Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth. I feel that a man may be happy in this world. And I know that this world is a world of imagination and vision.

-William Blake.

"Ring... Ring..." A vibration in my pocket, I quickly reached for the device and answered the call. Alphys was likely watching me through a camera, so she knew that me and Chara were approaching the core. Our eyes were assaulted with various colors and techno lights when we entered through the entrance from MTT.

"H-hello! Human demon child? It-its me Alphys! Er, I can see you just entered the core but... The front door seems to be locked!" She was right, the door in front of me was locked. I began walking towards the left path instead.

"Ring... Ring... Hey!" Alphys shrieked and I recoiled, "I-I mean, y-yeah that's the right p-path!"

"What in the blazes are you trying to do, lady? Do you think I need advice for such menile things?" I had assumed there would be more challenges in this area. I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket.

It went like this for the most part, a puzzle or trap or path explained by Alphys... But much to her disappointment I could overcome most obstacles by myself.

"I'm going to turn off-" I cut the scientist off, silencing her.

"No need, I can simply..." Trick, and I made it all the way across the bridge with various lasers and such... Wondering why exactly these were placed here, I couldn't help but lean towards the reptilian scientist's involvement with this place and its contraptions... Why was she so eager to help me?

"She thinks I'm a fool... That it's not plainly obvious what she's trying to do." I spoke to myself mostly, but Chara despite being oddly quieter compared to her previous self... Couldn't help but agree.

"Yes, it's a bit odd that Alphys is the royal scientist who can control these puzzles at will, why would they be activated? Much like the old royal scientist, I doubt she'd have an issue just clearing the path for us..." Her words invoked a steady fury inside my chest, but I decided to let it go.

"She wants to feel special, that is all. She thinks that by helping me, she'll earn my comradery." That was my guest at least, perhaps she was planning on double crossing me? Undyne and her were in an alliance, and with the way Undyne let me through so easily into Hotland... I began to wonder where everyone fit into this.

Sans, the elusive skeleton who stalked my progress and knew more than he let on.

Undyne, the demonically powerful warrior heroine who wanted me dead just twenty four hours ago.

And now Alphys... A seemingly sweet and kind person who...

Was attempting to manipulate me.

It left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth, but I would not be surprised. Even despite how forthcoming demons were with their intentions, there were always outliers; Such as Alphys and Sans.

Regardless of their intentions, they wanted to help... At least Alphys did despite her twisted way of showing it.

A smile curled onto my lips Suddenly, "Perhaps I was too harsh on her." Chara snapped her head in my direction, her eyes shaking like I'd just grown a second head.

"Really? Even though she's trying to manipulate you into liking her?" I nodded slightly much to her surprise, "We all manipulate one another my friend, Alphys is simply more overt. Although I will have to correct this later, for I am not one to be manipulated easily." But still, I could respect the effort to some degree. I am a powerful person after all. And it would be prudent to have as many allies before I reached the capital as I could, stepping into a foreign cityscape and all.

"Anyways, I grow tired of this scenery. Far too urban. For the life of me I cannot understand how these demons romanticize humanity, especially their modern counterparts, even Undyne to an extent." Chara agreed with me, a disgusted scowl forming across her face.

"I agree, but it's always been that way... Some demons here just can't help but love humanity..." Perhaps there was a reason for that.

I scratched my chin, "Sparda did make them swear an oath to protect humanity some centuries ago, so I do not think it's too far-fetched." Chara blinked, her spectral form now resembled a human more than she did a ghost. Her body has gained so much color and opacity.

"Old Gerson told me the same thing a long time ago..."

"He told me as well, it seems that history likes to repeat itself." Chara smiled at that for some reason, not because of something sad or despicable... But just because.

"Maybe, but real change can occur if we put our minds to it... This world isn't just a cycle, our hands can mold fate, quite literally." Her smile brightened, the world of possibilities as numerous as the lights around us.

I felt like smiling back at her.

How could one love, without power? How can one defend or protect, without power? To stand against adversity. Is power not the answer? The urge to power, the growth? I wondered to myself, my heart burned brighter than ever before in these moments and I couldn't help but feel that I was burning. Burning flesh choking my breath with its molten bubbling fumes and smoke, the horns and scales upon my hide and the burning light within my eyes. This is Vergil, I am Vergil, the whole. But this weakness I feel? I mustn't allow it... I mustn't allow it to cool and wane all I ever endeavoured for.

I mustn't.

I have to defend myself, I have to fight, I have to live, I cannot die, I cannot love and live without power. To see this apple bore itself, I must see it through the end... I must have power, I must realize myself.

Who am I? What could I possibly amount to without this power? How could I possibly defend myself from the struggles of this world without this power? Nothing can guide me, nothing can protect me beyond the power to will I have. These nightmares be damned, this calling to generosity be damned...

But, the light in my soul... Buried deep within...

I am a devil, but... How can anyone amount to anything... If he cannot grow?

"Vergil..."

"Partner."

"Vergil..."

"Hey!"

My eyes snapped to attention, I felt a vibration in my pocket. "What is it?" Chara pointed down at my phone as I took it out, revealing a display that said "Incoming friend request from: NAPSTABLOOK22." I read out loud.

"What the hell? These phones are odd devices, back in my day we could only call people, none of this fancy stuff..." Chara scoffed, but seemed interested at the same time.

"You had one as a child? They are only a recent invention though." Bemusement etched across my face.

A smirk, "Humans are just slow to the uptake, we've had phones for a long time, none this fancy though." Chara looked smug at that, but I ignored her in place of the device in question vibrating once again.

I blinked, a reflection of the phone display in my pupils. "Hm, he wishes to establish contact?" Chara flew back over at my question and began to float above me, looking at the display with curious eyes.

"Oh it's our other ghost friend!" Chara pushed the accept button for me when she saw the avatar of Napstablook, and then promptly took my phone much to my chagrin and began to toy around with it.

"Chara..." she shushed me, "Not now, I'm trying to figure this damn contraption out, it's way too complex!" Chara had her tongue out in frustration, my palm crashed against my forehead before I brushed my hair back and regained my cool composure.

"H-e-l-l-o.." Chara individually sounded out each letter before sending it. My lips released a sigh, and I scratched my nose. It seemed like nothing particularly eventful would happen in this section of the underground-

Too soon,

"Die, cambion!"

My scabbard raised to the sky, blocking a heavy blow from a tall demon with an owl-like chest and knight-like body. Its heavy mace struggled fruitlessly against my Saya, unable to even make me sweat.

"Now, Madjick!" I felt another presence shooting towards me at high speeds from the left, my face had been shadowed by the numerous lights surrounding us.

My breath released in steam, and I switched grips with the Yamato in my right now.

"HOCUS POCU-" The demon stopped in his tracks as if caught in a paralysis, I crouched down at eye level before violently snapping my glare in the direction of my opponent.

DEATH

My face was mere inches away from the wizard's, eyes scalding with darkness and an unbroken strength. Sweat dangled down his wizard-like body and he was frozen on the spot. I saw the contours of my jaw and darkened expression reflected in his eyes, a devil.

I then tricked away, reappearing a few meters ahead with my back turned to the would be assassins. This was remarkably, my first real encounter with a demon outside of Undyne herself... Most others ran away at the sight of me or cowered away in fear, fear which these two were not immune to.

What were their motives? I scoffed and turned my head halfway, my shadowed glare shooting holes through the two demons; the taller of the two stood at the front, his armored body shaking while the other took a few steps back. A click was heard as the Yamato slid from its sheath, the slightest shine of its metal edge being revealed. A smirk grew across my face as the two fools fled.

My satisfaction was short lived, "Ring... Ring... T-those guys weren't supposed to be here I don't know what's going on! A-are you alright?" Alphys sounded genuinely worried about me, shocked too.

She was frantically trying to explain the current situation to herself, "Of course, would you kindly direct me now Doctor?" Me and Chara came upon a crossroads, but unfortunately the Doctor could be of no help.

A few panicked grunts, "Erm, I'm sorry but- but the layout is switching! I can't help you anymore I'm-im sorry..." The phone hung up, I cursed my luck. Doing things by myself was the norm, I thought I'd give her the satisfaction... But I supposed I'd be going down the path of the lone warrior.

Nothing new.

I came around the corner with my eyes peeled, Yamato held close to my side ready to be drawn at any moment. Eventually, Chara and I made our way to an elevator.

"This texting app is pretty neat pard, you're getting a ton of friend requests for some reason. They seem excited for "your upcoming show!", whatever that means" To an outsider, it would look like a phone was floating invisibly by my head.

"What sort of nonsense are you telling them?" I asked before pushing the button on the elevator.

Chara glared at me, "Me? I'm not telling them anything, I'm still trying to figure this damn device out." I wouldn't expect someone from seemingly many years ago to understand how to manage a phone properly, my own skills with technology were sorely lacking as well. And the phone Alphys gave me was far more advanced compared to the ones on the surface, where the telephones would have to be rooted in place, immobile.

I stare ahead as the elevator opens, a dark dim lit room... And a rectangular robot standing in the middle of it. My lips almost curled into a smile, another game?

So, this was it: "Hey Vergil... I think I know what they meant by good luck..." Chara gulped, tossing me back the phone.

"OH YES, THERE YOU ARE DARLINGS." A familiar charismatic robot said with his arms waving, we stood on a small platform with walls all around us. My eyes narrowed slightly.

"What's the meaning of this?" Things were oddly stacking up regarding this whole situation with Mettaton and Alphys...

Mettaton revealed himself in full light, "OH DON'T WORRY, YOU'VE CERTAINLY MADE A SPLASH THROUGH THE UNDERGROUND HAVEN'T YOU? THE FAME, THE GLORY, IT SEEMS EVERYONE CAN RECALL A STRONG LOOKING SWORDSMAN! EVEN UNDYNE THINKS YOU'RE AND I QUOTE "Kinda cool, I guess." BUT OH HOW LITTLE WE KNOW ABOUT THIS MYSTERIOUS SWORDSMAN, MY WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME SWEETHEART!" Mettaton chuckled with that robotic noise of his.

"Get to the point."

"YES YES, I'M SURE ALPHYS WANTS THAT AS WELL HM?" The robot said ominously.

"YOU SEE, THIS WAS ALL A SHOW... OR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE, ORIGINALLY ALPHYS WANTED YOU TO GO THROUGH ALL OF HOTLAND! UNFORTUNATELY, UNDYNE TOLD THE GUARDS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BLOCK YOUR PATH THAT IT WAS A FALSE ALARM, THAT THERE IS NO HUMAN."

Technically Alphys was correct, I am a half-breed.

The entertainment hummed a tune in the background as he beeped, "ALPHYS WANTED TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS PLACE WITH ME CONSTANTLY PUTTING YOU THROUGH DANGEROUS OBSTACLES, BUT SHE PLANNED TO SAVE THE DAY EVERY TIME WITH-"

I interrupted the entertainer, "I already knew that." She had failed either way to manipulate me, and let it be a lesson to her.

...

The robot seemed ecstatic, "MY MY FOLKS, WHAT A TWIST! THE SWORDSMAN FROM THE WILDEST' OF JAPANESE CARTOON ALREADY KNEW OF THE PLOT ALL ALONG! PERHAPS THIS WAS A BETTER TURNOUT THAN I EXPECTED? AND YET ANY SECOND ALPHYS WILL COME IN TO SAVE THE DAY, ENDING THIS PRIMETIME SHOW FAR TOO EARLY... IT WILL NOT DO." A dangerous glint appeared in his mechanical display.

"Early?" Chara asked confusedly.

"OH YES, THE SHOW MUST GO ON! AND I'VE LEARNED A LITTLE THING OR TWO ABOUT THE SWORDSMAN AND HIS GHOSTLY FOLLOWER!" Suddenly, a voice started crying out as small bangs emanated from the now locked door.

"H-hey! What's going on! Why is this locked? huh? METTATON!!!" I heard Alphys shriek, I felt a tinge of pity for the doctor, her plan was in ruins by now.

Mettaton gestured widely, "YOU SEE, I ONLY WISH TO ENTERTAIN, ONE DAY I'LL BE A STAR ON THE SURFACE AND ENTERTAIN HUNDREDS NO THOUSANDS, NO, MILLIONS OF HUMANS! BUT GUESS MY ABHORRENT SHOCK WHEN I OVERHEAR YOU TWO TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS TO EXTERMINATE EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM?" My posture lowered as the words echoed throughout the room, my eyes narrowing as I heard Chara gasp at the revelation.

His arms shot into the air maniacally, "OH YES, I WAS OVERWATCHING THE TWO OF YOU ALL ALONG. ORIGINALLY I'D JUST PLANNED ON LETTING YOU GO, WHAT GOOD IS A HALF HUMAN ANYWAYS? WHO KNOWS IF DEMONS CAN ABSORB YOUR SOUL? BUT NOW... IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT!" Mettaton's face turned entirely red, displaying a death warning as lights began to flash all around us.

"AND ONCE I GET YOUR SOUL, I'LL LEAVE TO THE SURFACE! ASSUMING OF COURSE, THAT HUMANITY IN THERE ALLOWS YOUR SOUL TO REMAIN AFTER DEATH!" It could... My soul had been brought back from death before.

I stood upright as the ground began to shake, my eyes looking in every direction as all around us the walls fell away to reveal a massive stadium of monsters from all over the underground. Lights flashing, cameras glaring down towards me, the floor I stood on was filled with smoke and stage lights. And finally, a large interface descended with the label "Ratings", leveling at 4000.

My stoic demeanor remained if only barely.

Mettaton began to wave towards the crowd, oddly never behind him. "WELCOME, WELCOME EVERYONE! THIS IS YOUR HOST METTATON SPEAKING! AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M UP AGAINST A RARE BREED!" My eyes narrowed, this bastard... He was trying to reveal all my secrets before our battle? Hm. And I couldn't quite just destroy him, metal enforced with demonic magic was borderline indestructible.

"A HALF HUMAN, HALF DEMON, A CAMBION MY BEAUTIES! SUCH A RARE SPECIMEN ON DISPLAY FOR US TODAY!" Suddenly, my phone began to ring as the crowd went wild at my status.

"Ring... ring...! H-hey I can't get in there but I can hear everything... Ack! They won't let me in!" labored sounds of trying to push through a crowd.

"What do you have to tell me Doctor?" Without the ability to cut through this thing, how could I possibly get past?

"U-uhm just... Figure out how to turn Mettaton around! He never faces backwards because... Because he has a switch on his back!!! If you... Uhm, turn the switch... He'll be vulnerable to the laser a-attacks on your p-phone!" I nodded, hanging up promptly and finding the app for these attacks... It was a huge yellow button.

Pressing down on the button, I shot out a few blasts of energy towards the robot hoping it would do anything... But they merely bounced off, I grumbled in frustration.

"THAT PEASHOOTER WON'T DO A THING AGAINST ME DARLING." Cursing underneath my breath, I pocketed the phone and thought of how to turn this conniving bastard bastard around... His self absorbed arrogance was pissing me off, why praise him?

"We'll see, do you really think I won't find a way to demolish that metal body of yours?" My trash talk earned boos from the crowd, I felt an ice cold substance hit the back of my head. Nicecream.

"Damnit!"

"WE'LL SEE DARLING, BUT NOW? IT'S TIME TO DANCE!" Damnit, I needed to get behind him; but I wasn't sure if I was fast enough to avoid a laser of all things. The robot's reaction time would be borderline instant, so I had to weigh my options.

"I HIRED THOSE GUYS TO KILL YOU, BUT I REALIZED A BETTER OPTION... KILLING YOU MYSELF!" So that's why...

Suddenly-

"Hey, METTATON! LOOK BEHIND YOU, THERE'S A MIRROR!" Chara suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs, techno music blaring around us. The robot followed her demand instantly, my eyes laser focused onto the switch jetting from Mettaton's back.

"OH YES A MIRROR, PERFECT! I NEED TO LOOK JUST RIGHT FOR-... HEY, WHERE IS IT?" Before the robot could turn around again, Chara had flown over to him and with all her might and exertion, flipped the switch.

... A gasp from the crowd.

"Did you."

Chara hid behind me, snickering

"Just..."

"Flip my switch?" The question rang out for a few seconds before the lights of this stage began to go haywire, Mettaton following suit as he short circuited. Relief flashed in my eyes before I shot Chara a thankful glance, I was not going to-

Suddenly, only light filled my eyes.

...

"OHH YES."

From the foot of my soles, to my knee, to my hips, to my spine, and into my shoulders, I felt a chill run up my entire body. A small gust of wind kicked up around me and Chara as a low tune played, lights dimming only for them to slowly return to their previous luminosity.

Around us the crowd roared, stage smoke spinning around a shadowed figure in the center of the state. So many eyes on us, I felt my posture stiffen only for my eyes to widen as the figure slowly revealed itself. A disco ball lowering from the ceiling, flashing through the cloud of smoke with a bright neon purple.

Mettaton had transformed, through the fog I could barely make him out. Metallic black hair, long slender legs stretched out in a coy disposition. At his center a heart, fitting... "Well well..." Even his voice was less robotic, and more... human.

"You must've been desperate... Did dear Alphys put you up to this? Oh it doesn't matter dear, after all... I've been waiting to show off this body for a long while..." Purple armor and long extendable ligaments, this newly born foe stared at me with delight and spectacular light.

The crowd was cheering all around me, rooting for Mettaton as the robot began to dance freely with his newfound body. Sparking the crowd even further in their roars. "Hn, how could I have been pulled into this... NONSENSE."

"What are we going to do, Pard? You need to use the phone!" But when, there was nothing to