So there I was, sleeping somewhat peacefully in my bed. Please don't ask what I was dreaming about. That's not important here. What is important is the fact I got a phone call from one of my friends. As much as I wanted to stay in bed, I had a feeling this had something to do with some criminal causing trouble. So, I answered the call.
"Uniqua! You have to get down to Mettaton's studio immediately!" shouted a gruff voice on the other end. I could recognize Undyne's voice from anywhere.
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I replied "What's happening there? It's 4 in the morning." That's when it all clicked. Father escaped Mt. Ebbott again and he was targeting my friends. We've been keeping tabs on his whereabouts for the past two months and this was his eighth attempt. Once Undyne relayed the events to me, I quickly got out of bed and sprinted to my closet. I moved hangers and boxes around until the secret compartment behind me opened to reveal my armor. I snatched it off the mannequin and put it on before darting towards the doors to my balcony. I used a pulse of my magic to open them and I flew out. I was now on my way to the studio to take down Father.
By the time I reached the studio, I had a feeling I may have been too late. But that's impossible when I can use a spell to increase my speed or teleport. I scanned the area from above, searching for any unusual activity before meeting up with Undyne and the ground troops. "Has Father gotten inside yet?" I asked once I landed. I had gotten my answer when I heard a loud crash from inside. Mettaton must've been attempting to fight him off. Undyne only confirmed such and I proceeded to enter the building.
I searched every hall and room as I followed the sounds of clanging metal, clicking heels, and screaming. It seemed as if they moved further away every time I drew close. I didn't let that stop me and continued to look for them. Soon, I found myself flying up the stairs and bursting through the steel doors that led to the rooftop. This was where I found them.
Father and Mettaton had definitely been fighting and it didn't look like they'd be stopping anytime soon. What's that? You were expecting Mettaton to be weak? This dude fought a child on TV with nothing but his own hands and legs. I saw the whole thing and it was still awesome even if he lost. If you thought he wasn't much of a fighter, please leave and let the door hit you on the way out. Hopefully, that will knock some sense into you.
Anyway, this is where I jumped in to help him. I drew my sword and blocked Father's oncoming attack. I then summoned my own barrage of sharp crystals and sent them towards the opposing roach. The flurry of crystals launched him onto the roof next-door. I watched the old tyrant as he stumbled to his feet, struggling to regain his footing.
"Thank you for getting here so quickly, darling!" Mettaton thanked me, attempting to hug me. I moved away since I was still in fight mode. I'm always in fight mode. The robot looked a little hurt that I avoided his attempt at affection. "Why did you back away from me?" he asked in a concerned voice, maintaining a safe distance "We've known each other for nearly five years."
I turned my attention away from him before responding. "One, you just tried to hug me while I'm working, which you know doesn't fly with me and the other mystic guards." I began, my own voiced warped by my helmet "Two, you just tried to take me by surprise while I'm holding a large blade. Neither of those are good ideas on their own and you know this because I told you a hundred times."
I heard him scoff as he started making his way back down to the lobby of the studio. "Fine, continue to hide your feelings under that armored shell." Mettaton quipped "It's not like I'm expecting you to comply with anything too risqué."
I felt my face heat up quite a lot. Why would he say something like that around the very man who forced me into situations like that when I was a kid? Sometimes, I ask myself why I decided to let him into my friend group and this is one of those times. I quickly snapped my attention to the celebrity in a rage. I wasn't gonna put up with any of his shtick today.
"I would've allowed it if I had never been so violated when I was a filly!" I snarled before turning back to my father. I watched the old roach stumble back down due to his arthritis. He tried to use this to his advantage.
"Uni, you have to get help!" Father called to me "I don't think I can walk!" I simply just walked away at that point. I knew he was clearly faking and I just wanted to get home so I can sleep more. Mettaton held the door as I approached the stairwell, bowing respectfully to show off in front of my father. I could tell he was flirting but, I had already had enough with men for one day.
I could hear Father's pleas for help as Mett and I walked back down to rejoin the others in the lobby. He began to sound annoyed and angry since I refused to call an ambulance for him. I don't pity him and his arthritis at all because of how he treated me and my family. Instead, I chose to focus more on today's schedule as I pulled out my phone and took a look at everything I had planned.
First order of business, school. I have to be there to present my final project in Economics and I also have to provide some killer riffs and solos for the school's new jazz band. I can't skip those over a few hours of sleep. I mean, I have still shown up for everything else on less sleep, so how hard can it be? Then, I have all the club meetings in-between and after all that, my counseling services for trauma-processing and anxiety, barrel racing with Digger, video games with Hothead, dinner with me, late-night training, and wrestling with my inner demons and thoughts of causing utter chaos while everyone else is asleep. It was at this point that I realized I may have double-booked somewhere and cluttered my whole schedule again. I then made a note to move a few things to tomorrow to allow more time to charge my social battery.
By the time we had reached the lobby, nearly all the roaches Father brought with him had been killed off and cleaned up. The nests had already been removed and they were planning to bug-bomb the place to get rid of any stragglers. This meant Mettaton would have to close the studio until the process is complete. It also meant I had to put up with his insufferable flirting and his bickering with Hoth over who gets to take me to Olive Garden or BJ's. I now had to find excuses to avoid him at all costs. What!? No! It's not like I like him or anything, dude! Why are you so weird? Just let a pony live without worrying about men and how her worth is dependent on how skinny and decorated she is to attract a mate!
Once we finished getting rid of the roaches, the guards and officers left the scene. Everyone filed out and went their separate ways. I was about to leave when Mettaton quickly grabbed my arm and stepped in front of me. I was pretty mad at him until I saw my father crawling towards us. I was ready to throw hooves again and I wasn't gonna let anyone hold me back from finishing what I started. The old roach had been charging his magic on his way over and lunged at us. I didn't care if Mettaton was trying to defend me. I still jumped out and slashed at my father. Unfortunately, he also struck me with his powers.
I felt myself growing weaker and I couldn't stand. I struggled and fought to get back up. But it wasn't enough. I could just make out my father slinking away into the alleys as Mettaton rushed over to me. I steadied myself as best I could, using my sword as a crutch. Mettaton quickly scooped me up and took me back inside his studio. He helped me get comfortable before calling an ambulance. I thought I had finally killed Father when I attacked him. I was sure I left a deadly wound. But I couldn't tell since he fled so quickly. All I knew was that I could be on my deathbed in the next 24 hours.
My vision was fading. I was fading. This wasn't how I originally planned it but, at least I can die knowing my people will finally get the future I promised them even if I'm not in it. I can only hope they don't let Hothead take the throne when he comes of age. Wait, I should probably tell Mettaton to check the journals in my safe before I kick the bucket. But how do I tell him when all I can see is a colorful blob? A colorful blob that was telling me to hang on a little longer? That's all I heard until I finally shut my eyes.
Then, I opened them with a jolt. Man, that was the strangest dream I've ever had. I looked around my room and took a moment to gather myself before shutting off my alarm clock. I then went to my closet and checked if my armor was still in its case. Surprisingly, everything was exactly the way I left it last night. So, it really was just a dream. A really weird dream where Father and I killed each other and Mettaton stayed with me the whole time. He needs to stop appearing in my dreams, dude. It's getting out of hoof at this point.
Anyway, I chose to just get ready for school and go on with my day. If I see Mettaton out at all, I'm just gonna avoid him and I won't say anything about my dream. But I still think I should consider researching what it could all mean because I have a feeling it could be kinda important.
I quickly showered and got dressed before heading downstairs to grab breakfast. Ma was getting ready for work and Hothead was just finishing his waffles so she could drop him off on her way out. I just went along with my plan and held my usual grimace as I went about pouring myself some cereal.
"So, how'd you sleep, Uni?" asked Ma as she filled her thermos with coffee "Hothead and I heard some shouting from your room. Did you have anyone up there with you?" I knew she meant well but, I only invite people up to my room if I trust them enough and it's always during the day when they come over. I never allow anyone up there while I'm sleeping. I have boundaries and trust issues. Getting into my room at all is like getting into Heaven. It's a pain in the flank. You gotta pass all these trials and earn access to it. None of these trials are easy so, you have to put in a lot of work before you see me opening the door for you.
"I slept fine, Ma." I replied "And you know I never invite anyone to stay the night. Even if you did hear anything, it was probably nothing." I put the milk away and joined Hothead at the table with my bowl. Another reason I wasn't saying anything about my dream was because I knew they'd ask more questions about what Mettaton was doing in it. I knew they'd pester me about it, teasing me about some stupid crush on a robot celebrity. I didn't wanna deal with it so, I kept it to myself.
After breakfast, I packed my bag with everything I'll need for the day and got ready to head out. Ma and Hothead were loading up to go as well. Before leaving, Ma told me to ask our friends to help put together my birthday and coronation. Now, I had no choice but to go ask Mettaton for his help and discuss the details with him. Now, I had no choice but to be near his stupid flank! The one thing I really wanted to do today is something I actually have to squeeze into my schedule and if I mention a party for myself around him, I know he's gonna jump out of a cake at the party. Pray for me, guys. I'm gonna need the strength and patience to deal with him.