Royal Slip

The Nice Side Of Death

Mettablook, from the pink house in Waterfall, liked to see the nice side of things. That meant when the big kids called him stupid because he was only in kindergarten, or weak 'cause he was just a little ghost, he didn't mind because he bet that those kids just had a bad home life.

Mettablook knew that a lot of parents in the underground weren't very nice to their kids. Everyone was bitter about being trapped down there. At least Mettablook's parents were okay. They didn't hit him, but they weren't around so much and when they were they just got drunk. But Mettablook knew that it could be worse.

His cousin Napstablook's parents hurt them. Mettablook had seen the damage done to his cousin's SOUL, and he was grateful that that didn't happen to him. It was the only reason that his vibrant pink HOPE SOUL was still intact.

His neighbor Undyne, she was already ten, told him that HOPE was weak and he had to toughen up. She usually proceeded to show Mettablook exactly why he had to toughen up. Painfully.

Someday, Mettablook would be tough enough to fight back. He knew it.

Maybe that day would be soon! After all, Mettablook was six now. Five yesterday, six today. Old enough to be in first grade! No one could make fun of him now! He'd be one of the big first graders that the kindergarteners revered!

If only his parents ever got home, it would be the best day of his life. They couldn't have forgotten. Not again.

Mettablook heard heavy footsteps up the walk and floated towards the window excitedly. Were his parents really home? He very much hoped so! Maybe with a sparkly pink cake...

Wait. Ghosts didn't make footsteps.

Mettablook didn't even have time to get to the window. The door was kicked open first.

He jumped back, startled. The invader was a large, really really fluffy goat man. He bore a simple symbol which Mettablook recognized as the royal crest: a red flame. Mettablook found this large, imposing man very scary. He gave off an air of importance.

He looked down at Mettablook and spoke. His voice was deep and powerful, yet not loud. It was the kind of voice that demanded your attention despite it's subtle tones.

"Little one, are your parents home?"

Mettablook opened his mouth to respond, but the man was so scary that all that came out was a squeak. The little pink ghost decided to shake his head instead.

"I see," said the fluffy man. He stepped over the threshold into the Blooks' humble home. Mettablook involuntarily floated backwards, away from him. The man was big enough he almost broke the doorway. "So you won't mind if I search for them? They fucked with something of mine."

His tone darkened on that last bit. He seemed almost mad. Mettablook tensed ever so slightly. What did this man want with his parents?

"Th... They really aren't here, I swear!" Mettablook willed the man to believe him. He was so scared, he just wanted the man to leave... He was telling the truth! He ALWAYS told the truth!

"Were the premises empty, you wouldn't be trying to keep me out. Shall I burn it to the ground, or kill you to lure them out? Or, y'know, both."

That last word, the fluffy man's voice went really low. Mettablook got the message. His parents had offended the man, and now the man wanted to hurt them. That didn't seem very fair...

"P-Please don't, sir," Mettablook called him sir because he looked like someone Mettablook should call sir. "I-I'm sure whatever th-they did, they d-didn't mean it!" Mettablook's parents were good people, the man had to see that!