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(At Noelle’s house, Dantz, Asriel, Noelle, and Susie sit around the table, snacking.)
Dantz: You guys hear? Hometown’s expanding! We’re getting new places to hang out.
Asriel: Thought that was just a rumor.
Dantz: Nope. Noelle told me. There’s gonna be an arcade, new neighborhoods... and a Berdly-free zone.
Noelle: A skating rink too!
Dantz: Yup. Six bucks a week, and we’re set.
Asriel: I’m in.
Noelle: I don’t know… What if I fall?
Dantz: You ice-skate, right? Just trade the blades for wheels.
Susie: Didn’t you have your 10th birthday at a rink, Dantz?
Dantz: (Shrugs) Yeah... It was alright.
Noelle: (Smirks) Bet you snuck off to the arcade halfway through.
Dantz: (Scoffs) One time!
(They laugh, shifting topics.)
Dantz: So what’s new with you, Noelle?
Susie: (Grinning) Thinking about your girlfriend again?
Noelle: (Flustered) Shut up, Susie.
Dantz: Yeah, at least I know what a selfie is.
Asriel: (Sighs) Guys…
Noelle: (Laughs) I decorated my church for winter.
Dantz: Cool, but sounds kinda boring.
Noelle: You’d ditch halfway.
Dantz: Hey! Where’d you learn to roast like that?
Noelle: From you!
Dantz: My legacy lives on.
(They all laugh.)
Susie: Oh yeah, I got three tickets to my basketball game. You guys in?
Dantz: Absolutely.
Asriel: Sure.
Noelle: Me too!
Susie: Nice. If we win, we get tickets to the Winter Fair.
Dantz: (Interested) What’s at the fair?
Susie: Games... and a snowmobile derby.
Dantz: Watching snowmobiles get wrecked? Now you have my attention.
(Cut to Dantz and Susie stretching on an outdoor court)
Dantz: I used to play basketball when I was seven, but I stopped. Thinking of joining intramurals, so I figured going up against you is the perfect test.
Susie: (Smirks) You sure? I’m my team’s MVP. Not to be a jerk, but you’re basically fresh meat.
Dantz: (Grinning) Oh please. I’ve won plenty of knockout games.
Susie: (Crosses arms) Buddy, knockout ain’t basketball. You’re in my world now.
(Susie starts possession. Dantz lunges for a steal—only to trip over himself. Susie easily does a layup.)
Susie: (Grinning) Boom! Broke your ankles.
Dantz: (Getting up) My ankles are fine, thank you.
Susie: (Raised brow) It’s a basketball term, genius. Means I faked you out so bad, you ate the floor.
Dantz: …Wait, I thought ankle breakers were a defense thing.
Susie: (Laughs) Nope. You just got wrecked.
(Montage: Susie effortlessly dribbles past Dantz, nails shot after shot, crosses him up so bad he nearly falls again. The scoreboard keeps climbing in her favor.)
(Later, the court lights flicker on. Susie checks her phone.)
Susie: (Grinning) Welp, 0 to 60. That’s game.
(She pats Dantz on the shoulder, smirking.)
Susie: Not bad, kid. You almost touched the ball once.
Dantz: (Deadpan) Wow. Such high praise.
(They fist bump.)
Dantz: Let’s hit the gym.
Susie: Yeah, can’t keep Undyne waiting. She’ll probably make me run laps if I’m late.
(Susie ties her sneakers, focused.)
Susie: (Thinking) You’re the MVP. Time to prove it.
(The locker room door swings open. Undyne steps in, arms crossed, grinning.)
Undyne: You ready, Susie?
Susie: Born ready.
Undyne: Good. But listen Charles Lee Middle? They don’t play fair. They’ll get in your head if you let ‘em. What’s the game plan?
Susie: Keep my cool, don’t let ‘em mess with me, and play to win.
Undyne: (Smirks) That’s what I like to hear. Now get out there and own that court.
(Susie cracks her knuckles and heads for the door.)
(Dantz notices Dooley sitting beside him, scrolling through his phone.)
Dantz: (Raises an eyebrow) Hey Dooley, what’s up?
Dooley: (Monotone, not looking up) Sitting.
Dantz: Yeah, I can see that. Where’s Peters?
Dooley: (Still monotone) Football practice. He practices too much.
Dantz: (Shrugs) Eh, makes sense.
(A little later, Dantz flirts with Noelle.)
Dantz: Noelle, you look really pretty under these lights. If it were summer, I bet you’d be even more graceful in the sun.
Noelle: (Blushing profusely) Oh… um… t-thanks, Dantz.
Dooley: (Deadpan) You’ll say the same thing at the pool.
Dantz: (Exhales, about to fire back) Nah, I think she’d look even more-
Toriel: (Firmly) Young man, that is my son.
Dooley: (Blinks) You weren’t in the conversation.
(Toriel squints, clearly still annoyed. Dooley keeps scrolling.)
(Berdly suddenly swoops into the gym, wings spread dramatically.)
Berdly: People of Hometown! Witness my latest triumph! I, Berdly Cardinalis Jr, have shattered the Metris high score, 20,000 points! Truly, a feat of unparalleled intellect!
(The entire gym stares blankly. The ref, students, and even teachers look annoyed.)
Referee: Berdly, get off the court.
Student 1: (Groaning) Dude, no one cares about your high score!
Mr. Herkabe: (Adjusting tie) Ah, Berdly. Mistaking trivial personal achievements for actual importance.
Berdly: Trivial!? Metris requires unmatched reflexes and mental-
Mr. Herkabe: (Sighs) Yes, yes… geniuses. And yet, even with all your “prowess,” you still can’t read a room. Get. Off. The. Court.
(Students, players, and teachers physically push Berdly off as he dramatically protests.)
Dantz: Well, at least that’s over.
Toriel: Dantz, be nice.
Dantz: (Rolling eyes) Fiiine.
(The game begins with the tip-off. Susie leaps high, easily winning possession and tapping the ball to a teammate. After a few quick passes, it’s back in Susie’s claws. She charges toward the basket, ready to lay it up when—)
Player #10: (grabs her ankle and dramatically drops to the floor, wailing like she’s been hit by a truck) Ow! Susie, what’s your problem?! You trying to take me out or something?!
Referee: (blows the whistle sharply) Offensive foul on Susie! Turnover!
Dantz: (leaps out of his seat, flailing his arms) What?! She didn’t even touch her! Are you blind or just bad at your job?!
Toriel: (gently tugs Dantz back down, her voice firm but calm) Young man, sit down. Yelling isn’t going to change anything.
Referee: (Thinking) Actually, that looked suspicious. (raises his hand, blowing the whistle again) Time out! After further review, player #10 is charged with a technical foul for feigning an injury. The previous call is overturned, and Dave Canales Middle School will shoot two free throws.
(The crowd cheers loudly, the noise echoing through the gym.)
Dantz: (grins wide, muttering under his breath) Justice, baby.
(Player #23, Dave Canales' top scorer, steps up to the free throw line. The Charles Lee players remain suspiciously still, not even pretending to defend. Player #23 drains both free throws with ease, though her irritated expression makes it clear she isn’t falling for the fake sportsmanship act.)
Undyne: (arms crossed, standing on the sidelines with her single eye narrowing) Figures. These punks are gonna play dirty the whole game. They can’t win fair, so they’re going for Susie’s head.
Susie: (jaw clenched, claws flexing at her sides as she stomps back into position) They wanna make me snap... like I’m some rage monster they can poke at. Fine. Let ‘em try. I’m not giving them what they want.
(The referee blows the whistle, resuming play. Later, player #15 trips Susie on purpose)
Referee: #15 foul for tripping. Turnover!
(The crowd boos, even though the turnover happened, the damage is done)
Susie: (Pushes herself up, thinking) Dang it! I got tripped.
(After that Susie gets up she hits a three pointer but player 44 gets the ball and throws it at Susie’s face, causing Susie to dodge hitting another player square in the face)
Player #23: (Holding their left eye after they got hit with a basketball): Ow!
Referee: Foul, Player #44, 3 free throws.
Susie: (Thinking): They just fouled on my teammate. That’s not cool.
(Susie gets the ball and attempts to do a free throw but player #10 raspberries Susie as a taunt)
Susie: Oh shut up.
(Susie tries to do a layup but they get elbowed by player #10)
Referee: Player #10, double foul for unsportsmanlike conduct and a flagrant on a free throw. Free throws cancelled. Turnover to Susie.
(The crowd boos)
Dantz: Come on!
(Toriel sighs)
Toriel: Dantz, can you please calm down, I know it’s your friend but if you let Susie focus and we win, we would bake all of you a pie.
Dantz: (Thinking) Thanks mom. I just feel a little tense, the whole room is tense so I am too.
Toriel: (Blinks) I recognize that.
(A montage of fouls happen to Susie, from grabbing her uniform to getting punched and on each foul her face looks angrier and angrier)
Susie: (Thinking) These guys are JERKS! If I get fouled one more time, I am going to lose it!
(Susie starts breathing very raggedly as she now has possesion over the ball, she goes to the three point line and shoots and it sinks in on the buzzer but player 10 throws the ball at her face but this time, she gets knocked out, the ref has had enough, the crowd gasps and starts yelling)
Referee: Player #10! Fragrant foul for injuring a player. You are disqualified for the year!
(Susie gets up and storms off to the locker room, cut to the locker room)
Susie: Arrrrggggh! That’s it! Rude Buster! (She punches a locker so hard the door flies off the hinges, then proceeds to absolutely wreck the surrounding lockers kicking, punching, and slamming until the whole row looks like a tornado came through.)
(The door creaks open and Undyne steps inside, eyeing the destroyed locker room like it’s a crime scene.)
Undyne: Hey, Susie. Mind stepping over here for a sec?
Susie: (Turns, eyes still blazing) What do you want?
Undyne: (Calm, but firm) How ‘bout you take halftime to cool off in here? Smash a couple more lockers if you need to — but get your head straight before we get back out there.
Susie: (Still scowling, but some of the fire dims) ...Fine.
(The rest of Susie’s team filters in, giving her space but trying to reassure her.)
Player #23: Don’t worry, Susie. We’ve got your back.
Player #18: Yeah, those cheap-shot Charles Lee punks won’t lay a hand on you with us out there.
(Cut to the gym where Dantz sits beside Toriel, fidgeting in his seat.)
Dantz: Hey Mom, can I go check on Susie?
Toriel: Of course, Dantz. I’m sure she’d like that.
Dantz: (Grinning) Thanks!
(He scrambles down the bleachers, heading toward the locker room corridor.)
Dantz: (Thinking as he walks) Finally a chance to see what the mystical, forbidden girl’s locker room actually looks like.
(He steps inside, hands in his hoodie pockets, looking around curiously.)
Dantz: Hey, Susie! What’s-
Player #23: (Screaming) IT’S DANTZ! GET HIM!
(Absolute chaos erupts. Towels, shoes, and even a water bottle go flying toward Dantz, who barely ducks in time.)
Player #18: You can’t just stroll into the girls’ locker room, you perv!
Dantz: (Frantically waving his arms) Wait! I just wanted to talk to Susie-
Player #8: Shut up, beansprout!
(Close-up on Dantz as a vein visibly pops in his forehead.)
Dantz: (Jumping up and down) Who are you calling short?! I’m taller than all of you! (Raising his fists) Don’t call me little!
(He charges straight for Player #8, only for Susie to yank him back by the collar.)
Susie: (Yelling) Enough! Dantz is my friend, and if I say he’s allowed in here, then he’s allowed in here!
Player #5: (Muttering) Like this little midget’s gonna get anywhere anyway…
Dantz: (Screaming) I heard that!
(Undyne pokes her head in, rubbing her temple like she already regrets asking.)
Undyne: What fresh chaos is this?
Player #23: Susie, you seriously gonna let this perv just waltz in here?!
Undyne: (Snaps) Hey, zip it! We’re here to play basketball, not roast some dork.
Dantz: I’m not a dork- oh, never mind.
(Undyne cracks a grin.)
Undyne: Anyway, fun update for you all — just got word from the ref. Charles Lee’s whole team bolted off campus. Apparently, they’re in hot water for bullying some poor kid back at their own school.
Dantz: (Pumps his fist) Yes!
Undyne: (Raising a finger) Don’t celebrate too early, champ.
(Brief awkward silence as everyone stares at Dantz.)
Undyne: (Big hearty laugh) Just kidding! Celebrate all you want — and get ready for the Winter Fair, kiddos!
(Cut to Toriel’s house, where she sets down a fresh butterscotch-cinnamon pie.)
Toriel: Alright, my children, one butterscotch-cinnamon pie, hot and ready.
Dantz: We should call it a Havdalah Delight.
(Everyone stares at Dantz like he grew a second head.)
Asriel: (Whispering) They don’t know what Havdalah is.
Dantz: (Whispering) Oh... right. Uh, Toriel, can I bake the next pie?
Toriel: Dantz, last time you “cooked,” you almost started a fire.
Dantz: That wasn’t my fault!
Toriel: And your room still smells like manure.
Susie: Your room smells like what!?
Dantz: It’s fine, it’s just... a little lived-in.
Toriel: (Shows a photo) That’s your idea of clean?
Susie: Dude, that’s not a room that’s a landfill with a bed.
Dantz: (Shrugs) It’s organized chaos.
(The four sit at the counter.)
Susie: So, guess who tried to stroll into the girls’ locker room today?
Dantz: (Casual) Who?
Susie: You, genius. Looking for Noelle, weren’t you?
Noelle: (Flipping out) WHAT!? Dantz, you did what?! Why would you just walk in on us? What were you even thinking!?
Dantz: No, no, I wasn’t trying to-
Susie: Oh, he totally was. Just wanted to see if Noelle was in there with me.
Dantz: I was just checking on Susie!
Susie: (Grinning) And my whole team. You probably wanted a peek at my teammates, huh?
Noelle: (Still flustered) Dantz, you’re unbelievable! You can’t just do that! I can’t even... Ugh! (Takes a breath) Okay, okay, just... calm down, Noelle. I’ll deal with you later, Dantz.
Asriel: (Blushes slightly) H-h-how cute were they?
Susie: About your type, Azzy.
(Asriel’s blush deepens, covering his cheeks.)
Susie: All tall, fit, confident girls. The kind that’d call you “cute” and ruffle your fur.
(Asriel’s ears turn red.)
Susie: And they’d probably call you “adorable” while showing off in their basketball shorts.
(Asriel’s entire face turns red)
Asriel: (Muttering) Oh no.
(Asriel’s nose bleeds, knocking him out of the chair)
Toriel: (Rushing over) My child! Are you alright?
Asriel: (Flat on the floor, dazed) I-I’m good… just gonna lie here a sec.
(Toriel helps him back up, still concerned.)
Susie: Anyway, I had to save Dantz’s sorry butt before my whole team turned him into a pancake.
Dantz: (Hiding his face, grinning) You’re the worst.
Susie: And I love it.
(They all burst out laughing)
Dantz: That was pretty good.
(Cut to the living room, where Dantz and Susie are locked in an intense race on a console that looks like a docked Nintendo Switch. The four friends are in pajamas, their faces lit up by the screen. Asriel and Noelle are asleep nearby.)
Susie: (Grinning) Hey Dantz, how about a little gift from above?
(On-screen, Susie’s character hurls a spiny blue shell. It slams into Dantz’s character, sending him spinning out.)
Dantz: (Groaning) Oh, come on!
(Undeterred, Dantz makes a comeback, zipping past Susie and crossing the finish line in first place.)
Dantz: (Smug) And that, Susie, is why I’m the king of the track.
(Just as Susie playfully shoves Dantz’s shoulder, the screen suddenly goes black. They look up to see Toriel standing over them, holding the console’s power button.)
Toriel: (Sternly) It’s time for bed, my children.
(She pulls out a pocket watch, showing 10:00 PM.)
Toriel: And especially when Asriel and Noelle are sleeping right next to you.
(Dantz and Susie glance to their side. Noelle is curled up under a blanket, while Asriel lets out a tiny snore. Dantz looks guilty; Susie, however, just smirks.)
Susie: (Grinning) Whoops. Guess they don’t know the meaning of “you snooze, you lose.”
Dantz: (Chuckling) Okay, that was actually funny.
(They fist-bump, then the screen fades to black)
(Intermission)
(Toriel stands at a ticket booth with Dantz, Asriel, Noelle, and Susie.)
Bored Clerk: (monotone) How many tickets?
Toriel: One adult, four teens.
(Toriel hands over the money.)
Bored Clerk: (still monotone) Okay. You’re good.
(The teens step into the fairgrounds.)
Toriel: Before we all scatter, where does everyone want to go?
Susie: I’m dragging Dantz to the derby. No way we’re missing that.
Dantz: (grinning) Yeah, watching snowmobiles wipe out sounds like my kind of night.
Toriel: (a little wary) You two… try not to cause a scene.
Dantz: (innocent smile) Us? Never.
(Dantz and Susie wander off, leaving Toriel with Asriel and Noelle.)
Toriel: (thinking) Please, for once, don’t let me get a phone call from security tonight.
(Cut to a game booth)
Noelle: Ms. Dreemurr?
Toriel: Yes, Noelle?
Noelle: Can I try this game? I kinda… wanna win something for Dantz.
Toriel: (warm smile) Of course, dear. How much is it?
Noelle: (wincing) Five dollars.
(Toriel visibly flinches like she’s been electrocuted.)
Toriel: Five… dollars… okay. (hands it over)
Toriel: (thinking) This economy is going to eat me alive.
(Before she can finish that thought CRASH! Noelle knocks down the bottle tower with one perfect throw.)
Noelle: (giddy) Yes! I won Dantz a plushie!
Toriel: That’s very sweet of you, Noelle.
Gamerunner: (grinning) So, what kinda plushie you want, sweetheart?
Noelle: (shy smile) Can you make it… me? So Dantz can always have me with him?
Gamerunner: (winking) Ohhh, you got a crush on Chaos Boy, huh? Love me a girl who likes ‘em wild.
Noelle: (flustered) H-he’s not that wild! He’s just…
(She blushes harder.)
Noelle: He’s different. But he’s funny, and nice in his own way. Every time I see him, it’s like I can’t help but smile. And yeah, he looks like a human pizza pocket, but—
(Suddenly, Dooley slides into frame.)
Dooley: (deadpan) Ma’am, this is a fair.
(Noelle and Asriel laugh while Toriel facepalms.)
Toriel: (thinking) Why is he always here…
(Cut to the snowmobile derby)
Dantz: Susie, I’m telling you—Number 6 has this in the bag.
Susie: (smirking) Oh yeah?
(Number 6 gets absolutely annihilated by Number 12 in a spectacular crash.)
Susie: Pay up.
Dantz: (shrugs) I don’t gamble. My only addiction is chocolate… and the entire Wikipedia page on reindeer.
Susie: (laughing) You’re a freak, Dantz.
Dantz: And proud of it.
(She grabs him into a playful noogie, ruffling his hair as Toriel, Asriel, and Noelle show up.)
Asriel: Hey Dantz!
Dantz: (grinning) Hey Azzy! How was hanging with mom?
Asriel: We played some games, and Noelle has something for you.
Noelle: (holding up the plushie) Ta-da! It’s me!
(Dantz snatches it immediately.)
Dantz: (grinning) I just gotta check… is the clothing sewn on, or-
Toriel: (horrified) Dantz!
Noelle: (face burning red) Dantz!
(Dantz examines the plushie, totally unfazed.)
Dantz: Relax, Mom, it’s just Noelle. Who else would I be loyal to?
(The group laughs, even Toriel, albeit with a sigh.)
THE END