Undertale: Long Road

By: Nathan Weaver

Chapter: 30

Well, today was turning out to be super weird. At least, by Stan's standards anyway. Looking at all the flickering building lights dancing around him, the bus driver couldn't think of a single time something like this had happened before.

Then again, only a year ago he wouldn't have picked up a trio of Monsters, or even believed they existed. It just went to show, the world was a strange place. Even stranger than the comics he was once planning to write. But, knowing that didn't help him make sense of it though. Really all it did was make him want to scratch his head in confusion. In fact, he was about to do exactly that, when a weird sound pulled him away from it.

No, not just a sound. That wouldn't send such a cold shiver down his spine. No, what Stan felt was more akin to something you experienced on a spiritual level. It was almost like something between an avian screech and a feline yowl, something you'd curl up in a corner somewhere had you heard it alone in a forest at night.

It was so bad that Stan actually let the wheel slide through his fingers and only took ahold of it after noticing the bus going off course. In other circumstances, he would've been embarrassed by that, even horrified. But that was when something large and dark came barreling around the corner, and startled one of his passengers screaming.

For the barest of instants, the driver refused to believe what he was seeing. It had to be a trick of the light, an odd shadow that made a truck with an engine problem look like something else. Luckily, the shouting voice of one of his passengers snapped him out of that delusion.

"Pedal through the freaking floor, human!"

The instant he heard that the driver downright stomped on the pedal. Commanding the vehicle forward with a growling of pistons, even as that tough-looking fish Monster guided her girlfriend into an empty bus seat.

Looking into the rear-view mirror, all he saw was a four-legged nightmare, tearing down the street on feline haunches. Opening its draconic maw, the creature let out a bellow so intense that it shook the very windows, causing Stan to wince as he struggled not to cover his ears.

And then there was the size of that thing. In his heart-pounding panic, it was all he could really think about. It was like a burning avalanche of obsidian stone was bearing down right on him. Which was probably why he didn't notice all the activity going on in the bus, at least not at first.

It wasn't until he heard a loud thudding sound, that he turned and saw the fish woman prying open the emergency exit. Alarming as that was though, she wasn't actually the source of the noise. That honor belonged to the cat on one of the nearby seats, who was pounding open a window with the pommel of her sword.

"Whoa, hey now!" Stan said, startled. "What are you doing? That's public property!"

"I'm going to kick its butt, do you mind!?" With that, the little black feline shattered the window and disappeared out of it. Flipping up onto the roof like a ninja.

In any other circumstance, something like that would have amazed the crusty old driver. As it stood though, he did not have time to be impressed. Not only was being chased by a creature out of his own worst nightmares. The fish woman finally managed to force the back door open. Which of course, successfully set off all the buses fire alarms.

It was that little bit of extra chaos accompanying those alarms that made what happened next so hard to follow. In fact, Stan really couldn't tell what was going on. While he could see flashes of blue-white light, could hear the tight clap of explosions, he couldn't understand what it meant. He didn't have the experience to know Undyne was attacking it, or that Tilin was backing her up by dropping magical bombs from the roof.

No, at the time, he was only able to interpret this all as a cacophonous chorus of thunder and lightning that was exploding all around him as he raced away from the jaws of certain death!

In other words, Stan was not a happy camper. Which, was probably why it felt like his heart stopped when the beast let out a loud eardrum piercing bellow. Expecting the worst, the driver braced and turned, all but convinced that he was about to come face to face with certain doom.

But, well, he didn't. There were no snapping jaws, nor even the scorching fire of burning demon breath. No, what Stan saw as he peered back, was the sight of the creature shrinking away in a tangle of limbs as it rolled upon the pavement.

"Nice shot!" Tilin said, loudly enough to be heard from her perch upon the rooftop.

"Just tripped him up!" Speaking slowly, the fish woman heaved and stood unsteadily before the exit, flickering spear firmly in hand. For his part, Stan didn't have the foggiest idea why Undyne seemed so worn down. He hadn't seen how hurt badly she was when she got on the bus earlier.

What he did see was what was going on beyond the exit as Undyne turned to check on her girlfriend. Even beaten up, the warrior's comment about tripping the creature must have been correct. Because, before the roiling mass of burning stone even came to a stop, the thing shot out its hand and sunk its claws into a car hood.

Sucking in air, Stan stomped on the gas and said a silent prayer as he willed the vehicle faster. It wasn't calm, wasn't elegant, but at that moment he really did not care. Because not only had that thing just grabbed a car, it had also just thrown it at them. Sending it toppling end over end in a deadly arc.

Crashing hood first, the falling car clipped the bus's bumper and sent Undyne flying. Her short trip included flying glass and ending face first on the floor, where she stayed for just a moment before her legs came down with the same weight as the car's rear tires.

Painful as that had to have been, nobody seemed to be too seriously injured. Ears were ringing, and the fish woman was certainly groaning as she sat up. But it could've been a lot worse.

Which was probably why it was such a sucker-punch when another car came crashing down in front of them!

This time, the driver slammed the brake and leaned into the steering wheel, forcing the bus into a turn that sent everyone pitching to the side. All too aware of the disappearing distance. Stan squeezed his eyes shut and pulled the wheel even harder. Putting the bus into a long sideways skid, that only ended a few meters short of the wreck.

"Oh, no-no-no!" Panting out the words like a mantra, the warrior pulled herself up and staggered toward the front of the bus. "Get moving. We can't be stopped like this!"

"What?"

But before the befuddled driver could have his question answered. The man saw something out of the corner of his eye and looked to see a mountain of brimstone rushing at them.

For Stan, it was a moment both terrifying and surreal. A moment that stretched itself beyond its limits, as he gaped at the horrible sight hurling toward him. He could see the shimmering heat warp the air pouring from its frame, twisting the world beyond into a scene of feverish dreams. Then, there was a thundering impact of obsidian claws on pavement, driving the beast forward in a blur of hatred and ill intent.

Taken together, it was an incarnation of horror and nature in a physical vessel so close he could nearly reach out to touch it. Yet in that frozen instant, he found he could only say but one thing.

"...and I was just three days away from retirement."

With that, the world went black the creature plowed into them.

Climbing back from the edge of nothingness, the first thing Alphys noticed was a deep and abiding ache. It was ever-present. As though, it had been waiting for her with a smile on its face, as it stretched a hand out in greeting. But for all its familiarity, this wasn't the everyday sort of pain she'd come to know. It was something else, dreadful and devious, bursting to sing her to an agonizing rest, robbing her of what little she had left.

This brand of pain was little more than a thief and swindler. A con-man that would rouse her energies, only to then take them for his own. And in its eagerness to betray, it didn't hesitate to stab the scientist with burning shafts of light, as she opened her eyes to meet him.

Only able to groan, Alphys recoiled and shut her eyes. Plunging herself back into the darkness as fire radiated from her sockets. And, in truth, that's how it would have stayed, had it not been for a strange sound dancing about somewhere in the inky distance.

"...pat, pat, pat."

Soft as it was, something about the noise filled her with both curiosity and dread. It was just so wet and hollow. Alphys couldn't even begin to place it, which, only served to drive home to her how much she didn't know at that moment. Where was she? How did she get there? What the heck happened!? Now that she was asking these questions, the scientist in her had to know.

Which was why, despite the pain, Alphys opened her eyes to see the world around her.

"H-hello?" Scanning things with unfocused eyes, Alphys almost didn't realize where she was. It took her a moment to realize she was still inside the bus.

Looking down, she could recognize the seat she buckled into when that creature chased after them. Everything else though was simply broken. The walls were bent up, windows shattered, and hanging in the air was a bitter gray haze that stung her nostrils when she breathed it.

In a very real way, it was almost hard to believe this was the same vehicle. It was only after her still addled brain went back to those chaotic moments, that it all started to make sense.

The instant the creature ran into them, there was a cold-crunching thud and the whole world spun. It was like being in an immense drum, rolling down the street. Only, it was so loud and violent that in the final second before passing out, she could actually feel her bones rattling.

As violent as it was, it was amazing the bus ended up back on its tires. Alphys was only starting to work through what the chances of that happening were. When she heard that noise again.

"...pat, pat, pat."

"Hey, is someone there?" Craning her neck, the scientist tried to see around the corner of the seat before her. When that didn't work, she almost reluctantly moved to unfasten her seatbelt.

To be honest, part of why she didn't want to know what was making that sound. It scared her. But at the same time, she really didn't feel like she had a choice.

After everything that happened, Alphys couldn't afford to be a coward anymore.

Wherever that thing had gone off to, it could be back any second. She couldn't be here, curled into a little ball when that happened. So, even as terrified as she was, she still forced herself to get up and take a trembling step forward.

The second she did, she saw what was making that sound and drew in an unbelieving breath.

It couldn't be true, none of it. That simple rejection of reality was the first half-coherent thought to come to Alphys after making her discovery. No matter how much she stared at it, it still didn't seem real. How could it? She hadn't even recognized what it was at first!

A shape all gnarled and bent, laying half-draped on the arm of a chair in the opposite aisle over. Until she saw the dripping fluid, it didn't occur to her that what she was seeing might be alive.

Once it did, Alphys knew what she was looking at. Not even her denial could keep her from recognizing that scaly skin. It wasn't some twisted up piece of wreckage. It was her one and only Undyne, lying battered and broken on the edge of a bus seat.

"Oh no, oh!" Rushing forward, Alphys reached out for her beloved, only to freeze at the last instant. She wanted nothing more than to take Undyne in her arms. To hold her until the world was okay again. But, as much as she wanted to, the scientist in her knew that she couldn't.

Moving someone that was injured was a recipe for disaster. One wrong move and she might just make things worse. Even armed with that knowledge, ignoring the impulse to comfort her was a huge challenge. One that she was sure she'd lose until a particular thought struck her.

She was the only one Undyne had left.

The second that occurred to her, Alphys' entire body went a little straighter. Stood a little taller. No matter what, she couldn't be her usual weak self. Not when there was so much depending on her. Even knowing that the decision to leave Undyne wasn't an easy one. In fact, it almost seemed obscene in a way. But it was the only option left.

Standing slowly, Alphys took a shuddering breath and told herself that again. She didn't have healing items. There was nothing she could for her here. All she could do was to go and find help; or maybe find some more healing items. It wasn't much, but at that moment, it was the only thing she could think of.

Still, she couldn't help feeling guilty for leaving her there. So much so that Alphys stopped and turned to say something to her.

"I'm sorry. I hope you know that." sniffling back her tears, Alphys knelt and whispered into the unconscious woman's ear, their faces only inches apart. "I'll be back soon though, I promise!"

With that, the short saurian woman leaned in and gently kissed Undyne's cheek.

Standing up, Alphys took a breath to clear her head. She needed to settle herself and check on the driver. Managing that, she started back down the aisle, but only made it a few paces before noticing that same driver lying hunched over on the steering wheel.

"Mr. Lee!" Alphys didn't remember running, but before realizing it she was at the old man's side, examining him. Luckily, it didn't take long to notice he was still breathing. Other than an ugly little bump on his head, the old driver didn't seem that bad off. Certainly better than Undyne anyway.

Still, better off or not that was one more person she had to save. And, it didn't look like he had any healing items either. So, as much as she hated leaving someone else behind. Alphys only spent a few moments looking him over before moving on.

Surprisingly enough, despite being broken and battered the door to the bus opened just fine. Alphys only had to pull the lever a little, and the exit opened right up. Leaving the way free to climb down onto the cool black pavement.

Once she got there, it struck her that the street looked like a war zone. Before, with the broken windows of the bus around her, she hadn't really noticed. Now, there was no way to miss it.

Storefronts were shattered, craters pockmarked the landscape, and the air was filled with foul, bitter-tasting smoke. But what really shook Alphys was the condition of the bus she just got off of. It looked like the whole thing came to a rest at the end of an intersection, and only stopped because the back end clipped the corner of a building.

The knowledge that she walked away from that sent an icy chill down her spine. But, what really caught her attention, was the fact that the roof was all melted and black.

Curious about it, Alphys walked around the front of the bus, stopping only to peer around the corner. What she saw nearly made her go white. The part of the bus open to the intersection was covered with burns and dents. It was like somebody had hit it with napalm, before letting Asgore go to town on it.

Which, she realized a moment later, probably wasn't that far from what happened.

While she was unconscious, the creature from before must have tried to pound its way into the bus to get her. That thought alone was nearly enough to make her break out in a cold sweat. The only reason it didn't, was because the realization was immediately followed by a question.

If that thing was just here, then where had it gone off to? Alphys was still going over that, when a sharp noise rang out.

For her, that first shot was like a cannon going off. It was loud, painful, and sent her scrambling until she was flat against the fender. She knew this wasn't a truck backfiring. That was a gun. Someone was firing off bullets in a frantic staccato, that only ended with a crunch of metal.

Looking up, the scientist's eyes went huge as a police car was thrown around the corner and came down hood first in the intersection, spraying glass everywhere.

Shivering with fear, Alphys hugged the side of the bus as tightly as she could. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to vanish and go unnoticed. But huddled against the fender like she was, there wasn't any way to do that. Even if she could hide, there wasn't enough time to.

Because, as she sat there trying not to panic, heavy footfalls began making their way toward her.

It was like being inside of a giant drum. With each step, Alphys could feel the ground rumbling. Getting louder and louder, until it appeared from around that same corner where the police car came flying in from.

Although she was trembling, this was the best view of the creature the scientist had ever had.

It was like watching a mountain in the shape of a cat. From it's wicked muzzle to the tip of its serpent-like tail, the entire thing was made of a dark stone that gleamed with a red-hot heat. Between its shoulders, a mane of fire raced along its back, only to be crowned by antlers tall enough to bump traffic lights.

Had Alphys only seen an illustration of the thing, she probably would've thought it was cool. Like a vaguely Asian looking D&D monster, for a roleplaying campaign. Right at that moment though, she couldn't imagine anything more terrifying.

All she could do was to stay still and hope it passed her by. But, just as Alphys got her hopes up that it might do that, the thing paused, sniffed at the air, and turned to look directly at her.

"Well-well-well," said the beast, drawing its mouth into a jagged grin. "Look who finally decided to come out!"

Shocked as Alphys was to hear the demon speak, it was actually his voice that scared her the most. It wasn't just that it was vicious and foreboding. The beast had two voices. One deep and resonant. The other was childish, arrogant, and worst of all familiar.

Once she heard it, she knew what this creature was. Even knew where it had come from. But, what shocked her the most wasn't that she knew what the thing was. It was, that she knew who he was as well.

"Oh my god, Nigel!?" Alphys paled, hands grasping wildly at the realization. "You fed your soul to one of your Summons?!" It made sense. Something like that would just be another form of Soul Fusion. But, what kind of maniac would end their life for a bit of power!?

*...

"You know, that isn't all that far off!" Chuckling, the transformed human held out a hand and pointed a thumb at himself. "But you are wrong about one thing. You're not dealing with the average mage anymore. In this form, I am Kalkirrinth!"

Hissing the name through inhuman teeth, the demon smiled and reached out to grab her.

Even shocked, the sight of those talons snapped Alphys out of it. She couldn't afford to get caught now. Just couldn't. If she was, Undyne would be alone. She'd die and it would all be her fault!

With that thought, something inside her broke. Alphys couldn't remember screaming, but at that moment it was all she could hear as she threw out her hands before her. Even to her, it was a terrible sound. The sort of horrified cry movies could never replicate. That made men lay awake at night trying to forget it.

And as that sound echoed off the buildings, lightning erupted from her fingertips!

As it crackled, the scientist reached inside herself and poured out her magic in buckets.

She lit up the streets, vehicles, and even the demon itself as light and shadows danced before her fingertips. Even as her voice went hoarse, she continued with her onslaught. Throwing every bit of magic she had at that thing until the sparks slackened and waned.

Even then, as the electricity died and she was left there panting, Nigel didn't seem hurt a bit!

"An Electric Attack, against a Rock type?" Shaking his head, Nigel blew out a breath and sneered at the defeated scientist. "Moron, haven't you ever played Pokemon before!?"

Her attack had done nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except for a bit of smoke drifting off him, the elemental didn't even seem to be affected at all! Alphys wanted to deny it, to yell that it couldn't be true. But, after using so much magic, it was all she could do not to fall onto her hands and vomit.

"Oh please," Nigel said, sneering. "There's no point in being afraid. It's not like its going to change anything!" Taunting her, the creature once again reached out its claws to take her, moving so slowly that it was almost like he was making a show out of it.

It was only then, as Alphys looked up at those talons, that she first noticed the tears running down her face. Nigel was right. She was pathetic, disgusting, nothing more than a miserable coward. The idea that she could save anybody, was nothing short of ludicrous. She was the one that needed saving, but nobody was there to do it.

"Please," she whispered, chanting the word so quietly that even she could not hear them. "Please, Undyne, Asgore, Papyrus, Sans! Somebody, anybody, please help me!"

But even as she begged, those burning claws kept getting closer. Inching so close that she could actually feel the heat coming off them. And it was in that moment when she realized she was about to cook, that she screamed out in a primal shrill voice.

"UNDYYYYYYYYYYNE!"

Her voice still echoing, a figure shot out and blurred across the street. Traveling alongside the bus with the speed of a bullet. Even as it slowed and drew its blade, Alphys could only barely perceive it. But by then it was too late to process anything. All she could do was sit and watch, as Tilin cut into the demon's fingers.

"AHHHHHHH!" Pulling back his hand, Nigel jerked and stumbled. Putting precious distance between them as the street shook with the sound of his fury. And, while he jumped all about nursing his wound. Tilin landed in front of Alphys with her blade drawn, her features a blend of annoyance and satisfaction.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Tilin said with an exasperated sigh. "It's always Undyne with you, isn't it?" Glancing back, the feline-like Monster gave Alphys a teasing grin, before clasping her hands in mock despair. "Undyne, Undyne. Please save me Undyne!"

Shaking her head, Tilin rolled her eyes and glared at Alphy's. Who for her part, was staring back at her in utter disbelief. "Don't look so surprised. I promised I'd protect you, didn't I!?"