cities of Gold.)"***

As Alphys watched on the monitor, to her perspective it was like we had flown into the sun itself.

A more romantic date...I could not have made...I could not have planned for...and Frisk could not have asked for.

As this generation's Child of the Sun...I had a lasting thought for the duration of this flight.

Some promised their lovers the world.

Mine would just have to settle for the sun.

## Sub-Entry 205: "Growing Up Doesn't Necessarily Mean Growing Out of My Favorite Things"

I took the headphones off as I finished off the digital mix-tape I had made of all of the old cartoon themes that Violet had bundled together in the NXS in addition to the movies, TV, and multimedia she crammed on this thing in a batch file that kept updating what it decompressed.

"Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, huh?"  I mused.

Granted I had been to a lot of worlds back in the day...but this was one of them that I had missed out on.  I'm sure if they really \*needed\* our help either they would have reached out to us, or STC would have sent us to them.  But I...guess it was handled.

I looked at a lot of the other entries.  Ulysses 31, Thundercats, Voltron, Hulk Hogan's Rock N' Wrestling, Silverhawks, M.A.S.K., Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers, DuckTales, and plenty more.  And every one of them had a rockin' theme song.

I was cathartic over the "meta" of worlds I'd been to having "theme songs" and intro montages saved to our database...I also kept in mind...these weren't reality but shows in other dimensions.  Most notably Earth Prime.  The more I thought about where the fiction existed somewhere the real existed elsewhere, the more comfortable I got with meta-existence.  The less it bothered me that I might not be really in the first place.  We...might not actually be real in the first place.

Well then?  So what!  The way I reasoned...the only thing depressing about that was if our story just went to waste.  Some being out there was setting us down this road...writing our story.  Some being who had his, her or its reasons.  A story is only any semblance of good if it's shared.  If it's passed down to somebody.  If it's not allowed to be forgotten.

I had hope that at the very least...maybe this story was worth something to someone.  It at least meant something to me so...it could never be a waste of words and space.

Heavy duty existential subject matter dealt with...what was going to be the subject of this entry, Asriel?

Well...here we were at the end of the month.

I think what I wanted to do today...was take a rare me-time day to myself.  A moment where the Giving Tree has to take a break or he'll break himself trying to please everybody to the point he can't serve anybody.

A prince should know his limits.  Besides, there would be moooore than enough days to get right back to thinking of everyone else around me.

Right now?  This would be my day.

A day I was still in my pajamas, bathrobe and shower sandals; flexing my toes and chuckling that Violet couldn't bring up her weird fetishes.

As of the moment?  I was actually enjoying breakfast while I treated myself to a morning of music.

"Mmm...I hope I I can still eat sugary cereals with marshmallows in another thirty or forty years."

What was I talking about?  As Hybrid, I'd still have the capacity to enjoy this once I hit triple-digits if I was lucky.  I'd still be doing pizza nights and partying til I fall asleep in my recliner into the next century.

Though...that almost made me sad realizing that Frisk would never be able to enjoy the journey for that long.

Come on, Azzy.  Don't think of the far off future and who will still be around and who won't.

This is now.

This is your day.  Embrace it.

That said...it was also kind of ironic that...letting this be my day meant a day of space from my one true love.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?  We're not at the stage of our relationship when we can spend 24/7 with one another.  And yeah...time apart is the catalyst which makes you appreciate each other more.  When they're not there for long enough...that's when the feelings for one another become stronger and you appreciate what it is you're missing.

Wait.  Did I say one true love?  Had...we grown that much closer?  Already?  It just seemed like only months ago--

...oh yeah.

It was months ago.  Time flies.  We...we really have made this work, haven't we?  Um...\*gulp\*...I guess we stay the course and eventually we'll decide to take it to the next level...r-right?

Easy, Azzy.   Come back to this when you're not so flustered about it.  Whenever that would be...eheheheh...oh boy.

Ahem.

So...what does a goat do in his me-time?

More music?

TV?

Movies?

Games?

I'm not going to start investing in comic books just to prove a point and defy my age, am I?  Though...not that I have anything against comic books.  Really.  Age is just a number.

Though...I might consider myself too mature for MAD and Cracked Magazines......miiiiiight.

If you can't tell, I'm having a bit of a chuckle right now as this is putting me in quite a light-hearted mood.  It's good to be candid every now and then.

"Well aren't YOU just a ball of sunshine and rainbows."  Flowey smoldered.

"Oh!  You noticed!"  I tried to be as excessively pleasant as possible just to rub it in.  But only once as a jab.  Any more than that would be gloating and escalating an inevitable confrontation with little brother.

"I'd have to be blind and deaf not to."  Flowey crossed his arms.  "Proof that wishes don't come true for everybody."

"Oh you grump, you."

"Whatever's got you high on life, you can count me out."

Flowey pulled himself down into his soil, disappearing from view.

"Your loss."

I passed the time any way I could...any way I wanted.

For a bit of time...some guitar practice with Spot rabite-hat-ing me.  He had the best seat in the house and enjoyed the best acoustics in the house.

I decided to dabble with another..."sketch" on canvas.  This one of Dad.  Might as well get a jump on Father's Day.  I didn't finish; it would be an ongoing project.

"Great.  As if the old cow weren't enough, now you make one of the old fool."

"I don't know. I would think you'd have more to complain about aging gasoline."

"Wh...what!?  What does that even mean!?  Why would I care about aging gasoline!?"

"Because there's no fuel like and old fuel."  I said with a grin and a wink.

Flowey hissed in response.

"You and your \*SWEAR WORD\* puns!!!"

"Language."  I again had to do the Captain America jab at him.

I shouldn't be proud of such a lame pun.  But he set me up for it!

With music and art out of the way, this paved the road for SCIENCE!!!

Grin wherever you're at, Dexter - Boy Genius.  And I'll keep hoping that Dee-Dee will stay out of your laboratory.

I wonder what Alphys would think of such sibling rivalry antics?

I decided for my latest project I'd put together one of those plastic visible engine working model kits.  With the motors, the working wired-up distributor cab with LED lights for spark plugs.  The working timing gears and crankshaft and cam-shaft.  All the pistons and the fly-wheels.

So of course I worked in a well-ventilated spot; complete with a fume hood fan that I had installed for venting vapors and gases from volatile chemicals and such.  Since I was going to be using model cement and some light paints in some cases.

"Internal combustion is such a curious method of power generation.  Inefficient and polluting...but still a marvel to watch the four-stroke process in action."

I was also using some mineral oil as lubrication as real engines needed to reduce friction considerably otherwise the parts would eventually grind and tear each other to pieces.

"Intake stroke; piston pulls air and fuel from the carburetor into the chamber as the valve allows passage.  Compression stroke; valves are all sealed up and the piston starts to rise, squeezing the volume and making the mixture all the more volatile.  Ignition stroke; one the critical pressure is achieved, the spark plug ignites the mixture, causing a massive explosion that forces the piston down, driving the crankshaft; which turns the camshaft.  Exhaust stroke; the piston goes back up again, pushing the waste out as the exhaust valve opens up and lets the gasses enter the catalytic convertor and then the muffler.  Gotta keep those emissions within standards.  And the whole cycle starts again.  SCIENCE!!!"

I could hear Vlad Stokes chime in with me.  Granted his science was more biochemistry and the whole R-Series viral research that created his son, Red...but a good scientist appreciates ALL sciences when they're used for the benefit of mankind.

A bit of a clean up and tidying led me to the lunch hour.

"Mmm...French bread pizza."  Just the way Mitzi prepared back in Rock-Afire Pizzeria for the lunch special.

Back to my day.  And now where there was work-study and the arts...time for a bit of extracurricular fun.

Daily katas and of course martial arts practice.

"Man, do I still love the feel of this gi after all these years."  I yanked the black belt tight.

What other sport gives you an option to parade around in not-pajamas and call it a uniform?

And of course getting the blood pumping and my fighting spirit up meant...

After practice video games!  The action adventure kind.  I'd cool down with simulation and MMORPG's later on.  For now...Round...One.  FIGHT!"

"Yeah!"

If it wasn't fighting games it was...

"BLAM!!!"

Blasting with some RNG platformers.  It was good to imagine what things must've been like for the N-Division/N-Team.  Pit shooting arrows at Eggplant Wizard, Mega Man zapping robots with his lemon-shooter arm cannon.  Simon whipping it...whipping it good in CastleVania.  And so on.

And of course quests meant swords, sandals, and princesses to rescue.  And at least one of those was optional depending on the game.   Excuuuuuuuuuuse me, Princess indeed!

Then there was the instances I couldn't go it alone.  When it was too dangerous for one player...well...

It was the only other activity I could get Flowey to participate in.

"HAH!  IN YOUR FACE, GOAT BOY!"

I'm not at liberty to say which games I actually let him win.  Even murderflowers need an ego boost now and then.

I decided too cool down with some reading.

Just to deliberately give Flowey something to rip on me for, I filled an old Sherlock Holmes saxophone pipe with bubble solution and used it to blow bubbles as I read to be eccentric.  And because I'd never actually smoke.  Disgusting habit that I'd had drilled into me was terrible for your heart, lungs, and many other organs.  And just stains your teeth and makes your eyes so bloodshot after a while.

Besides, blowing bubbles makes you feel naturally giddy, somehow.

Time flies when you're having fun.  Before I knew it I was already nipping at dinner time.

So for dinner?  Yeah, I decided to indulge and make a roast for one.  Plus it would mean leftovers I could recycle and not have to cook as often.

Mashed potatoes, some veggies, a glace of iced golden flower tea.

Yeah.  This was nice.

You know this was turning out to be a pretty simple, pretty lax day.  I could do anything I wanted and...really...this was the extent of my imagination.  Maybe that's all it needed to be on my time off.

There'd be other days I could go out and be active.  Fly a kite, take my NXS SwitchBoard for another spin.  Go to a rave.  That sort of thing.

This was a good place to call home "my secret hang" as one Rio of Shaman King put it.

I just kept the good times coming with TV and movies until I noticed it got dark out.

Well...nothing left to do but hit the hay.

"Bet you're reaaaal proud of yourself for wasting a day."

"If I enjoyed myself, it wasn't really wasted."

"Ugh.  I just can't with you."

"Then don't."  I grinned.

"You smart alec..."  Flowey growled before ducking back under the soil.

I was in my pajamas all day save for the time in my gi and time I needed to put on protective clothing or an apron while cooking or working on my projects that required chemicals and paint.

So it only made sense for me to hit the hay as I was.

But first...the usual routines of cleaning up, putting the pendants in their cases, setting my pocket watch down next to the holder, saying my prayers and climbing into bed.

"Good night, world."

Until next entry.

## Sub-Entry 206:  "Into Queen's Castle: Portrait of Ruin, But It's Not CastleVania":

I guess it goes without saying that there's no possible way that the first thing you should expect is to end up in a shop inside Queen's castle and get offered "ButJuice".

Eheheh...

Yeah.  It's actually short for Butler Juice.  But still...it reminds WAY too much of a time when Chara found humor in shortening Butterscotch-Cinnamon Pie to "ButtsPie".

Now there's something to write a song about.  Thanking mom for the Butts Pie.

Eeeesh.

But yeah.  It seems our save reload put us in the "Cafe" shop on the left pillar of the giant foyer dominated by the huge statue of Queen.  Those legs, man...those legs.  Just....I can't even.

Other items on the list were SpaghettiCode...whatever pray tell that was...B.ShotBowTie...and a RoyalPin.

Huh.

We made our purchases in silence at first until the Butler identified himself as "Swatch", Lady Grace's head butler, in his own words.

The conversation proved...fascinating.  And definitely gave me insight to the submissive nature of her staff.  Does a monarch of her caliber not deserve a coven of powerful men to dote upon her every movement?   Umm...you tell me.  I really don't know.  And I really am not sure I want to know.

Apparently rap songs praising her kindness are composed...then bitcrushed to sound more 'computer'.   Sounds like a Violet/Sally collaboration.  I assume it must sound very auto-tuned.

What did make me raise an eyebrow was the remark about melons being karate chopped for no apparent reason.  Whaaaaaaaaat...?

And then I wasn't prepared for a Street Fighter II reference when he mentioned something about throwing barrels from scaffolding and having to karate chop them before the timer runs out.   Sure.  Sure, why not?   It...actually kind of reminded me of something Vi said about a Mega Man X mobile game having a collab with Street Fighter.  That would be something you could fit in a mid stage event, right?

Where am I going with this?

Interesting enough...it seemed Rouxls Kaard attempted to barge in and demand he be made "Butler Supremeth"?  Yeah, that sounds like something he'd do.  Also...was that some kind of Dr. Strange reference?

Who needs a Multiverse of Madness when this place has Alice in Wonderland beat for weirdness?  Anyway...seems that stunt got Rouxls permanently banned from the establishment.  Tough luck, I guess.  Also...we were informed not to bring him up again; the staff was still cleaning up the worms he left on the floor.  Yuck.

And lastly something about his "monochrome look" with "colored glasses".

Further South in the corridor was another of those hovering doors.  It seems it lead to the Trash Zone, the Cyber Field, and the Mansion...somehow.  We decided not to use it...yet.

It wasn't until we were outside and headed east that someone finally spoke up and broke up the awkward monotony.  Unfortunately it wasn't anyone in our group; self included.

And it was as soon as we entered what seemed to be a gallery hallway...the...music changed?

Wait, where IS the music coming from?  Very...Symphony of the Night-inspired fusion of rock and baroque?

Paintings of Queen as the Mona Lisa lined each side of a long HD TV that--

\*static\*

...oh right.  It's another of Queen's communication devices and she's got stuff to say.

"I See You Have:  Escaped From Your Room Units

Who Can Blame You For Wanting To See My Glorious Mansion

You Won't Want To Take Your Eyes Off This Beautiful Art!"

Susie wasn't having any of it.

"WE'RE NOT HERE TO LOOK AT YOUR STUPID PICTURES!"

"Oh It Was Not A Recommendation

I Was Just Warning You LMAO"

And like that the whole section of the wall collapsed inward only to reconfigure into more wall covered with Queen portraits...only--

"!!!"

I could smell the ignition sparks.

"HIT THE DECK!"

And suddenly all the portraits started spitting jet clouds of FIRE!!!  Flamethrowers hidden in the walls!?!

The flames stopped momentarily to recharge.  That was when I noticed the hallway was more like a labyrinth.  A maze full of fire-spewing portraits.

"Oh you'll pay for this..."  I grumbled, reflexively going for the most cliche hero one-liner I could think of on the spot.

"What the absolutely HELL!?"  Susie was angry enough to almost belch fire herself.

"C'mon!"  I lead through the maze, quickly examining the portraits for clues.  If this was a puzzle, then it had to have a trick to it.  A solution a--

"Hold on a tick...!"  I noticed one of the paintings at a dead-end had a different hue to it. All of the paintings were done in a blue scheme...except this one was orange..  Orange because the background depicted a forest on fire behind Queen!

And there was something perched between Queen's fingers in the painting.  Wait...it wasn't part of the picture...it was embedded in!

\*SNATCH\*  Kris grabbed it and the portrait suddenly spun around, revealing a second portrait, colored the same as the others behind it.  But more than that, we hear something unlock.

Down another dead end and another painting stood out.  This one done in a mauve red scheme.  And someone drew a moustache on Queen.  Another item in her grasp flipped the painting next to it.  And there was a hidden pouch behind it containing a ReviveMint.  Now this was starting to get to be some sandbox RPG stuff right here.

The last painting in the hall was a red scheme with another moustache painted on.  But no switches or items to grab.

"We're outta here."

Short compared to the previous situations we'd been in.  But no less crazy.  Especially with what was coming next.

## Sub-Entry 207:  "Respect the Pottery!  RESPECT IT!!!"

We charged into the next area.

And this time instead of paintings of Queen...there were paintings of rare vases...with Queen's likeness.  And said Queen-themed vase existed in the center of the room.  And yup...another wide-screen flat panel LCD monitor.

"Now I Know You Are All Loving My Mansion

But We Have A Few Rules  Around Here You Have To Follow:

One  Wipe Your Shoes

Two  Have Fun

Three  Respect the Pottery

Four Have Fun

Five List Entry Duplication Error"

I deadpanned.  I think all of us did.

Ralsei just shrugged.

You know for some reason I immediately thought of the song from Dulock...or was it Dulott...from the first Shrek.  That animatronic greeting that laid down the rules of Prince Farquaad’s kingdom.  The parts about don't push, stay in line, and we'll get alone fine...something about being a perfect town.

Then it went on to say 'please keep off the grass, shine your shoes, wipe your...!...HELLOOOOOO!  \*ahem\*  I mean...uh...wipe your FACE.  Dulock is a perfect plaaaace!

Try to imagine me doing jazz hands right now.

Okay moment of channeling stuff over.

This is serious.

More of a guideline than a rule, Peter Venkman would say.  But knowing how the rules of this world worked, there had to be consequences for breaking them.

What could happen if we didn't respect the pottery?

"What do you think she means by--"

Kris kept walking, knocking the pottery over, smashing it.

"Aw, duuude."  I channeled my inner M.K.  "Not cool.  We had one job--"

The TV immediately displayed, in big red letters: "POTTERY NOT RESPECTED"

And just as immediately, a bevy of Butlers in monochrome red came in, swept up the pieces...then proceeded to sweep the floor with us!

"Swatchlings bowed in."

Actually, now that I noticed...only one was now in red, the other in yellow.  When...?  When did that  happen?

I looked at Ralsei as I examined the indicators on my NXS's H.U.D.  Temperature gauges?  Both of them were reading "half-cold"

Shrugging, I suggested something to try.  As a result...

"Talked about the snow matted on your brother's nose."

Okay...not what I was going for, Kris.  And...how exactly are you talking about my counterpart if you're still mute?

"Swatchling's color turned a lot colder.  It's now yellow."

Okay so now they were both yellow.......huuuuuh.

"Ralsei mentions icy scarfs."

The other one's color turned green.

When they went on the attack we were soon dodging silver covered-dishes.  Like those real fancy feast sort of things when you pull the cover off to reveal the contents.

Some of them seemed to contain Monster Candies, though.  That kept our HP up.

"Smells like paint and feathers."

As soon as they were both "cold" enough, we spared them.

Into the next area...and there were a lot more vases to weave around.

"We learned our less this time.  Let's take it carefully."

"Fine."  Susie growled.

"It is only proper we obey the rules."  Ralsei observed.

I hate it when I have to begrudgingly agree.  I mean it's Queen.  What more can I say?

A bit of a slalom...or...whatever the ski term is...and we were in the clear.

That is until Kris stepped over what appeared to be a checkered stripe across the ground.  Like the kind for starting a...race...!

Uh-oh.

No sooner had I finished that thought, did a vase suddenly plop down on Kris' noggin.  And they were now having to balance it.

Briskly, we walked into the intersection.  But the vase started to tilt.  Kris tried to correct by going in the other direction--

\*CRASH\*

Too late.

More Swatchlings.  More mess to clean up.  More hot-and-cold attacks.

You know I wonder what we could have accomplished had Kris made it to the next checked stripe up ahead in the corridors?

"Well.  That was anticlimactic."

"It got us through, didn't it, old man?"

"Yeah, yeah.  But I was hoping we could...not hold up a sign and say 'here we are'?"

Susie scoffed.  Still having trouble with taking things gently, I guess.

While Susie was pressing on and Ralsei was interacting with Kris...at least I THINK they were interacting...

I took a moment to dive into the NXS, in tablet mode for all the data I'd collected to this point.

Cyber City.  The Trash Dump.  The Mansion.  And of course Castle Town, where we started.

I perused all the files on everyone we'd recruited so far.  We were getting close to 100% or so it felt like.  I'm pretty sure that was the key to a True Pacifist Happy Ending.

But...that was only how it worked in Undertale.  Here… Volt had...thoughts on his pacifist run through DeltaRune.

Not to mention there was the underlying matter of "our choices don't matter".

It would do any good bellyaching about it, now.

I looked at the holographic models of each person I'd met from the Light and the Dark...and Cyber Worlds.  From 'Toriel Another' to 'Alphys Alternate'...to the Were-wires...to the Tasques...to Queen herself.  A lot of in-between’s all around...

And then there was something Kris had kept under their non-existent hat all this time.  Spamton G. Spamton.  They gave their word they'd return to him and come alone.  I was NOT going to miss out on what that was all about.  I had to know.  I had to 100% this run.

For now...it was time to press on ahead.

So what was laying in wait for us?

## Sub-Entry 208:  "Stay on Tasq or Get Whipped Into Shape":

Into another series of corridors with paintings...but this time paints of familiar creatures.

"Why would Queen have paintings of Tasq?"  I scratched my head.

"It is truly a mystery."

"Never mind.  I don't see anyone getting in our way.  Let's just book--"

"But what if this is a puzzle--"

And she'd already gone ahead.

"This girl needs to learn to stop and plan ahead."

I folded my arms.

"I know we shouldn't let her go for too long...but really...we should have a breather for a moment.  At least have my drone scout ahead."

I sent the NXS to keep an eye on her.

"You probably know best."  Ralsei didn't put up much of an argument.   I mean...we COULD charge to Susie's side if she got in over her head.

I leaned up against the wall and sighed.

Kris stared holes through me.

"You look like you have a lot you want to say but--"

"But I cannot."  I nodded.

"I can at least say my world is...similar to Kris'.  Obviously more advanced when personal drones and hoverboards are pretty standard for me."

"What wonderful advancement!"

"It has its moments.  So...you going to call me out why I look like my mind is elsewhere?"

"It would seem rude if I pried."

"I guess I'm just thinking of the past.   The choices which led to this.  Maybe I have a bit of doubt over...whether I should have been more useful to the group."

"But you have been useful."

"I know.  But...I worry.  My old teachers used to say it was a sign of potential."

"What a wonderful thought!"

He was so pleasant.  It was like...my inner self unbound.  Almost too sweet for me to bear; and that's saying a lot when I stare into a mirror every time I look at Ralsei.  Is this...how other people saw me back then?

Feels like I'm flattering myself.  Feels...like I'm staring down the road of pride into the intersection of arrogance.  Is it even okay to give myself credit for things like this?  I mean...I have no shortage of self-confidence.  But the thought of ever getting a big head over things.  That's the Hank Hill mentality; that you'll get punished for being prideful.

But at the same time...there's a danger to being too humble, too.  Forcing yourself to limit your self-esteem is a good way to make yourself into a door mat.  Am I right, Stanley Ipkiss?

"Volt would tell me I'm not here to solve people's problems for them.  But...at the same time I can't just stand by and watch...do nothing.  So...where's the balance?  How I be part of something without overtaking it or...just turning a blind eye to it?"

"My friend, you have too many thoughts for your own good."

"Like a beehive."

"Excuse me?"

"I've heard my mind described as a beehive by some.  Volt the same way.  Because bees are always buzzing and...I guess that's how you can describe thoughts that never stop and go 100 miles per hour."

"Oh yes!  That does make sense!"

I felt like I was dropping too much info that Kris could start at least suspecting something felt familiar.

I changed the subject.

"I can't stop thinking about Queen...what she said about needing Noelle because she's strong.  Why do you think that is?  I mean...she keeps referring to her as a peon but...that implies someone beneath you."

"Truly Queen is a complicated opponent."

"Yeah?  We can't stand by and let her turn Noelle's face into a robot one.  I have a friend who'd say that goes against the laws of nature."

"Your friend must be passionate about such things."

"A real firecracker, that one."

Laugh it up, Vi.

I looked at my watch.

"Well.  Break's over.  Susie looks like she's...um...gob smacked by the upstairs challenges.  Shall we lend her a hand?"

"We shall."

Kris lead upstairs...but still gave me a look despite no chance of them revealing their eyes.  Just that blank expression in which the shadow made their skin appear a greyish blue.  The Loki jokes I could make about frost giants were many.

We reached the top and sure enough Susie hadn't budged.  It became clear the reason why.

Another portrait gallery.

I looked at all the paintings and their descriptions.

Suddenly...anthro cat maid...with a whip and a Noh mask on....and an electrical plug for a tail.

"Tasq Manager.  Of course."  The puns wrote themselves.

"Just in time for your appointment.  Would you assist in organizing these paintings."

Kris chose yes.

"How refined.  Then the first question:  Which painting's name is first, alphabetically."

"What the Hell...!?  I didn't know there was going to be a quiz!!!"  Susie was flabbergasted.

"This is why you stop and pay attention..."  I grumbled.

Of course Susie jumped the gun and guessed wrong.  We found ourselves having to be "whipped" into shape.

Tasq Manager summoned a pair of Tasqs.  Their attacks were familiar but we were having to deal with Tasq Manager straightening her whip and adding to the fray.

"Tasq Manager.  Obsessed with order and abhors chaos.  Whip it good!"

A Devo reference?  Here?  Not going to question it.

"That could work..." I thought allowed.  I urged everyone to ask her to show us order!

"Processes!  Services! Performance!  Details!"

She obliged and we soon found our souls trying to match her verbal commands.  Wait...verbal commands?  What did it seem like there were...sampled voice clips all of a sudden?

"B."

We scrambled for the B on the diamond rune she manifested on the ground, narrowly avoiding damage.

"D."  Again.

"A."

Every time she called out, she'd use her whip to electrify the other boxes in the diamond that contained the incorrect letters.

"Tasq Manager is straightening her whip with a hair straightener."

And this continued.

"Tasq Manager makes a list of her outfits for next year.  She only has one outfit."

Somehow I feel like these little details are worth a double-take when you read into them and just let it click that they're often self-defeating actions that make no sense.

Welcome to Wonderland, I guess.

And before long?  New recruits.

In the NEXT hallway....oh what the HECK!?  Why are there cars and crossing signals in a castle?  It's like the streets back in the city in here!

"Nope."  Susie immediately turned left and up the staircase to Floor 2.   We followed...to a teacup ride to the next floor which seemed to be said dining all from earlier.

## Sub-Entry 209: "The Kitchen is Infested With Vermin!  Return of the Maus":

"Welcome to the 2F Dinner Party Section A.  Please help yourself to anybody's food."

The Swatchling was pretty clear on the matter.  But really...help ourselves to ANYBODY's food?  Not that I was intent on looking a gift horse in the mouth...our HP was collectively full at the moment.  But...priorities.  Noelle.

I suppose I should also be curious to know how Berdly's plan was going.  He'd broken off from our group a while ago.

Already, Kris was examining the covered platters.

The first one...had a smaller covered platter under it.

Yeah.  Standard humor I'd expect from this world.

One of the patrons had this to say: "There's supposed to be another guest here, but they're late.  They called and said something about blue checkmarks."

Wait a minute...wasn't there something a while back about checkmarks?  Can't...remember now.  A glitch in my infallible memory?  I was supposed to have inherited that from Dad but...I guess nobody's perfect.

"Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  Queen is right!  Send error report!  Send error report!"

"Couldn't agree more!  Send error report!  Send error report!"

Under their platter was...I didn't get a good look as Kris was yanking it up and slamming it back down in rapid succession.  Looked like a power-up icon...with maybe a bratwurst in the center of the square?  Susie's blocking my view.

As for the two patrons...

Not going to read between the lines.  She's got them wrapped around her mechanical finger.

A purple mouse with a blond wig.

"I am Mausmillian.  I stand leagues and inches above all other mice.  Only Nubert remains above me still..."

Under the patter was...a larger version of the blond wig.  I won't ask.

"Nubert's moving up in the world."

We finally reached a lone table with a much larger covered platter...as soon as Kris reached for it, the table duplicated itself, become three that spread to opposite locations.  The covers of the platters popped off, revealing two of them had bombs with lit fuses underneath.  The last one held a key.  And like that...all three tables began to spin and shuffle around the room.  Like 3-card monte.

The other three were hesitant to guess but I went right for the north most one and snatched it up and grabbed the key.

"As if I'd let Aunt Vi's video gaming sessions go to waste."

"Lucky guess, old man."  Susie grumbled.

"See!  You are most certainly contributing!"  Ralsei complimented as I handed Kris the key.  Still...felt like they didn't trust me but at least I was proving that I had something to contribute in the long run.

As soon as Kris let the key go, it flew into the locked door to the north...and the whole door EXPLODED!

We...er...stepped through the open path.

And back we were in another gallery with flame-spitting Queen portraits.

A plaque read "Shortcut to 1F" to the west.

As we worked our way around, we came to a locked door marked "room has been closed due to kitchen vermin".

Back around to the only open door to the north and that landed us in a room full of stacked up covered silver platters and a trio of Swatchling butlers.  But the back wall was covered wall-to-wall mixes of ovens with computer monitors displaying flashing numbers.  At first I thought it was binary until my quickness caught sight of a 2...then I realized they were flashing and counting up and then resetting.  They were going from 00 to 09 in sequence.

One of the Swatchlings, wearing red at that, was dancing atop the stovetop.  That was when we all noticed they were in a scared panic.  Like someone really needing to use the restroom but more like Mitzi and Nermal when they saw a cockroach on the floor.

"Oh me, oh my!   The kitchen is infested with...vermin!  I knew we should have properly finished dumping all the cheese in the alleyway!"

"(Ouch, ouch)  The mouse can't get me up here!  Even if the (ouch, ouch) stove is burning my feet!"

Everybody's mad here, to quote the Cheshire Cat.

"M-m-m-mouse!  And it's n-n-not wearing a wig!"

What does THAT have to do with anything.....waiiiiiiiit..."

Yeah.  Mausmillian.  The platter.  Don't question it.

And sure enough there was cheese on the floor...and a lot of "Maice".  As soon as they saw us...

They quickly combined into...!

"Mauswheel spins into you!"  I announced as we found ourselves in a battle.

Every so often it would split up into an absolute swarm of vermin.

We resorted to our usual faire against mice...er...Maice.

We readied "TrapX" and snagged a large amount of them.  26% or so of the collective.

"We are grippable.  We are many."

Okay.  There were in-jokes about a computer mouse wheel and references to Legion......oh gods...I tried not to bring up the name Volt gave the Wraiths back when we dumped the one into the Containment Unit.

And we were dodging...actual mouse cursor/pointers.

Another TrapX...

"(I'm no cheater.  It's just cheese...)"

I resisted the urge to double-take.

Things only got weirder.  From Susie accidentally capturing herself, to actually getting down on all fours and chasing them mice like a cat.

It seemed like the battle was going to drag on forever until--

Tasq Manager dropped in and declared "We'll take it from here."

And like that...the maice were...recruited?  But to whom?  Us or her?

Afterward...the butlers opened up the East Hall.

We backtracked to the portrait room again and to the locked door, now open.

"We have to be getting closer to SOMETHING."

Inside...a giant spacious room...like a library but...

...empty...

I could see the shelf impressions in the floor from furniture that was once here.  Definitely book shelves.

So...why was all this cleared out?

Just a large pair of double-doors at the other end of the room...

## Sub-Entry 210:  "What's the Matter With the Pitter-Patter of Platters?"

"It's locked."  Susie observed, flatly.

"What's with this giant empty room, anyway!?"

\*BWAAAW\*

Oh.  Should have noticed the giant LCD monitors on the wall.  Queen.

"Welcome To My Extravagant Dining Bonanza!

And suddenly tables dropped down, EXACTLY in the impressions on the floor.  Wait...were there originally bookshelves...or these tables...or...

Gah, don't start guessing, Azzy!

"Only One Of These Delicious Platters Has The Key!

I Am Sure Searching Will Be An Addicting Game Of Chance!"

I tried scanning with the NXS.  No dice.

"Lead-lined!?"  I grit my teeth.  Yeah...I guess that would be cheating our way out of this.

"H-How the Hell are we going to search all these?"

"Well...nothing to do but trial and error."  I shoved up my sleeves as Kris was already ahead of me.

But after only two guesses and just empty results...literally.

"ERROR: Results: Key Not Found.  Did You Mean: Give Up?"

And like that the tables suddenly got shuffled.

"Oh that is sooooo cheap..."  Susie and I growled in unison.  A moment later we looked each other.

"JINX!"  I was the first to speak up.

"DAMMIT!"  She complained.

"You owe ME a soda."  I mused.  Then turned serious as the nature of the puzzle became obvious.

"All the platters got mixed up again!?  Ralsei gaped.

Three more guesses and Queen repeated herself...and reshuffled the deck.

"THIS IS TAKING FOREVER!"  Susie exploded.

I narrowed my eyes.  A stacked deck indeed.

Susie, uncharacteristically calmed herself down and asked a simple question.

"Hey, Kris, isn't there something else we can do!?

That was when I noticed movement.

So did Susie.

"Hey.  There's something under this one!"

Sure enough...the table didn't have legs.  It was laying flat compared to everything else.  And it did move or so I thought out of the corner of my eye."

I saw something...white and four-footed for a moment before we tried picking up the--

\*WHAAAAM\*

Whatever it was suddenly slammed into the on to the right of it.

"DON'T TRY TO RUN AWAY YOU LITTLE--"

She didn't finish.  Because at that moment--

"OOOOF!!!"  The runaway table slammed into US, next causing us all to land on top of the table, the platter now fallen to the ground.

"H-hey, now!"  I clung on for dear life as did the others, taken completely by surprise.

"HEY, WAIT A SEC--"

And we suddenly went for a WILD RIDE as whatever was moving us was causing the table to BARREL into the others like a bull in a China shop; absolutely wigging out and crashing into everything!  It kept up until

\*JINGLE\*

THE KEY!!!

"There's the key!  Now we just have to--"

The table lurched forward and

\*CRACK\*

"It BROKE IT!?"  Ralsei gasped.

And with that it took off again and barreled around and SMASHED through the double doors with a massive explosion!!!

And we KEPT ON GOING!  Charging through scores of butlers and covered platters until we finally SLAMMED into the wall at a T-intersection with halls to the left and to the right.

And the table just kept running past, exit stage East.

A trio of heavy tables covered with platters dropped  down, sealing the path South back up.  We'd never be able to explain to the Swatchlings, anyway.

I pushed myself up from the floor where I landed.

"Darn you, Tob--"  I started.

Just WHAT is that Annoying Dog's agenda, anyway!?

"Haha!  Was that awesome or what!?"  Susie was actually excited.

"Umm...maybe minus the blatant destruction..." Ralsei whimpered.

"Let's go, Kris!  We're almost to the Third Floor!"

Yeah.  Music to my ears.

Ahead a Swatchling was...er...walking a Vase on wheels--

\*SHATTER\*

Oh darn...

And here we go again.

We found our way through a shortcut north, west, and back south again to bypass another vase on wheels.  One battle with the butlers was enough.

And that led us down the hallway to another portrait of queen, spitting fire.

And there we were at a path overlooking Queen's statue.  I could just barely see the bottom of its face; the majority of its torso and waist, clearly in view.

Around the corner.  Another Tea Cup ride past some traps.  And I think we got tea poured on us.  Susie was the only one of us smart enough to open her big jaws and let it just gush down her throat.  The rest of us got drenched.

We were getting close.  Once at the top...

"Bookshelves."

A book stood out.

(There's a book here about preventing backtracking.)

We headed to the west.  Into a theater room?  Some Swatchlings were watching a show...a black and white show...depicting...a DARK FOUNTAIN!?

"The KNIGHT created the FOUNTAIN, and this world.

It might even be more powerful than Queen.

...for now."

I furrowed my brow.  What was THAT crack just then?

"The QUEEN has been very interested in this video recently.

Where the KNIGHT creates the FOUNTAIN with his own hand.

Well, it's that and Cyber City's Funniest Home Videos."

Oh, brother.

"This is today's dinner entertainment.  I've heard it's called 'The Birth of a Fountain'.

What an elegant name."

It's a video of someone creating a strange pillar of smoke.  There's so much smoke, it's hard to tell who it is.

I squinted hard...but...no luck.  It was too hard to make out.  Not even vague features.

The KNIGHT...who ARE you!?  Why are you doing this!?

I also pondered...what was Gaster's stake in this.  There had been no sign of him in this adventure.  But Volt clearly said something...or someone matching Gaster's voice and mannerisms described in great detail the creation of a...soul...no...a vessel that was to be discarded, just before informing our choices didn't matter.

Did any of that connect to here?

We exited and headed east.

Funny I should have mentioned it earlier...because up ahead...!

"Berdly."

"Kris, Susan...and goat wizard and unidentified human stranger...glad to see you arrived unwounded.  Now, let us hasten!"

I wonder if it was a bad thing that I'm interacting with this timeline?  I'm etched into it, now.  This is just the sort of thing Volt warned me about.

And Berdly suddenly slid a bookshelf to the side revealing a secret passage!

"Through here is a secret passageway to the roof!

There we can en-rescue-fy Lady Noelle!"

No time to waste correcting his Common/English.

"Uh, okay.  Let's go, Kris."

"Oh, Kris.  Kris is..."

Hmm?  What's with that look, Berdly?

"Kris!  You and your lacky distract Queen!

Let's go, Susie!  Just the two of us!"

"Fine, whatever."

The team's splitting up?  Now of all times?

I guess...it's part of the plan.  But...something's...off.  Why was Berdly so untrusting of Kris, all of a sudden?

The bookcase sealed up so we didn't have a choice.

"Kris, do you think of me as your lackey...?"

Kris indicated what I was thinking.  Of course not.

"H-huh..? Y-you mean... (Y-you think of me as more than a lackey...?)

Heartwarming.

Also...where did that Save Point pop up from?

Doesn't matter.  I was at my limit.  Let's do this.

"Susie has gone into a book hole with Berdly.  You are filled with the power of book holes."

\* QUEEN'S MANSION, 3rd FLOOR \*

The last thing I would remember was Kris noticing a book in the shelf about secret passageway construction...

"Azzy, you good?"  Frisk's voice asked.

"Yeah.  Yeah, I'm good.  Why do you ask?"

"Y-you were in there a shorter time than usual.  Same n-n-number of...um...sessions I g-g-guess...but on average, each one shorter duration than before."

"Yeah...yeah, I think you're right.  Queen's castle is a weird barrage of high-speed puzzles and lite gas-lighting, coupled with plenty of familiar crammed in.  I think we're in kind of a lighting round so to speak.  We're getting close...closer to the end but...I can't say how much more of this there is."

"It's changing you, Azzy."

"W...what?"

"I mean...I guess the word is...maturing you.  You seem...like you're taking your responsible nature up to the next level."

"You mean like I'm just gradually finding my way...my road through adulthood.  Aren't we all, Frisk?"

"Yeah...but...you just seem like...you're getting a grip on how to handle the younger generation.  Like I'm trying to do with learning from Mom about being a teacher."

Huh...I never thought about it like that.  This was a learning experience...I just didn't know what kind of one.

This was the first time I had any notion that DeltaRune had any...positive effect on us.  Like...there was any benefit to this dreamscape.

Maybe...it wasn't such a risk connecting to this...quasi-alternate-universe...flip-side to Undertale?

Either way...the progress behind us was outweighing what we still had left.  Or so it felt like it.

That could only mean it was going to get dicier...and probably tougher and we'd have even more close calls.  And still...Noelle's fate lay in the balance.

I was optimistic...but not naive.

We could still screw this up.

There was still plenty of plot twists left to be had; and I had no way of expecting what, where, when, and why.

Just roll with it.

We'd see it through, won't we, Ralsei?

Until next month...back on the shelf and into the back of my mind for now.

Chapter 22

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