Branches On A Tree

DETERMINATION

Alphys stared at the screen in disbelief. Her cheeks were still stained with tears that she had shed when she watched in horror as Undyne was wounded. She had no idea what was going on, or who the strange monster was, but he seemed to be the cause of the sudden calamity.

In order to be able to observe what happened to all of her friends, she split the screen in two: one view following Undyne and one following Papyrus and Frisk. When Toriel suddenly appeared and struck down the strange beast, who seemed to be a companion of the equally strange monster, she drew a sigh of relief. But needless to say, when everyone, including Undyne, hurried towards it in order to save it she was very confused. At least the whole group was together again, and now they were accompanied by a boss monster, which made Alphys feel a little better.

She closed her eyes and turned away from the monitor. Her hands were shaking and her breathing was staggered. Why didn't she intervene? Why couldn't she bring herself to get out there and help them? Even after seeing Undyne get hurt, she still didn't even consider it.

What would it matter anyway? What would she be able to do? She didn't have any fighting skills and she was in no way in any good shape. It was just her, and what could she do? Nothing, that's what. Unless they needed someone to pose as bait or something.

When the familiar Mew Mew Kissy Cutie ringtone boomed from her phone, Alphys cringed. She didn't recognize the number, so she didn't dare to answer. Speaking to the man earlier had left her with a feeling of dread, unlike anything she ever felt before. Even though she saw him drop the phone in a pile of snow, she didn't want to risk it. She tried her best to ignore the phone, just in case it was him. Beads of sweat formed on her head as she glanced at the small device, speaking on the phone was hard for her even under regular circumstances. Eventually, the phone stopped ringing and Alphys let out a sigh of relief. She turned back to the monitor. Her eyes opened in surprise as the large skeletal monster had changed shape and size, and was now cradled in Papyrus's arms. The group started walking out of range from the camera.

Alphys quickly swapped views to find them again. After some time she found them in Snowdin. Undyne, who was the only one not carrying anything, raised her hand to her face. Alphys cringed again when the ringtone started again. She looked at the phone and then back to the monitor. It did look very much like Undyne was holding a phone, so Alphys approached hers with caution, as if it would attack her, and picked up.

"H-Hello..?" she said quietly.

"Alphys, thank goodness! Where are you?!"

"U-Undyne?" her voice trembled, but she exhaled sharply with relief as she started to realize who she was talking to.

"Yeah, listen we need help. Are you at the lab?"

"Yes."

"Great. Stay there and lock the door. Don't open for anyone until we come. We have a lot to tell you and we need you to take a look at something very strange. Are the cameras you've installed still usable?"

"Yeah, I-I-I," she stuttered, suddenly embarrassed by what Undyne would think if she knew she had been watching them all this time and done nothing.

"Good," Undyne interrupted, to Alphys's relief. "I need your help to locate a monster for us. A skeleton, in a black robe of some sort, his skull is cracked and he looks generally creepy. Can you see if he's anywhere near us?"

"Uh, h-hold on." Returning to the monitor, she switched between cameras and found that he seemed to be gone.

"I can't s-see anyone... except for you guys. What... what happened?"

"It's a long story. Believe me when I say nothing makes sense. Would you mind keeping an eye out for the skeleton while I explain to you?"

"Of c-course..."