<[RĒBØØT]>

[64]

The next day, Jay set out to have an audience with King Asgore.
Saying a short goodbye to the dutchies and his other friends, he headed out to the Hotlands. There, he followed the path that would lead to the king's castle.

But there was a problem.

Along the way, he noticed that all of the monster civilians, all he could remember and the other ones except his friends, were not present outside. Wether they were inside or somewhere else in the Underground, they were not present as Jay continued his journey.
[That's odd. Why isn't any other monster present? One day they are living their normal lives, the next they are gone as if something spooked them...] Jay thought as he looked around. Then it hit him: Undyne must have informed the king about Jay, who in turn issued some sort of warning that alerted the civilians about him in a way that didn't create such high percentage of panic. Undyne wasn't the one to blame, she was only doing her duty as a soldier, he thought. Even though she could have suggested the king to capture him, she hasn't due to everyone hiding in their homes. [Because she is still my friend.] Jay thought as he looked up.
Far in front of him was the middle path that passed through the center of the Hotlands district, which would eventually lead him to the king's palace.
[Okay, Jay. Just breathe in and out calmly...and think about what you will say to and do with King Asgore if he were to listen to me or not...] Jay thought as he made his way through the path.
When he was nearing the other side of the district, something caught his eyes; the path was blocked by construction tape and headers. One boarded message said:

|CONSTRUCTION IN MOTION AT THIS TIME. USE THIS SHORTCUT TO GET TO OTHER DESTINATIONS AHEAD OF HOTLANDS DISTRICT ===> |

[A construction at this time? Why is it here at all times?.......Well, if it leads to the king's castle, then I'll gladly take it.] Jay though as he made his way there and followed the signs along the new path.
Along the way there were more signs that told how sorry they felt about the path being disrupted by the repair. Except that...they felt so consistent each time he followed the new path. One of them said that they were so honored to have him walk this path of success and glory, the sentence ending with the word "darling".
[Wait a minute. "Darling"?? Who writes that word at the end of the sentence? Who uses that kind of wo—] Jay thought when it immediately struck him.
It was Mettaton setting him a trap.
"Hey, Mettaton!!! I'm not falling again for any of your news report traps!!!" Jay called out to the hallway, then turned around and headed back.
Only to fall into a trapdoor that led down to a winding tunnel, the door closing shut above him. Jay fell down the slide tunnel until he reached the end.
[Darn obsessed robot! Why is he still at it?] he grumbled to himself as he shook himself and stood up to look at his surroundings. It was a dark hallway with some lights leading to a new path. It seemed...like an underground facility.
[Well...let's see if Mettaton let's me out after I pass his game or interview.] Jay though as he began to follow the path.
A long while later he took a left and entered a large room. And in the middle of it was the show robot, Mettaton at last. Then the door closed shut behind him.
"OH YES! THERE YOU ARE, DARLING! ITS TIME TO HAVE OUR LITTLE SHOWDOWN! TIME TO STOP THIS OTHERWORLDLY MENACE!" Mettaton said cheerfully.
[Oh great. Even he believes that to get his show going.] Jay thought. "Listen, Mettaton. I have some important place to go. So, if its okay with you, we can have a small proper interview or episode for everyone to hear, and I'll be off peacefully. It's kind of a win-win for everyone, basically. Without the violence." Jay proposed to the entertainment robot, hoping it would please him.
"NONSENSE! THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A SHOW. IT WAS ALL AN ACT MADE UP BY DR. ALPHYS AND GASTER. THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING YOU FOR A FOOL THE WHOLE TIME, GROWING MORE ATTACHED TO YOUR LITTLE JOURNEY TO "FREE ALL MONSTERS FROM THE UNDERGROUND". DESPERATELY WANTING TO BE PART OF YOUR JOURNEY, ALPHYS ESPECIALLY, THEY INSERTED THEMSELVES INTO YOUR STORY. THEY ENLISTED ME TO TORMENT YOU RANDOMLY IN THE PAST, SAVING YOU FROM DANGERS THAT DIDN'T EXIST. SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE...THAT ARE NOT. NOW, ITS TIME FOR THE FINAL SHOWDOWN! AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ALPHYS IS JUST ARRIVING OUTSIDE. DURING OUR SHOWDOWN, SHE WILL INTERRUPT US. WITH THE HELP OF DR. GASTER, ALPHYS WILL "DEACTIVATE AND REPROGRAM" ME, "SAVING" YOU ONE LAST TIME! THEY'LL BE THE HEROES OF YOUR STORY, ALONG WITH YOURSELF. I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS PREDICTABLE CHARADE. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF HARMING HUMANS OR THEIR VISITORS HERE IN THE UNDERGROUND. MY ONLY DESIRE IS TO ENTERTAIN. HOWEVER, IF SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO HELP FEND OFF A THREAT, I'LL DO ANYTHING I CAN, FOLLOWING MY STANDARDS AS AN ENTERTAINER OF COURSE. AFTER ALL, THE AUDIENCE DESERVES A PROPER SHOW, ONE WHERE THEY WILL BE SAFE AFTER WATCHING. AND WHAT IS A GOOD SHOW...WITHOUT A PLOT TWIST?" Mettaton said, sounding exited yet disgusted at the same time.
Jay wanted to speak out right away, but he was too focused on processing information.
Dr. Gaster...and Alphys...were they really the ones pulling the strings here?
No...
Jay saw with his own eyes what the monsters in the Underground felt, in the past and now. He understood their desperation to find a method in which the barrier would be taken down. In which they would be free and happy once again.
"That's not gonna happen. I made up my mind to meet King Asgore and use the barrier neutralizer to break the barrier. And...the doctors playing everything? I don't believe that. They genuinely protected me from everything, even from you who would do anything, including blasting me to bits, in order to keep your show going. Is this what an entertainer would do? Show the audience how you blow up a participant? Yeah, I don't think your ratings will go up with this! Because unlike you, I'm a machine that cares about others!!!" Jay countered towards Mettaton's words.
Right at that moment, there was banging on the door behind him.
"Jay! Are you in there? What's going on?" Dr. Alphys's muffled voice was heard from the other side of the door.
"The door is locked! We must break t to enter! Don't worry, Jay! We are going to get you out of here!" Dr. Gaster's voice was also heard.
"TOO LATE, FOLKS! THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELED! BUT THERE WILL BE A FINALE THAT WILL DRIVE THE AUDIENCE WILD!" Mettaton said, arms and wheel deploying.
Before Jay could react, the platform beneath him and Mettaton raised up and began to rise up into the air.

"MORE DRAMA! MORE ACTION! MORE VIOLENCE! ON THIS SHOW'S EPISODE: MONSTERKIND'S FINAL BATTLE OF SURVIVAL!!!" Mettaton announced as the platform took them higher and higher until it reached the upper stage floor.