Carefully, Woona examined the signs marking the paths to the east and west at the intersection. The sign to the east read "Path of the Warrior". The sign to the west read "Path of the Scholar".
"Oh, I recognize this!" Alphys spoke up through the phone. "It's one of the possible configurations of the Core, though one that's been, well, banned because of how dangerous it is, so I don't know how to get through it. What I can tell you is that both paths will lead to the end of the Core. The Warrior Path will have several monsters guarding it, while the Scholar Path will have several puzzles-"
"Puzzles!" Woona squealed happily, dashing to the left.
Chara chuckled indulgently as they progressed. Noticing something, he called Woona's attention to it. Take a look at that ice!
Woona glanced across a gap to where a large block of ice was being carried towards the pit. "Hey, isn't that the ice the wolfman was throwing into the river back in Snowdin?" she asked curiously.
Yeah, Chara confirmed. Hasn't melted even after going all the way through Hotland. That's some cold ice-
The ice dropped off the conveyor belt into the white that filled the area below the platforms, instantly vaporizing.
"...note to self," Woona squeaked out. "Don't fall." To put that out of her mind, she quickly followed the path north.
After solving another block-shooter puzzle like she'd encountered in Hotland, Woona continued north. Using her magic to send Chara forward to explore, Woona was able to safely maneuver through the Core to a door surrounded by unusual symbols. "So...this is the path from the Core to the castle?" Woona asked Alphys.
"Yup, that's the door," Alphys confirmed. "This is another one of the nodes of the Core that can't be moved, just like the one at the start where the elevator is. The other end of the elevator is there to your right." Alphys hesitated. "Woona...we're going to have to hang up the phone before you go through the door. Security systems don't allow active communications link ups to enter the Core's control chamber, and we might have difficulty reestablishing contact."
"I'll be okay," Woona promised. "See if you can get the elevators online in the meantime?"
"...yeah, I can do that," Alphys agreed. "Stay safe, okay Woona?"
"Will do!" Woona promised, hanging up. She then stepped through the door.
The chamber beyond was very dark, only a single platform visible in the shape of a jagged diamond. In the distance, various control computers could be seen, but no bridges connected the platform to them. The only bridges were the ones Woona walked on and one at the opposite side, connected to the exit door. As she stepped onto the platform, she found Mettaton waiting for her, his screen red.
"OH YES, THERE YOU ARE, DARLING," Mettaton greeted. "IT'S TIME FOR OUR FINAL SHOWDOWN. IT'S TIME TO FINALLY STOP THE "MALFUNCTIONING" ROBOT."
Woona sighed. "You're not malfunctioning," she stated bluntly. "And you aren't really a 'robot' either, are you?"
"...OH?" Mettaton asked curiously. "I SUPPOSE I CAN HUMOR YOU, THEN. WHAT AM I?"
"You're a Blook," Woona replied carefully. "And this 'robot' is a body Alphys built specifically for you. But...now you're a part of it...like Glad Dummy?"
Mettaton clapped his hands slowly together. "VERY WELL DONE, DARLING!" Mettaton praised. "TELL ME, WHEN DID YOU PUT IT TOGETHER?"
"You got upset...well, not upset but something like it...when I mentioned trying to kiss Napstablook," Woona explained. "And...there's another house like Blooky's next door to his, but locked. He doesn't like looking at it. ...it's your house, isn't it?"
"...IT WAS," Mettaton replied. "AND THE WORD YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS NOSTALGIC. BUT TELL ME, IF YOU KNEW FROM THAT MOMENT THAT I WASN'T JUST SOME SOULLESS AUTOMATON, ONE THAT CAN MAKE ITS OWN DECISIONS INDEPENDENT OF PROGRAMMING...WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING? YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN THEN THAT ALPHYS HAD CREATED THIS NARRATIVE SPECIFICALLY SO SHE COULD INSERT HERSELF INTO YOUR STORY, TO 'SAVE' YOU."
"...the first time a monster tried to share 'LOVE' with me, all I felt was pain," Woona explained. "I thought...when that happened, I thought it meant I couldn't be loved, that friendship could only hurt. But...but Mama opened her heart to me...worked through my pain to help me...played by my rules to love me." She looked up at Mettaton. "And I promised her I'd befriend every monster in the underground. Could I do any less for Alphys? If she needed to 'save' me in order to have the confidence to befriend me...who was I to deny her that?"
Mettaton stared down at Woona. "YOU ARE A VERY INTERESTING SURFACE DWELLER. IF ALL THOSE ABOVE NOW ARE LIKE YOU, I HOPE TO ONE DAY PERFORM FOR THEM AS I HAVE UNDERGROUND."
"Speaking of performance..." Woona began, focusing her magic.
Behind Mettaton, a switch was thrown, and the platform shot upward with both of them on it, several spotlights shining down. Mettaton glanced back and forth, surprised. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" he demanded.
"I told you," Woona said as she stepped around behind the robot. "I'm befriending every monster in the Underground. The ones guarding the paths will be watching this grand finale in the audience, since I made it past them. And the whole Underground will be watching. Just like with Alphys, I'm meeting you on your own ground, by your own rules...and I'm gonna befriend the circuits out of you!" Spinning around, she bucked out with her hind legs, flipping the switch on Mettaton's back.
"DID...DID YOU JUST...FLIP MY SWITCH?" Mettaton gasped out.
"Indeed I did!" Woona proclaimed as white smoke billowed around Mettaton. She stepped to the side as the stage came to a halt and the spotlights locked onto the robotic entertainer. "It's time to show the whole Underground who and what we really are!"
Woona stared into the light and smoke, filled with the DETERMINATION to give the greatest performance on or under the earth.
OOOOOHHHHHH YEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!
Fixed that for you.
It's time for a pose off!
YAY!!! Mettaon fight I will go grab the popcorn.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
Well, this will be interesting.
Also why bo one haa explained the whole LOVE thing to Woona yet?
You get 'em Woona! Make the Undergound and us proud!
7213844 The reason NO ONE HAS explained to Woona is because Sans does in the Final Corridor.
Excuse me while I have a bit of fun while listening to the appropriate theme!
Okay, now that I got that taken care of, I hope Woona hugs the circuits out of Mettaton and Napstablook. Also, Mettaton needs a coating of magic so she can properly hug Napstablook.
Let's hope that Woona doesn't... melt under pressure there.
Yup, Woona is officially flipping everyone out.
At least she's... rising to the occasion here.
If anything else though, this is gonna be the greatest show and tell down under ever.
Dis gun be good.
Well, I know one thing for sure. This is going to be spectacular.
Stupid forum ate my post and rant.
To sum it up SANS BETTER APOLOGIZES FOR NOT EXPLAIN ING THE WHOLE "LOVE" THING EARLIER CONSIDERING WOONA ALMOST KILLED HERSELF!
"Wait, you knew what the term LOVE was, yet you never cared to explain it? Why? Why not even my mother explained it?"
"Because, LOVE is such an integral part of monsters we tend to think everyone knows what it means. Oh and we are morons following a script that's not even meant for your species. All in the hope to get free of the Underground. Ignoring the fact that even if we get free, humans still exist and that means War would happen yet again."
7213988
Perhaps keep in mind that this is the first time Woona has ever spoken about the confusion Flowey's 'Friendliness Pellets' caused her? So no one else even realizes that she doesn't know? Toriel didn't explain it because she didn't want her to fight, and everyone else assumed she knew because she talked about her Mama teaching her.
The one you should blame for not explaining it at this point is Chara.
Wow, Woona is really ... Shining now
Man, this chapter is very ... Puzzling
This chapter is also very ... Ice to read
Wow, Woona should ... Sign on the ... Right way next time
Wow, Woona knew from the start about the game of ... Smoke and Mirrors
Hey Sans, What do you think of my puns? I had to do some ... Light thinking for them.
7213825
Get ready to boogie!!!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... interesting choice of words in the first part of that question, but otherwise a decent chapter all around.
7214009 They're good but I know you can do better as well.
7214009 I will send this to you.
guides.gamepressure.com/mgsrevengeance/gfx/word/263638054.jpg
Uh... Hey Tats. If you need help with the Mettaton fight... This video should help. (YouTube video doesn't work when using your phone)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wSTcRzpL7pQ
I got the popcorn
Another grand chapter in this story, hehehe, awesome job man, awesome job!
Your eagerness to witness the full potential of Mettaton final realized fills you with DeTemmienation.
Oooh, I am so ready for what's going to happen next!
7213864
7214009
orig03.deviantart.net/9b97/f/2016/060/6/a/pap_gif_by_supacrikeydave-d9tjixx.gif
OOOOHHHH YEEESSSSS!!!!
(Insert guitar riff)
DUN DUN DUH NUH
DUN DUN DUH NUH
DUN DUN NUH DUH NUH
Here we go.
And then, just for an alternate version of what's coming.
I can't wait until next chapter! it's the best pacifist fight.
Hopefully Woona will keep her cool. Especially now that the chips are down, and Mettaton seems to be in high spirits.
I don't know if anyone's done this yet, but I feel like it's necessary to do it again anyway:
You know, Woona should get some kazoos...
Then she could kazoo EVERYTHING!!!!
*The commenter nods to the beat*
Own it, Woona!
Oh, yes! The next chapter is going to be positively beautiful and glamorous!
The anticipation for the next chapter fills you with DETERMINATION
OOOOOOHHH YEEESSS...!!!
TIME FOR THE MOST FABULOUS CHAPTER YET!!! GET READY DARLING...!
Hmm. I don't remember that part.
Hm... uh...
...crap, I have NO puns.
7215049
You see it if you go left from the first save point in the Core's maze portion, just after Alphys stops calling.
7215370
Leave the puns to Sans. He's been making them in the comments section since the first chapter.
7215370 Mettaton's about to get a real leg up on Woona, here.
Woona's about to rock Mettaton's block off.
Mettaton does, in fact, stand a ghost of a chance.
We're finally getting to the real core of this adventure.
Woona's really a rising star of the Underground.
Something something lizard pun.
7216488 I've been pitching in too, now and again. Gotta cover all the bases.
I'm surprised NO one caught onto the Fourze reference right at the end with Gentarou's line. That IS where that's from right, Tatsurou?
7217053
...umm...what?
7217088 That's a "nope"
Lights! Camera! Action!
7217088
What is it with you and accidental references?
OH YES! I've got my dancing shoes ready, THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!
Kamen Rider Fourze, What you had Luna say about befriending the circuits out of was a very VERY close thing to what Gentarou said to a guy that rejected his offer of friendship. "I'm going to befriend the **** out of you, just to spite you." I should mention you'd probably love this series, as it's the same writer that created Gurann Lagann.
7218749 .........Here I am, fully convinced I would never like Kamen Rider because of the similarities to Power Rangers, and you go and tell me it's made by the same person who made probably one of the most awesome shows ever. Well crap! Now I have to watch it!
7219312 This really isn't the place for it, so I'll just keep the comment brief, Kamen Rider and Sentai are like apples and oranges. Two very different formulas. Either way, http://over-ti.me Go here for all things Kamen Rider. And just to make it sweeter, one of his main finishers is a literal drill kick.
It begins.... Prepare yourself Woona... for DEATH.... BY..... GLAMOUR!!!