Chapter Text
She would much rather being sleeping, infact she had just gotten up, but her high end lab tech is playing a rather loud alarm. Alphys sighs and gets out of bed, her wife stirs slightly before becoming still and going back into whatever dream she may be having.
Right, the alarm, she should do something about that before Undyne is awakened as well. She slowly stumbles over to where the computers are located in the next room.
One look at the screens is enough to send her into a panic, the words were displayed in large, red flashing letters: WARNING! Core malfunction, problem unknown, evacuate immediately!
She clicks through system after system, trying to find something, anything to falsify this information. After about ten minutes she realizes that it's true, not a mistake on her or the systems part, not a prank, or a false alarm; It was true and she had no idea what to do about it.
Depending on what was wrong with it the whole mountain, or even town next to it could be wiped out! And not to mention the lasting effects and magic radiation there'd be. This 'little' problem could possibly change the world if not corrected, and not in a good way!
She quickly regains her senses and calls the king of monsters to explain what's happening.
Toriel had been woken up early in the morning by a phone call from Asgore, also known as her ex husband—that and the king of monsters. He panically explained about some disaster or something that she was too tired to fully listen to—maybe picking up extra hours at the school wasn't the best for her sleep schedule. In any case, she rushed to get ready for the meeting she was just invited to, so influential powers could discuss what needed to be done.
She had checked on Frisk, the human child she had been taking care of since they liberated the Underground, before she left and they were fast asleep. She trusted the child enough to know that they would behave while she was gone, they did traverse the entire underground alone after all. After checking on Frisk she had gotten into her car and started heading to her destination.
She sighs and turns on the car's radio, some happy, cheery sounding radio host started talking about some song that had just played, or something like that, Toriel guesses. Its too early for this, she thinks, then she checks the time via the small digital clock hoisted above the other car controls, 2:39 am, definitely too early. Toriel turns it down so that his voice is barley audible, only keeping it on at all to have as background noise.
Eventually, she pulls into the parking lot of the town hall. She quickly parks her car and heads inside. She walks through the place, knowing where to go she easily finds the labeled door and goes through it. She takes the seat next to the king of monsters and waits for the meeting to begin, while also doing her best to deflect any conversation her ex is trying to initiate.
She watches others walk into the room, some people she knew, some people she's heard of, all people of power. The one person that really catches Toriel's attention, though, is Alphys, the former royal scientist of the Underground. She wasn't really a person of political power, actually, she tried to avoid being of any power since the Underground. Toriel watches as alphys sets up equipment in the front, this meeting was going to be interesting.
Frisk is waken up by Toriel shaking them lightly, they sit up slowly, rubbing their eyes, and Toriel takes a seat besides them. They note that Chara is floating idly by, probably interested in why Frisk is being woken up so early.
"My child," Toriel starts. "We need to talk."
Frisk tilts their head slightly to the left, signaling curiosity, they prefer not to talk whenever possible.
"I had to leave early this morning to go to an important meeting, around two, I believe." Frisk glances at the clock on their nightstand before Toriel continues, 7:27 am.
"Remember the Underground's core?"
Frisk nods then waits a few moments for their guardian to continue.
"Well… It is currently facing.. a problem."
Frisk signs "what kind of problem?"
"We do not know. Alphys had talked about sending someone down to investi-"
"I'll do it!" Frisk abruptly interrupts.
Chara speaks up from its spot next to the bed, "are you sure that is a good idea?"
Frisk, unable to answer Chara without outing its existence to Toriel, just waits for their, now dumbfounded, guardian to respond.
"M-My child, are you sure that is a good idea?" Toriel quietly speaks, "I mean, it might not be the safest."
Frisk quickly signs back, "I'll be fine! Plus if anything bad happens I can load," Frisk refutes. They had explained how their powers worked a few weeks after they had liberated the Underground, a few years ago, now. "And because of that I'm probably your best bet!"
Toriel sighs and stands, "I… will talk to everyone about it." She walks to the exit to Frisk's room. "In any case, you should get some more rest, I do apologize for waking you up so early." Then she leaves.
Chara sighs as Frisk lays back down, getting comfortable. "You are serious about this?"
"Yup!" Frisk blurts out, using their voice, turning away from Chara.
"I suppose I should not be surprised, you are rather-"
"Brave?" They interrupt it.
"I was going to say foolish, but that works too."
"Meanie." Frisk mumbles into their pillows.