#hotlands

“Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: HUMANS and MONSTERS.

One day, war broke out between the two races.

After a long battle, the humans were victorious.

They sealed the monsters underground with a spell.

Many years later...

MT. EBOTT, 201X

Legends say that those who climb the mountain never return.”

-

"Is there a reason I have been summoned here, Doctor? You don't usually call me down unless absolutely necessary." a ghastly voice spoke as he entered the lab that resided in the Hotlands, the doors closed behind him as he entered the building and approached the small prehistoric being dressed in a lab coat. Said doctor jumped in surprise at the voice, not expecting to hear him, and dropped her cup of ramen noodles "Oh, my apologies, Ms. Alphys." he let out a nervous laugh as he waved his hand to dismiss her concern, already cleaning up the mess as if it were a common occurrence.

"N-No, it's fi—fine! I-I forgot you were coming...!" the decapitated head he carried in his arms raised a brow, she scratched her cheek after wiping up the broth then motioned him to follow her towards the monitor that was currently displaying the camera feed within the lab "I-I detected an anomaly within th—the ruins, I thought it was nothi—nothing but decided to check the security cameras just to make sure, a-and..." she trailed off and pulled up the feed for Snowdin, and there in broad daylight, was a human.

"A human?" he said in disbelief, lifting his head to get a closer look at them. They were a yellow-skinned child with straight brown hair and choppy bangs. They're wearing a light blue long-sleeve shirt with two magenta stripes, light blue pants, and dark shoes "A child. Why is it always children?"

"Well, c-children are always curious, no?" he scoffed.

"And look where it ended them. Dead." her shoulders drooped at his words, he continued to watch the feed and watched closely how they got past the sentries stationed in Snowdin. He couldn't help but deadpan at the sight of the human either petting or playing with each and every guard, even the monsters who weren't guards were giving the human more trouble "And this is what happens when we hire dogs." Alphys gave a nervous laugh as she looked up at him.

"W-What will you do now, Grimm?" he hummed.

"I'll watch for now. Papyrus is the only one that'll give that human a hard time. If they get past him, Undyne will give them an even harder time if they make it to the Waterfalls." she twiddles her thumbs as she watched him toss his head up and down, the flames bursting from out of his neck flickering every now and then.

"A-And if they get past Undyne?"

"Well, I'm sure Mettaton is dying to debut that new body of his that you constructed." she swallowed nervously at the thought of having to encounter the human as well.

"A-And, if they get past Mettaton...?" she shrunk in on herself when an unsettling silence came over him, she opened her mouth to apologize but he gave a hearty laugh.

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to give it my all to not be swayed by their mercy. We need this seventh soul in order to shatter the barrier, and our King has already been through a lot collecting the last six. The least I can do as his Royal Knight is to claim the last one to relieve him of this burden."

"Then why don—don't you go after them i-immediately? Won't that be easier?" he shrugged his shoulders.

"Other than Undyne, I'm one of the strongest guards. I'll stand as their last obstacle before they have to go against Asgore, and if they beat me..." he paused briefly, his eyes going back to the screen that showed the human with Papyrus and his brother, Sans, chatting amongst themselves "then perhaps, that human is what we needed all along." she tilted her head, confused.

"Grimm?" his eyes watched the human carefully before he huffed softly.

"I'll go inform his majesty of this. Keep an eye on them Ms. Alphys, and update me on anything that would warrant my attention." she nodded her head.

"O-Of course, Grimm." he nodded his head to her before turning on his heel and leaving the labs, taking the stairs to the left of them so he could take the ferry to get to the Waterfalls. It was in the complete opposite direction to where New Home was but most of his lanterns resided in either Snowdin or the Waterfalls, he'd take his steed but even she dislikes traversing through the Hotlands because it "ruins my mane", whatever.

"Tra la la. The angel is coming..." he cocked a brow.

"Angel? Like in the prophecy?" he couldn't help but scoff. Everyone in the Underground knew the tale of the Delta Rune: the legend of an angel from the surface who would free the monsters from their eternal prison. But there were two interpretations of that freedom. One hopeful—where the angel would shatter the barrier and bring peace. And the other... darker. A newer reading that spoke of an Angel of Death, one who would 'free' the monsters by killing them all, severing them from the mortal realm entirely. "I don't suppose you think it's that human, hmm?"

"Tra la la..." Of course. What else did he expect? He stepped off the boat, bidding the River Person a polite farewell, and continued into the Waterfall. The soft echo of dripping water welcomed him as he made his way down the hall toward one of his lanterns, nodding to the few familiar faces he passed in the misty biome. Grimm had always preferred Waterfall. Snowdin was too cold, Hotland far too hot, and New Home? Overcrowded and a maze of stress. No, this quiet place—humid and dim and peaceful—was home. Easier for him. Easier for his horse.

He found one of his lanterns nestled in a quiet alcove, its pale blue flames flickering gently within the glass. As he stepped closer, the fire already crackling at his neck surged in response. In an instance, the flames consumed him, racing over his form until his body was no longer flesh, but fire. He vanished into the lantern, leaving nothing but a trace of frost behind him. Moments later, a burst of flame erupted from another lantern stationed just outside the grand doors of Asgore's throne room. His body reformed from the blaze, solid once more, embers fading off his shoulders. He held his head in one hand, brushing away the last wisps of vapor as he quickly patted out the frost that had froze a few locks of hair. A quiet sigh escaped him—lantern travel was efficient, but never exactly gentle. With one final sweep of his hand through his hair, he stepped forward and pushed open the heavy doors. Asgore’s throne room welcomed him with a warm, golden glow. The light filtered through the massive hall, reflecting off every polished surface—but its true source was the sea of golden flowers blooming across the chamber floor. His magnificent garden. Soft, radiant, and silent.

"Dum dee dum… Oh? Is someone there? Just a moment!" Grimm couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the sight before him—King Asgore, ruler of all monsters, the very soul he had devoted himself to, scrambling to finish watering the golden flowers at his feet. For all his strength, all his sorrow, he still tended to his garden like it was the most important thing in the world.

"It's just me, sire," he said softly, stepping further into the golden glow. He laughed when Asgore whipped his head around to look at him. Honestly, it was a miracle he didn’t snap his neck with how fast he turned. What really made his day, though, was the way Asgore's entire face lit up the moment their eyes met. The bright smile that spread across his face was enough to make the entire throne room feel warmer. Without a second thought, he tossed the watering can behind him—somewhere into the sea of flowers—and strode forward with open arms.

“Grimm! Welcome back, friend!” He barely had time to brace himself before Asgore scooped him into a bone-crushing hug. He let out a wheezing laugh as the air rushed from his lungs.

“We saw each other not even a couple hours ago,” he gasped, raising his head over Asgore's shoulder. Asgore chuckled, releasing him at last. His massive arms slipped back beneath the deep red cape draped over his shoulders, as though they’d never moved at all.

“We did,” he agreed warmly, “but it’s always a treat to see you.” He gave him a playful look. “And what did I say about formalities when we’re alone?” He gave a short laugh, already knowing the answer.

“That you don’t like them, and prefer I use your name—or a nickname, if I must.” He nodded, pleased.

“That’s right.” He turned, motioning toward a small side table already set near the window. “Now come. Let’s share a cup of tea, friend.”

Grimm and Asgore had shared countless cups of tea and quiet conversations. In a place like the Underground—where days blended together and not much ever changed—there was rarely news, yet somehow, they always found something new to talk about. They spoke so often that a small, well-worn pillow now sat on the table by default—placed just so, for Grimm to rest his head while sipping tea. It had become a familiar comfort, sparing him the effort of holding his head up through long talks and longer silences.

“So, what did Doctor Alphys need?” The cup paused at his lips. For a moment, Grimm simply stared over the rim, as if he’d forgotten why he was even there. Asgore watched him carefully, one brow raised. He lowered the cup slowly, letting it rest in his hands, a finger now tracing circles along the rim.

“I really don’t want to spoil your day, Asgore.”

“Nonsense,” he replied gently. “Surely what you have to share won’t sour my mood.” He swallowed thickly, waiting until Asgore set his own cup down before speaking.

“A human was spotted.” A beat. “In the Ruins.” Another pause. “And they’re in Snowdin now.” Grimm gave an awkward smile when he saw the way Asgore's face slowly fell.

"Are they now?"

"Yes, sir." Grimm was now speaking as his knight, not his friend. Asgore lowered his cup and let out a tired breath, the burden that he carried for monsterkind weighing heavy on his shoulders at what had to be done to this child in order to procure a future for his people. "I'm sorry if I've brought unwanted news, Asgore." He shook his head slowly.

"Not at all. It may not be what I wanted to hear... but it was going to happen one way or another." Grimm gave a slow nod.

"At the pace they're going, they should just be entering Waterfall. I'm sure they won’t get past Undyne—she’d rather die than lose to a feeble human child." He grimaced a beat too late. “Y-you get what I mean.” Asgore offered a small smile.

“So they got past the sentries?” Grimm let out a sharp huff.

“It’s what we get for hiring dogs. A little praise and a belly rub, and they’re in the palm of—well, anyone’s hand.” He rolled his wrist with a sigh, firelight briefly flickering at the seam where neck met shoulders. “Then there’s Papyrus. Strong, that one. He’s got the bones for it, and the drive. But, he’s soft-hearted. I admire it, honestly. His passion, his endless optimism. But it’s not the kind of edge you need when standing between a human and the future of monsterkind.”

“So it’s likely they got past him as well,” Asgore murmured, finishing the last of his tea. He set the cup down gently, then turned his eyes toward Grimm. “Can I expect you to take care of them?” His eyes widened—just slightly, and without hesitation, his body stood. Asgore couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the odd, reverent display: Grimm’s body lowering into a kneel, one arm crossed over his chest in a traditional salute—while his head remained resting on the table, looking up at him with unwavering determination.

“I will ensure that this human does not pass me,” he said, voice even and resolute. “I will claim their soul… and present it to you, my King.” He let out a soft grunt as Asgore’s large hand came down gently on his head.

“There’s no need to pull that card, friend,” the king said with a tired smile. “You’re acting like you’re going to die.”

“I would happily lay down my life for you, Asgore.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Asgore replied, voice gentle but firm. Then, after a beat, he chuckled. “And stop watching those shows.” He couldn’t help but laugh when Grimm's hand clenched into a dramatic fist—not in anger, but out of sheer passion.

“But they’re so passionate!”

“Yes, yes,” Asgore said, shaking his head fondly. “Perhaps we could watch one together sometime, hmm?” Grimm’s face brightened immediately, his smile stretching from ear to ear as his body straightened with renewed energy.

“Really?” Asgore leaned back in his seat with a soft grunt of amusement.

“Why not? It’ll be something to look forward to… after all this is done.” He hadn’t thought Grimm’s expression could get any brighter, but somehow it did. With that promise sealed, Grimm scooped up his head and gave a sharp salute. Then, with a crisp turn on his heel, he made his way back toward the corridor.

“I’ll make sure to pick a good one, Asgore! You’re gonna love it!” he called out, voice echoing proudly. A loud kick sent the throne room doors swinging open, and with that final, theatrical exit, Grimm disappeared down the hall—leaving Asgore alone once more in the golden quiet of his throne room. Grimm always carried himself as a serious and composed figure—a reflection of his title as the Royal Knight. A man of fire and purpose, molded by duty. In public, he was calm, measured, a symbol of unwavering strength fit to stand at the king’s side, no matter the command. He never questioned Asgore. Never doubted him. Never hesitated. But moments like that—when he allowed himself to smile freely, to laugh, to hope of something as simple as watching a show with his friend—that was the real glimpse of the undead man beneath the metal and flame.

Returning to the lantern that had brought him to Asgore, Grimm held out his hand toward the flickering blue flame. He focused on a specific location within Waterfall—the last known place his steed had wandered off to. As before, the fire responded to his intent, flaring up until it engulfed his entire body in a swirl of crackling flame. In an instant, his form vanished into the lantern’s magic, transported to where he hoped his horse still was. That blasted horse. She had a tendency to roam where she pleased, sticking her nose into everything and anything. The last thing he needed was for her to be snooping around Undyne’s place again. He grimaced at the memory. Undyne had threatened to skewer the poor thing last time. “Dammit, where did she go this time…” he muttered, only to let out a surprised oh as something bumped into his legs. Looking down, he was relieved to see it was only Monster Kid.

“Oh! Sorry, Mister Grimm!” the child chirped, wobbling slightly as he regained his balance. Grimm offered a polite smile as he knelt down to help him back onto his feet. “It’s alright, just be careful. Wouldn’t want you falling into anything dangerous,” he said, ruffling MK’s scales with a hand. The kid laughed and spun in place, practically dancing around his boots. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen Winnie around, have you?” MK paused, tapping his chin in thought before perking up and pointing with his tail toward a far-off path.

“Uh-huh! Last time I saw her, she was at the glowing river!”

“The glowing river, huh? Thanks, MK.” He gave the boy a gentle pat on the back, guiding him away. “Run along now. I’ll pretend I didn’t see you if I run into your parents.”

“Got it, Mister Grimm.” The child scurried off, somehow managing not to trip over his own feet this time. With Winnie’s likely location discovered, Grimm made his way toward the bioluminescent river, the pale glow of the water lighting the path ahead. But when he arrived, there was no towering horse to be seen. No hoofprints. No glowing cracks. Nothing. He sighed, glancing around the misty grove.

“Where the hell is that blasted horse?”

“Why the long face, Grimm?” He exhaled slowly through his nose, already bracing himself, and turned his head to find Sans leaning casually against a telescope nearby. The grinning skeleton chuckled at the irritated look on Grimm's face. “Hay now, just askin’ a friend what’s got ‘em all worked up.” Grimm closed his eyes, willing his patience to hold.

“Hardy har, comedian.” he rolled his eyes upon hearing Sans' laugh.

"Okay, what's got you all worked up, pal?"

"I'm looking for Winnie, and MK told me this was the last place he saw her. I don't suppose you've seen her, have you? We've got work to do."

"Hmm? Work? Is this about the human that's been wandering around?"

"I know you know about them, Sans. There's no point in hiding it." he gave a laugh.

"I'm not hiding anything, but I'm keeping a real close eye on them just like you. So don't go losing your head over it." he laughed again when he saw Grimm purse his lips, clearly not pleased to be the punchline of his joke "Okay, I'll stop." he let out a sigh.

"I just want to find Winnie. I'd really appreciate it if you could just point in the direction she went in. If that human is in Waterfall, the last thing I want to see is her trampling the poor kid."

"Why? Do you want to land the finishing blow?"

"As easy as that'll make taking their soul, no." Sans looked up at Grimm curiously, noticing how his finger tapped against the side of his cheek "I honestly want to see how far they'll make it, but I'll make sure they won't get past me."

"How are you so certain that they'll get to New Home?" he gave a shrug.

"Have they collected any LOVE yet?" they both stand in silence at the question "I'll keep watching, but the instance they gain even a tiny bit of LOVE... well, I'll make sure they regret it." Sans hummed but shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I won't stop you from doing your job." he then points off in a direction "And I'm pretty sure I saw your horse structing around near Undyne's." he snickered when he saw Grimm grimace.

"Ah, the last place I want her to be." his shoulders slump as he hopes that whatever Winne is doing over there is that she's merely bothering Napstablook, in which he'll have to apologize to the poor ghost due to her doing such a thing "Thanks for nothing, I guess." Sans saluted him.

"Happy to be helpful." he huffed and turned on his heel, making his way over to where he hoped Winnie wasn't. He saw the glow of her hoofprints imprinted in the ground but they led out of Undyne's property, he huffed, so she was gone again? What he did notice were a smaller pair of footprints leading from out of the dump to his left that went towards Napstablook's house then back out towards Gerson's little shop where the River Person were... as well as Winnie's hoofprints.

"Oh no." he makes haste, he's following the hoofprints closely but comes to a halt when he heard boisterous laughter come from the small cave "Not now, Gerson, I need to find Winnie." he couldn't fight the smile creeping onto his face when Gerson laughed again, his laughter echoing through the cave as he smiled at Grimm.

"Come now, I'm sure you can spare a few minutes with this old man." Gerson watched how Grimm kicked his feet before turning and entering his shop "I can assume you're looking for your nag?" he nods.

"And I can only assume you saw her."

"I could have, and I must say, you just missed her." he snickers when his hand instinctively lifted itself to smack himself in the forehead, though it simply swiped at the air above his neck.

"Argh, where is she even going? She never wanders off for this long, especially when I've told her to wait."

"She's actually been following the human around since they first stepped into Waterfall, keeping a close eye on 'em and MK whenever they cross paths." his eyes widened.

"Wait, seriously?!" he nods.

"Uh huh. The human just had this... way with her, unlike I've ever seen. She's usually pretty snippy with anyone, right? You said so yourself, she doesn't let many touch her. Mayhaps it's because the human is merely a youngin." he shook his head.

"That can't be it. All the other children that fell faced her wrath. I'm pretty sure she ran one down, it was not a pretty sight." Gerson winced himself, remembering the gruesome sight.

"I'll say. But this human is different, I just know it! This one is going to make it to the end." he raised a brow.

"And you just know that I'm not going to be the one to stop them?"

"I'm sure. Like I said, boy, this human is different. And I'm sure they're going to get past you too." now it was Grimm's turn to laugh.

"Haha, okay, sure! And who are you calling boy? We're about the same age, Gerson. It's not my fault I'm an undead, I practically don't age."

"It's a shame, really. I'll make sure to save you a seat when you do eventually bite the dust." he hummed softly.

"I hope that doesn't happen until a really long time, friend."

"I do too, I wouldn't want you to be lonely." they share a laugh "I shouldn't keep you here any longer, I'm sure you need to get Winnie before Undyne spots her and the human together."

"She'll probably think I'm helping them if that's the case. It was nice talking to you again, Gerson." he said as he started walking away.

"Oh, for the road!" Gerson shouts as he tossed him two crab apples, he could only guess one was for him and the other was for Winnie. He waves him goodbye then finally leaves, he pockets one of the crab apples for Winnie then munches on the one meant for him. He's following the trail of footsteps that slowly disappeared but Winnie's hoofprints were still there, did that mean she willingly let someone that wasn't him onto her back? Wow, maybe this human was different. He walked past many monsters that encountered the human and they spoke rather highly of them, it was strange to hear how the once prejudice monsters that were so quick to attack the human now speak positively about them.

"They were so polite, that human. They even asked to wash their hands."

"You should have seen them, sir, they have no muscle on their bones and yet they were trying to out flex me! It was almost hilarious."

"hOI!!! i'm tEMMIE!!" he shuffled away from the vibrating dog... thing, he could never really tell what exactly Temmie was. He lost both set of prints when he crossed through a water filled hallway that had a few echo flowers, the passing conversation spoke about a wish about wanting to leave the mountain they were buried under and to see the world outside.

"Heh... that's my dream too." he murmured to himself, he stood in silence before shaking his head and leaving the area. He had just entered the next area leading to the bridge towards the cave that would lead to the Hotlands when he finally spotted the small human, but Winnie was nowhere in sight. He takes a step but paused when MK appeared, he tilts his head to the side as he watched them talk until MK turned around and started to leave but tripped and fell.

"Yo, w-wait! Help! I tripped!"

"MK-" he takes a step forward, intending to help, but was suddenly yanked back that he almost dropped his head "Wha-"

"Don't interfere." he scowled when he realized who it was.

"Winnie! Where have you been?!" he hissed but let out a grunt when she pumped her head into his back, he cocked a brow in confusion until he saw her gesture forward.

"Undyne's here." they huddle against the wall to watch the spectacle, Undyne ready to charge at the human while MK clung to the pillar that caught his fall when he tripped. Undyne takes a few steps forward when the human moved towards her, or so that's what they thought, when they instead reached down and helped MK back onto the bridge. They then watch in shock as MK, the child who idolized Undyne, step in front of the human to stop her from coming any closer.

"Y... y... yo, dude... if... i-if you wanna hurt my friend... you're gonna have to get through me, first." she takes a few steps back, in disbelief after witnessing the human help MK and he himself defending them and calling them his friend, she finally turned around and left. After a moment of silence, MK turned back towards the human "She's gone. Phew, you really saved my skin. Guess being enemies was just a nice thought, haha. We'll just have to be friends instead." he huffed softly as he looked back at Winnie.

"Is this where you've been this entire time, Winnie?" she huffed.

"I originally was going to trample them, but how could I do such a thing when they offered me something I could not resist."

"... did they give you a crab apple?" he stared at her then scoffed when she deflated.

"They also brushed my mane." he took off the guard that covered her face and neck and saw that her mane was brushed smoothly, there was even a small braid.

"I can't believe you let them touch you."

"Me neither." he couldn't help but roll his eyes "But isn't it a good thing I didn't trample them, Grimm? I mean, they just saved MK and he even stood up to Undyne. That guppy has been terrorizing the poor kid since they stepped foot into Waterfall and MK had been unknowingly coming to their aid the entire time."

"And what about you? Were you helping them?" she sighed softly as her hooves kicked against the ground.

"Well, I've been giving them... rides, and what not."

"Did Undyne spot you with them?" she pouted.

"Not that... I'm aware of." at this point he was surprised he hadn't rolled his eyes into the back of his head, going so far as to letting out a dramatic sigh.

"Unbelievable. We're not suppose to be their friend, Winnie. We're suppose to take their soul!"

"I know, I know... but what if, we don't take their soul?"

"Are you serious, Winnie? We need their soul to get out of the Underground! We are so close to regaining our freedom that the life of one insignificant child should mean little to nothing!" she pouted softly as he started putting her head guard back on.

"Well, just... talk to them first, before doing anything."

"Talk? Wow, I'm curious on what happened between you and that human. You're never one to talk before battles, you're always hit first, talk later." he spoke as he tightened the buckles, when he was sure it was secure he took a step back then pulled out the crab apple Gerson gave him "So you're confident they can persuade Undyne?" she nods.

"I'm certain they can." he huffed as he grabbed her reins and pulled himself onto her back.

"Now I'm really curious on what happened between you two. What did they say to you that you're on their side? An apple and braiding your mane isn't enough to convince you to side with a human over monsterkind." she huffed as she trotted after the human but kept at a distance so neither them or Undyne would spot them.

"I bet you'll understand when you stand in their way." he snorted.

"Yeah, sure." she snorted softly but said nothing more as they watched Undyne, always the one to make things overdramatic and theatrical, stand above the mountain that led into Hotlands.

"Seven. Seven human souls, and King Asgore will become a god. Six. That's how many we have collected thus far. Understand? Through your seventh and final soul, this world will become transformed. First, however, as is customary for those who make it this far, I shall tell you the tragic tale of our people. It all started, long ago..." Grimm was a little astonished that Undyne was actually going to explain to the human how they were trapped in the Underground many centuries ago, though it didn't disappeared when Undyne changed her tune "No, you know what? SCREW IT! WHY SHOULD I TELL YOU THAT STORY WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE?! NGAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!" he sweat dropped when she ripped her helmet off and glared down at the human.

"Now there's the Undyne we all know and love." Winnie nodded.

"You! You're standing in the way of everybody's hopes and dreams! Alphys's history books made me think humans were cool... with their giant robots and flowery swordswomen." Grimm squinted his eyes, giant robots and flowery swordswomen? He shook his head upon realizing that she was referring to the anime she and Alphys read and watch, I thought she would have told Undyne the truth by now. He shook his head again, he was giving Alphys too much credit "BUT YOU?! You're just a coward! Hiding behind that kid so you could run away from me again! And let's not forget your wimpy good-two-shoes-schtick! Oooh! I'm making such a difference by hugging random strangers! You know what would be more valuable to people? IF YOU WERE DEAD! That's right, human! Your continued existence is a crime! Your life is all that stands between us and our freedom! Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts pounding together! Everyone's been waiting their whole lives for this! But we're not nervous at all. When everyone puts their hearts together, they can't lose. Now, human! Let's end this, right here, right now. I'll show you how determined monsters can be. Step forward when you're ready! Fufufufu!" he couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the kid stand below her, completely unphased by her declaration.

"I've got to say, this kid's got guts." deciding not to bother, he gently kicks Winnie's side with his ankle while pulling back on the reins "Let's got back to Alphys's lab, we can watch the battle there." she let out a notable whine.

"You know I don't like going to the Hotlands."

"Yeah, but since I left you unsupervised you went and befriended the human. I should ask Alphys to pull up the footage to see what you two were doing." her ears pressed against her head.

"Okay, okay, I get it." he huffed.

"Yeah." he spared the human and Undyne one last look, seeing her leap off the cliff she was standing on and thrust her spear towards the human to engage in a battle against them, they finally turn and leave. Upon finding one of his lanterns, he allows the flame to engulf them both and transport them to one of his lanterns closest to the lab. He slides off Winnie's back but holds her reins as they enter the lab, there they both found Alphys gawking at the screen as she watched Undyne battle the human.

"Ah, she's just so cool~"

"She certainly is." Alphys shrieked at Grimm's voice.

"O-Oh, Grimm and, W-Winnie! You found her." he nodded.

"That I did, took awhile though since she decided to go off on her and have an adventure with the human."

"I-I did see that and was a little confused on w-what she was doing." he made a face as he looked at Winnie, who looked anywhere but at him.

"How's Undyne doing?" Alphys clapped.

"S-She's doing well! Their soul is green right now." Grimm and Winnie stand beside Alphys and watch Undyne battle the human.

"That human is ridiculously good at blocking Undyne's shots." he commented "How are they able to keep track with Undyne's reverse spears? That's one of her special attacks." as they continued to watch they witnessed how the human began predicting where Undyne's spears were coming from before she even summoned them, even though Winnie had already seen how skillful the human was from their countless battles against the monsters they encountered throughout Waterfall, she was still taken aback that they could hold their own against Undyne of all people. Even Alphys, who had been watching the human since they first step foot out of the Ruins, was stunned that the human was barely getting any damage sustained to their soul.

"Oh, they're running away!" Alphys shouts, seeing as their soul was no longer green, they turned tail and ran towards Hotlands, though Undyne was hot on their trail and caught up to them quickly and turned their soul green again. And just like before, Grimm would notice how the human would struggle a bit in the beginning until they somehow figured out Undyne's attack pattern and would block the incoming spears without much struggle.

'How are they doing that? How do they know the direction the spear is going to appear before Undyne even summons them?' the process repeats itself one more time to the point that even Undyne was getting frustrated that her spears weren't reaching the human, and the moment their soul was free the human ran off again and made quite the distance. Undyne was close to catching up to them again until the human's cellphone started ringing, the three of them were taken aback when the human literally stopped and even held their hand up for Undyne to stop so they could answer the phone.

"Hey, what's up!" Grimm couldn't help but sweat a little.

"Is that...?" Winnie sighs.

"Papyrus." Alphys let out a nervous laugh.

"I was thinking. You, me, and Undyne should all hang out sometime! I think you would make great pals!" Grimm and Winnie both share a look then let out a soft laugh while shaking their head, yeah, sure they would "Let's meet up at her place later!" and he hung up.

"That skeleton is such a riot sometimes." he said with a snicker, Papyrus was prone to making Grimm laugh more than Sans could. He let out a breath to calm himself when Undyne immediately started chasing the human the moment they put their phone away. The human had finally entered Hotland and was running across the bridge that would lead them to the Lab but had passed Sans, to which Undyne stopped chasing them to glare down at the skeleton when he was fast asleep in his sentry station.

"That guy just sleeps anywhere." Winnie comments "I swear I've caught him asleep in the river once, surprised he didn't drown." before the two could make anymore comments Alphys let out a gasp, they look back towards the monitor and their eyes widened when they saw that Undyne tried following but collapsed due to the intense heat and the fact that she was wearing her armor. Alphys nervously watched while Grimm narrowed his eyes on the human, watching and waiting to see what exactly they were going to do next. Were they going to leave Undyne to cook? Were they could take advantage of the fact that she's unable to do any- he was stunned to see that the human grabbed a cup of water from the nearby watercooler, carefully bringing it over to where Undyne laid barely conscious, and poured it over her.

"They... they saved her." Alphys whispered, Winnie smirked softly and looked over at Grimm, but she paused at the expression he was making. She saw the way his eye twitched as he watched Undyne look towards the human, whom she once was ready to kill in order to free monsterkind, with a near unreadable expression before turning around and walking back to Waterfall without another word "They beat Undyne." he growled under his breath.

"They did."

"What will you d-do now, Grimm?" she took a step back when he turned towards the front door to the lab that would lead to where the human was.

"I'll deal with the-" he let out a grunt when Winnie bit into his armor and yanked him back.

"Oh, no you don't!" she muffled out "You're going to be the last boss before they get to King Asgore, remember? That's always the plan if any human gets too far." Alphys nodded.

"A-And you did say if Undyne was... beaten, that M-Mettaton will be their next opponent." he let out groan.

"But they're right there! I could just slice their head clean off and we've got a fresh new soul!" a nicker escapes her when she let go of him to flick her tail into his face, to which he let out another grunt when it smacked onto his forehead.

"And you can kill them in the Final Corridor where you can let loose. But not here, not now." his eye twitched again until he rolled his eyes, letting out a groan before nodding his head.

"Alright, okay, I won't do anything." Alphys let out a sigh of relief.

"I-I was worried you were going to make a mess in my lab again." he laughed softly.

"Don't worry, if I was going to kill them, I was going to do it outside so no blood got on your floors." she sweat dropped.

"That doesn't necessarily make me f-feel any better." Winnie soon grabbed him by his armor again and started pulling him to the backdoor when she saw that the human started making their way towards the Lab.

"We'll be on our way now, Alphys! Talk to you later!" Winnie said, he let out a grunt as he tried yanking himself free from her grip.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Don't drag me." Alphys giggled softly as she watched the two bicker, already used to their constant arguments as if they were siblings instead of partners. Grimm and Winnie were like a bonded pair, one never really seen without the other for an extended period of time, though Winnie was prone to wandering off while Grimm had to be the one to retrieve her. Maybe it was because they've been together for a long time, long before they were forced in the Underground and that they fought in the war together. Grimm was not a boss monster, but he was unlike the average monster that the way his body aged was different, and he had watched many of his companions fall thanks to the passing of time. But Winnie had remained by his side without her body wearing out, perhaps it's because Grimm is able to share his magic with her that she's still around, whatever it was, he wasn't sure what he'd do if he lost her.

"What are you thinking about?" he perked up at the sound of her voice as they walked deeper into the Hotlands in search for one of his lanterns.

"Nothing, just plotting." she sighed.

"Come on, give the human a chance. Don't immediately throttle them."

"I'll see how I feel in the moment." she groaned, throwing her head back.

"No." he shook his head.

"Wynona." she blinked, startled that he addressed her by her name instead of her nickname, her ears pressed into her head when she knew that he was being serious right now "I get that you've befriended the human, but we still have a duty to our people. They should come first before the human, got it? I can't go easy on them just because you like them." one of her ears flickered.

"B-But..." his expression softened.

"I can't spare this human, Wynona. The only way they'll ever get to Asgore is if they beat me."

"And even that's impossible. The only monster that could really do that was Gerson in his prime." he shrugged.

"Unlike the other monsters, I won't be as easily persuaded." her tail flicks from behind her as they walked in a comfortable silence.

"I get it... I'll try not to interfere when the time comes." he smiled softly and readjusted the way he was holding his head so he could hug Winnie, she pouted but draped her neck over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way. Usually I'd be happy that you'd go this far for a friend, but..." she nods.

"I know, I know." he pulled away and gently caressed her head.

"Just to be nice, I'll let you hang around the human for a bit longer." he chuckled when he saw her perk up "I'm returning to New Home, but I will stop by the MTT Resort just to see how far the human has progressed. I'm pretty sure Mettaton has used a few of my lanterns in that dine-in restaurant of his." he made a face as he remembered when Mettaton stole his lanterns from Waterfall, saying how they would make the restaurant look "beautiful darling", or whatever.

"Thank you Grimm, really." she said while rubbing against his side, he huffed and pat her back.

"Don't mention it. Now get outta here before I change my mind." she grins and quickly galloped away, he inhaled softly as he watched her go before turning on his heel and going in a direction where he could feel where one of his lanterns were. If he thought of the exact pathing the human will take to get from the labs to the resort, which would evidently lead them to New Home, it should take them a couple hours to reach the end. Since they were in Hotland where Mettaton resided, he didn't need to return to the lab to watch the human, he could simply go and watch the LIVE footage where he just knew Mettaton was using the human in his show "Heh, I can only imagine what he's gonna put that kid through." he shrugged as he found one of his lanterns, he looked back in the direction he came from before finally disappearing into the blue flame.

Upon returning to New Home, he informed Asgore on the human's whereabouts and their progress from the Ruins to Hotland. He was surprised to hear that Undyne had lost and that they had gotten so far, I mean, the furthest a human has ever gotten in the Underground was the Core. That kid was pretty crazy, carrying a gun around and everything, but even he didn't make it to New Home. Grimm never directly interfered when a human was spotted in the Underground, he only appeared when the lives of the monsters were threatened and he would deal with them himself. The last thing he needed was the monsters to panic because one measly human decided killing them was the way to go, I mean, it's honestly very valid since we're all trying to kill them too, but still.

Anways-

"So, Wynona is with them now?" Asgore asked, Grimm gave a shrug.

"She could be. I told her she could join the human, but she isn't that much of a fan of Hotland. She doesn't do well in hot climates, and add the armor to that factor and she's practically miserable." he snorted a laugh, tossing his head between his hands "It's why we hang around Waterfall." Asgore snapped his fingers and pointed at him.

"Not only that, but you have a sort of ice magic." he hummed.

"I am more in my element when in Snowdin, but I'd rather Winnie not feel uncomfortable, that's why we live in Waterfall. Though the water does drip into my neck sometimes, the feeling is not pleasant." Asgore hummed as his hand waved above his neck where he felt the freezing temperatures of his blue flame that was so cold that it would have burned his hand. But Grimm had complete control over his magic, so the feeling of his hand passing through his flame was nothing more than a soothingly cool breeze.

"I get that feeling, sometimes it's quite uncomfortable when I get dirt in my fur."

"That's why you should wear gloves, Asgore. I'm surprised you haven't singed your fur with your fire magic." this caused the king to little out a nervous chuckle, scratching at his cheek in mild embarrasment.

"You and I both know that isn't true." this made Grimm snicker.

"I know, I just like bringing it up cause it's funny." he soon burst into a fit of laughter when Asgore reached over and smacked his arm.

"You and your jokes. Are you thinking of being a comedian or something?" he shrugged as his body leaned back.

"Should I? I seem to have a knack in making you laugh."

"Then wouldn't that make you a court jester?"

"Being your personal clown doesn't seem too bad in my opinion. At least I still get to be by your side." he said with a wink but Asgore ignored him with a chuckle.

"Anyways, why don't you check on the human? It has been a couple hours. Go see how much progress they made while you weren't looking." he saluted.

"As you wish, your majesty." he scampered away when Asgore threw a teaspoon at his back, his laughter echoing through the hall when it clattered to the floor. He found himself in MTT's resort dine-in restaurant and only found a few people inside, perhaps it was because you had to reserve quite literally everything if you wanted to dine there.

"Hey Grimm, here for the comedy show?" Oni asked as he passed his and Charles' table.

"No, though I did miss out on Mettaton's show." Charles' perked up.

"That's a shame. Each time his show was on air, there would be a human starring in each of them! How long has it been since we've last seen a human?"

"A long time ago."

"Yeah, well, anyways, apparently the human is somewhere nearby. I saw them and Sans' not to long ago at the table over there." he said and pointed to a table behind Oni.

"I see, and how long ago was this?" Oni hums.

"Maybe... a few minutes ago, but I think they went outside to talk to Catty and Bratty and they've been coming back inside to talk to Burgerpants."

"And Winnie? Have you seen her?" the receptionist clapped their fins.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure she's taking a nap in one of the rooms. She looked exhausted when she came in earlier." he huffed. Figured, after walking around Hotland wearing a hunk of metal would be exhausting, add on to whatever else she and the human were doing on their way to the MTT resort.

"Thank you, I'll be seeing you." they waved him goodbye as he walked out.

"Don't miss out on Mettaton's show! He said it's going to be a grand finale!" he waved his own hand.

"I'll be sure not to miss it." he greets a few more monsters as he made his way to the lobby so he could find out which room Winnie was in, little did he know, the moment he stepped into the lobby he felt something collide into his leg then stumble to the ground. The lobby fell into an eerie silence all you could hear was the crackling of Grimm's flame followed by the water from Mettaton's water fountain, why? Well, that was because the individual who walked into him was the very human that had been warned by every monster they encountered to avoid Asgore's most loyal knight, one of the most feared monsters during the war against the humans. The human had just entered the resort after setting up a double date between Catty, Bratty and Burgerpants and was going to report back to the fast food worker when they accidentally walked into something rather solid that they fell to the ground. Looking up at what they collided with, they were troubled by the sight of the daunting figure that was a headless suit of armor looking down at them.

*You feel as if the room got colder by the mere presence of the Ice Butcher.

A gasp leaves their lips when the suit of armor turned and they noticed the head held in his arms that was previously hidden, where was Winnie when they needed her? They look around and saw how all the monsters were now openly staring at them quite nervously, waiting to see what exactly was going to happen. They whip their head up when Grimm raised his arms and placed his head onto his neck, snuffing out the flames that crackled from underneath until they were silence when his head twisted into place. What they noticed when he put his head on was the fire from his neck burst out from his eye sockets and the ends of his hair started burning just slightly. He rolled his neck a couple times before finally kneeling down while slowly extending his hand towards the human, however, several thoughts went through his head the longer he stared.

'It would be easy. It would be so easy to wrap my hand around their neck and snap it. I could just take their soul and end our suffering right here, right now. But...' the human flinched when he instead offered his hand to help them, going so far as to offering them a kind and soft smile.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry that you fell, I didn't see you since you're so... pint sized." he said as he looked the human over properly, not realizing until that moment how small they were. How on earth have they been able to traverse through the Underground when they're literally not even half the size of every monster? The smallest monster he could think of would be Temmie, because even the children were at least taller than this human child. He furrowed his brows when they did take his much larger hand and he lifted them to their feet, they were about as light as a sheet of paper "Color me impressed to see that you've made it this far, human." unlike the other monsters, Grimm was the most human looking amongst the bunch if he wasn't carrying his head around nor wearing his armor. If it weren't for all the warnings they received, they would have believed that the smile he wore was real.

*You tell him the friends you made along the way has made the journey all the more easier.

"Friends? Now isn't that something. We're supposed to be killing you, and yet you've somehow befriended almost every monster you've encountered." the human nervously gripped the handle on the frying pan they picked up while in Hotland.

*You ask the monster if he was going to stop you.

"Oh, no. Your next opponent is Mettaton, I believe he'd be upset if I stepped in during his last show." they took a step back when his hand reached for them again but he instead booped their nose, a cheeky grin gracing his lips when he saw the way they started to tremble due to his icy touch "You won't be seeing me until you reach the Last Corridor. So before your fight against King Asgore, you'll have to deal with me."

*Despite the fear you feel for the knight that stands before you, you stand tall and look him in the eyes.

*You say that he's the least of your worries.

"Pft." he couldn't help but laugh at their words, going so far as to wiping away a stray tear "Oh, you're hilarious. Well, don't let me stop you from your journey, human. I'll be waiting for you." he stood up and stepped to the side, going so far as to gesturing to the doors that would lead them to the CORE. They watched him carefully as they walked away and only looked forward when the doors shut behind them, he chuckled again and shook his head.

"Are you alright, Grimm?" he looked down to see the Diamond Receptionist at his feet, he shrugged his shoulders as he grabbed his head and yanked it off his neck then held it by his hip.

"It's the human you should be asking that to. Though, I can't help but admire their determination and the way they held their own."

"We're more surprised you didn't kill them." he shrugged.

"Eh, wouldn't want Burgerpants to clean up the blood. And like I said, I believe Mettaton would be upset that I ruined his show." she couldn't help but giggle softly.

"I understand. I'm sure Mettaton will be broadcasting their battle soon, so why don't you take a seat and watch?"

"I will, I'm just here to collect Winnie." she perked up.

"Ah, yes. Then allow me to lead you to her room." he follows the small monster to a hallway of rooms and gestures to the one that Winnie was occupying, he thanks her and knocks on the door. He waits a couple seconds for her before proceeding to open the door, peeking in, he huffed at the sight of her passed out on the bed. He leans over her unconscious body before raising his hand and flicking her ear, he leaned back while raising his hands when she sprung up in surprise.

"Wha- huh?!" he waved his hand in front of her face when she settled down and saw that it was only him "Oh, hey." he gave her the peace sign.

"Get up, we got a show to watch." she stared at him in confusion.

"Huh?" he doesn't wait for her but instead flicks the light on while also leaving the door open, he chuckled when he heard a frustrated squeal followed by the galloping of her hooves. They now found themselves back in the resorts restaurant dining on what was available as he and the rest of the monsters watched Mettaton's show, he was munching on a starfait while Winnie was devouring a steak shaped like Mettaton's face... odd, pretty sure it's not that good to eat.

"Ooo, ooo! I think it's starting!"

"Turn it up!"

"Oh, look at the human!"

"They are so tiny." they all watch as the platform the human and Mettaton were standing on begins to rise up.

"Real drama!! Real action!! Real bloodshed!! On our new game show... Attack of the Killer Robot!!" he laughs to himself as he waves at the cameras that surrounded them. "Yes, I was the one who rearranged the CORE! I was the one who hired everyone to kill you! That, however, was a shortsighted plan. You know what would be a hundred times better? Killing you myself!!" The human fires these little yellow bullets from their phone in an attempt to beat Mettaton, but the bullets were just bouncing off of him.

"Dang, when's the last time someone had a gun in the Underground?"

"It was the last human that fell, wasn't it?"

"But they aren't necessarily using a gun, are they?"

"That worthless peashooter won't work on me, darling. Don't you understand what acting is?! Listen, darling. I've seen you fight. You're weak. If you continue forward, the Ice Butcher will take your soul. It is impossible for you to get past him, and I will make your death much more merciful than he will. And with your soul, Asgore will destroy humanity!" as he spoke, Mettaton summons boxes in an attempt to crush them, but the human either evades or shoots at them to make them disappear "But if I get your soul, I can stop Asgore's plan! I can save humanity from destruction!" everyone looks towards Grimm and sees him eating another Starfait.

"Would you let Mettaton take the soul?" he snorted.

"As if. I'd probably take it from him if he tries anything."

"Then using your soul, I'll cross through the barrier... Then I'll become the star I've always dreamed of being! Hundreds, thousands... No, millions of humans will watch me! Glitz, glamour! I'll finally have it all! So what if a few people die? That's show business, baby!" the human was momentarily distracted when a voice came from their phone, they couldn't make out their conversation but they all noticed the human point behind Mettaton "Oh? A mirror? Right, I have to look perfect for our grand finale!" Mettaton then proceeds to turn around, muttering how he couldn't see the mirror, this allowed the human to reach forward and flip the switch on his back. They all watch in shock when Mettaton's body exploded into smoke, some held their breath until a voice spoke through the smoke "Oh, yeah."

"She didn't." Winnie spoke as she gave her full attention to the T.V, Grimm snorted as he saw Mettaton's silhouette through the smoke.

"Oh yes, she did."

"I'll make your last living moments..." nearly everyone in the restaurant broke out into squeals and cheers to the point Grimm had to cover his ears, this was due to the fact when the smoke cleared Mettaton's new body was out on display for all to see "absolutely beautiful." Grimm couldn't help but whistle.

"She really outdid herself this time. He looks great."

"Oh, even the ice cold Grimm approves of Mettaton's new body!" he couldn't help but roll his eyes with a laugh.

"Sure, I approve." and just like Undyne's battle, he watched as the human struggled to keep up with Mettaton but gradually started picking up his attack patterns with the help of that little phone of theirs to shoot at Mettaton's exposed soul. He really had to commend the human with how skilled their dodging skills were since most of Mettaton's attacks aimed to overwhelm his opponents, if it weren't for that pellet shooter of theirs, he was sure they would have sustained a lot more damage. He did sweat a little in confusion when in two instances Mettaton either had a commercial break, while the other was a essay with the question of "what most do you love about Mettaton" and the answer they gave was hotfinenticute? What did that even mean? What was even more baffling was that it was accepted and they were awarded 360 points.

"I never would have taken Mettaton to be such a good fighter."

"He seems like the type of person to be worried if he messes up his hair in the middle of a battle."

"Well, there aren't many monsters in the Underground who have hair like that." they then look towards Grimm again and saw his rather long a luscious dark hair cascade off the table where his head rested, Mettaton was always jealous of his hair. An explosion from the screen caught their attention and they look towards it to see that as the human continued to fire shots at Mettaton's soul, they damaged it so much that it caused his arms to explode off his torso.

"A-Arms? Wh... who needs arms with legs like these? I'm still going to win!" Mettaton's movements became much slower and more desperate than before, how his attacks became less coordinated as he attempted to throw absolutely everything he had at the human. And yet, none of his attacks seem to slow or deter them from getting past him. That human was determined to beat Mettaton in order to get past him and to New Home, to Asgore "Haha, how inspriring. Well, darling, it's either me or you! But I think we both know who's going to win. Witness the true power of humanity's star!" with his soul exposed once more with two bombs circling around it, sparks of electricity swarmed out from it. Every shot was precise and did quite the damage to his soul, sometimes they would accidentally set off the two bombs but they'd either be able to dodge the blast or just get barely nicked by it.

"That human's really good at battles."

"Do you think he's going easy on them?" he narrowed his eyes as he watched closely, and similar to their battle against Undyne, he noticed how the human began moving as if they already knew where the attacks were coming. Sure they couldn't get their timing right when dodging a few of Mettaton's attacks, but he didn't miss the way they'd move in one direction before stopping and changing directions before Mettaton even summoned his next attack.

"Is Mettaton going to lose?" someone asked after the human managed to damage his soul enough that he lost his legs, Grimm looked across the room and saw them deflate a little.

"... I kind of hope he loses."

"What? How could you say that?"

"W-Well, because... if he wins, then that means he'll leave the Underground." a silence washes over them at the realization "There isn't anything else on TV, and Mettaton is one of the reasons I look forward to waking up in the morning."

"... I hope he loses too."

"Mettaton won't be happy to hear that." he protects his head when they start pleading with him not to tell, worried they might grab it and start shaking him violently.

"Ooh, look at these ratings!" everyone looked back towards the TV and saw that Mettaton's ratings had reached over ten thousand, quite impressive "These are the most viewers I've ever had! We've reached the view call-in milestone! One lucky viewer will have the chance to talk to me... before I leave the Underground forever! Let's see who calls in first!" everyone seemed to rush to pull out their phones to call Mettaton but were beaten by a lucky winner when Mettaton started speaking again "Hi, you're on TV! What do you have to say on this, our last show?" there was a moment of silence before the voice started speaking.

"Oh, hi... I really liked watching your show... my life is pretty boring... but, seeing you on the screen... brought excitement to my life." Grimm's expression softened when he recognized the voice on the other line "I can't tell, but... I guess this is the last episode...? I'll miss you... Mettaton... oh, I didn't mean to walk so long..."

"No, wait! Wait, Bl... h- they already hung up." Mettaton saddened that their conversation was cut short "I'll take another caller!"

"Mettaton, your show made us happy!"

"Mettaton, I don't know what I'll do without you."

"Mettaton, there's a Mettaton shaped hole in my Mettaton shaped heart." a few more calls repeated the same thing, how they were all going to miss him and how his show made them happy.

"So I guess everyone shared the same thought." he hummed softly to himself, the sound of his chair scraping against the floor caught their attention so they look up and saw him standing to his feet "It seems the human has won yet again, so we will be taking our leave."

"Best of luck to you, Grimm, Winnie." he nods.

"Wynona." she perked up, her ears flickering about "Let's go." she huffed softly.

"Coming." they bid the monsters goodbye before using the lanterns to travel back to New Home, they both enter the throne room and found Asgore tending to the flowers once more. He perks up once he spotted them but paused when he saw them lower their heads to greet him, he only let out a breath upon realizing they weren't here to talk.

"The human has gotten past Mettaton and is currently making their way here as we speak." Asgore saddened, knowing what was going to happen next.

"I see. I don't suppose you can go easy on them, could you? Try and make their death as merciful as you can?" Grimm hummed softly.

"I... don't think I can do that, sire."

"I know, but it was worth a shot." both he and Winnie stand up straight as he spoke.

"I will guarantee that the human's soul will be yours, King Asgore." the goat man sighed when Grimm started speaking formally to him, that there was nothing anyone could say to talk him out of taking the human's soul "I will make that human regret ever stepping foot in New Home."

"I'm sure you will." they bow once more before turning and making their way to the Final Corridor.

[with the human]

Upon travelling through the house that was similar to Toriel's in the Ruin's while being told the story of the first fallen human and the deceased son of the Royal Family, the human had collected a Heart Locket as well as a Worn Dagger. As most monsters they defeated on their journey, Mettaton and Alyphs warned them about the last knight they would have to face before coming toe to toe with the King himself. Grimm and Wynona, the dynamic duo where one is never seen without the other. They had already interacted with Wynona, or rather Winnie as many called her, and she was very pleasant to be around. Her rider, however, was not so very pleasant. As the most human looking monster, if you ignore how his face looked that of a Jack-O-Lantern and the fact he carried his head around, if they were looking at him from behind they'd most definitely mistaken him for a human. Other than Undyne, he also seemed to be the most hostile and threatening amongst all the monsters they've encountered. His mere presence brought the room into a chilling silence that had everyone turning to look at them, they were sure that when they took a breath they could see it.

The Ice Butcher could not be reasoned with like the others.

"So you finally made it." they gasped, raising their head at the sound of a familiar voice, because without even realizing it they arrived at the Final Corridor and was face to face with Sans "The end of your journey is at hand, in a few moments you will be faced with your last obstacle. Together... you will determine the future of this world. That's then, now... you will be judged. You will be judged for you every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned. What's EXP? It's an acronym. It stands for "execution points". A way of quantifying the pain you have inflicted on others. When you kill someone, your EXP increases. When you have enough EXP, your LOVE increases. LOVE, too, is an acronym. It stands for "level of violence". A way of measuring someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it becomes to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you can bring yourself to hurt others." Sans closed his eyes as he focused on the human in front of him before opening them, the already permanent smile on his face softening just a bit at the human "But you... you never gained any LOVE. 'Course, that doesn't mean you're completely innocent or naive. Just that you kept a certain tenderness in your heart. No matter the struggles or hardships you faced... you strived to do the right thing. You refused to hurt anyone. Even when you ran away, you did it with a smile. You never gained LOVE, but you gained love. Does that make sense? Maybe not. Now, you're about to face the greatest challenge of your entire journey."

*You ask Sans if he's talking about King Asgore, or the Ice Butcher.

"Heh, the Ice Butcher, huh? Well, both are equally challenging, but if I were you, I'd focus on defending against Grimm. He will not go easy on you just because you're a kid, if the previous humans had gotten as far as you did, I doubt they would have gotten past him. Don't let his youthful appearance fool you either, he's one of the oldest and most experienced monsters in the Underground. He'll cut your head off before you can even blink." they couldn't help but caress their neck, they can only imagine the possibility of their head flying.

*You ask Sans if he has any other advice before you have to fight him.

"Advice, hmm? Well, if you can tire him out, that would be your best bet in beating him." their shoulders slump, they doesn't sound very helpful "You're probably thinking that something like that is going to be impossible, huh? If you can get him off Winnie, then you'll have one less thing to worry about."

*You question if doing such a thing is even possible.

"Hmm, probably. But you might have a bit of an advantage, Winnie already seems to like you and that has caused some discourse between the two of them. Just get them to bicker and she'll probably buck him off just to be pity." they nod their head, something like that shouldn't be too hard, right? Sans kept his eye on the human as they sorted through their inventory to check if they had a few more Crab Apples in hopes they could possibly bribe Winnie, smart. His eyes snapped over to the blue lanterns when they started flicking followed by the subtle sound of trotting, he let out a breath as he tucked his hands in his pockets "Sorry to break it to you kid, but I'm afraid this is the end of our conversation." he frowned when he saw the way they started to tremble as the heavy footsteps started getting closer.

*You ask Sans if it is possible if you could flee like you did with Undyne.

"Heh, you could try, but there's no way you could outrun both Winnie and Grimm." he then gives them a two fingered salute "Good luck, kiddo. I'm rooting for you." and he disappeared from their sight like a ghost, they shuddered out a breath and flinched when they saw their breath in the air.

*The room drops in temperature as the Ice Butcher approaches.

"So, here we are at last, human." they take a step back when Grimm and Wynona come into view, stepping out from the shadows and making their presence known. He sat on Wynona's back as she trotted forward with his head attached to his neck but resting between his arm and hip was a helmet that he had yet to put on, in his other hand were the reins to Wynona's bridle that he lightly tugged on to get her to stop "I must commend you again, human, for making it this far. Most would have given up, but you didn't." Wynona snorted softly.

"But now, your actions here... will determine the fate of the entire world. If you refuse to fight..." she grimaced, her ears pressing against her head as she glanced up at Grimm "then we will take your soul and present it to King Asgore."

"To which he will use it to destroy humanity. But if you kill Asgore and go home..."

"Monsters will remain trapped underground."

"What will you do?" they say in unison, Grimm chuckled as he adjusted the hold on his helmet.

"You didn't get this far by dumb luck, did you? That's right, you have something called "determination". But unfortunately for you, determination alone won’t stop me from taking your soul." he lowered his head and slowly slid his helmet on. The moment it clicked into place, a burst of blue flames erupted from them both. Wynona’s mane and tail, along with the tufts at her hooves, blazed brightly, while a horsehair plume of fire burst from the back of Grimm’s helmet and settled neatly behind him. They expected to feel a heat comparable to Hotland but instead they felt goosebumps form along their arms when a cold even more bitter than Snowdin envelop the room, it had become so cold that it was near impossible to breathe without coughing. With his freed hand, he opened his palm, letting the fire from his helmet slither down his arm and pool into his grasp. His fingers curled into a fist, and when they opened again, an axe of roaring blue flame had formed in his hand.

"Show off..." Wynona murmured softly as she started approaching the human, her hooves leaving a trail of ice with each step she took.

"This is the end of the line for you, human." they let out a shuddered breath as Wynona lowered her body, blowing vapor from out of her nostrils while her hooves dug into he marble floor, getting ready to charge.

*The Headless Horsemen, Grimm and Wynona, stand in your way.

[FIGHT] ♡ [ACT] [ITEM] [MERCY]

♡ *Grimm

*Wynona

*Check ♡ *Talk

*Beg *Cry

*You attempt to-

The conversation was cut short because Grimm didn’t even wait for the human to finish their sentence. Wynona surged forward in a sudden dash, carrying him past his target, and in one swift motion, he sliced their head clean from their neck. He let out a cold breath as he threw his axe over his shoulder, watching as their head and body tumble to the floor, frost forming over the stumps so no blood spills over the marble floor.

"You didn't even give them a chance." he huffed.

"Of course I didn't, I said I wouldn't." he rolled his neck as he slid off of Wynona's back, he approached the soul that rose out of their body and knelt down before it "And with this final soul, we will-"

"I see. I don't suppose you can go easy on them, could you? Try and make their death as merciful as you can?" Grimm's head snapped up when he found himself back in the throne room kneeling before Asgore with Winnie by his side, his head in his hands instead of on his neck. Asgore tilted his head when he saw Grimm looking around in confusion, Winnie sensed his unease and gently nuzzled her head against his side.

"Are you alright, Grimm?" he blinked.

"U-Um, didn't we just have this conversation?" Winnie and Asgore share a look, this time they were confused.

"No...? You've just come from the resort."

"Yeah. It's our turn to deal with the human now." he frowned, but didn't I just kill human? Did he imagine that whole encounter just now out of pure excitement to claim the last soul? His face scrunches up when his head started to ache, Winnie frowned and rubbed her head against his side again "Are you sure you're alright? You're not one to get distracted."

"No... no, I'm good. Just had a crazy case of déjà vu." but was that really déjà vu? That felt way to real, he let out a sigh and ignored the throbbing in his head as he put his head on "Let's go get that human's soul."

"Hmm, if you say so." Winnie's tail flickered behind her but she lowered herself so Grimm could climb onto her back, he wraps her reins around his wrist and allows her to lead them out of the throne room and to the final corridor. And just like before, he found the human standing alone gripping onto a familiar looking blade while wearing a locket that belonged to the human from a distant past.

"So, here we are at last, human." they step out from the shadows and made their presence known, but the human didn't look as nervous as they did before, odd "I must commend you again, human, for making it this far. Most would have given up, but you didn't." Wynona snorted softly.

"But now, your actions here... will determine the fate of the entire world. If you refuse to fight..." Winnie grimaced, her ears pressing against her head as she glanced up at Grimm "then we will take your soul and present it to King Asgore."

"To which he will use it to destroy humanity. But if you kill Asgore and go home..."

"Monsters will remain trapped underground."

"What will you do?" they say in unison, Grimm chuckled as he adjusted the hold on his helmet.

"You didn't get this far by dumb luck, did you? That's right, you have something called "determination". But unfortunately for you, determination alone won’t stop me from taking your soul." if memory served him right, the moment he put his helmet on and allowed their shared magic to surround them, Winnie would charge forward so he could slice their head off. It was always impossible for their opponents to track their movements, they never knew what happened until their heads were rolling. So as he leaned over and swung his axe, intending to slice their head off, both his and Winnie's eyes widened in disbelief when the human ducked.

'I missed? I never miss!' the human gasped after ducking in order to dodge Grimm's swing, but even still, he barely missed them by a hair. They barely had enough time to take a breath when Grimm jumped off of Winnie's back, swinging his axe over his head and slamming it down on them, effectively killing them once more.

"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day where you'd miss." she grimaced when she saw the mangled mess that was of their human friend, she whined softly "But did you have to go that far?" he didn't answer as he stared intensely at the human's remains, still not accepting the fact that everything from before played out exactly as it did but not that instance. No, that human's head should have been cut off. It should have been impossible for them to dodge it like that, it would only be possible if they knew that's where he was going to swing it.

"I am... annoyed." he said as he raised his axe, blood dripping from the blade and dripping onto the floor "Like you said, I never miss." he throws his axe over his shoulder as he knelt down to the ground, raising his other hand to reach for the soul that was rising from their bod-

"I see. I don't suppose you can go easy on them, could you? Try and make their death as merciful as you can?" Grimm's head snapped up when he found himself in the throne yet again, the exact same scenario happening just as it did before for the third time. Asgore and Winnie noticing his confusion, asking him if he's alright but instead of asking if they had already had that conversation, he shook his head and answered Asgore's previous question. If what he thinks was happening is happening, he needed to test his theory one more time. Winnie was startled when he grabbed her reins and started pulling her out of the throne room, before she could even protest he threw himself onto her back and gently kicked at her side with his heel.

"What is up with you, Grimm? You're acting strange."

"It's nothing. I just need to test something."

"Test what?"

"It won't matter to you." she furrowed her brow in confusion but left him be. And yet again he found himself in the last corridor with Winnie stepping out of the shadows as they approached the lonely human, he sneered when he saw the way they looked at them with this confidence that was riddled with nerves. "So, here we are at last, human. I must commend you again, human, for making it this far. Most would have given up, but you didn't." he spoke with little to no emotions, already predicting the next line of dialogue after having repeated this scenario twice already.

"But now, your actions here... will determine the fate of the entire world. If you refuse to fight..." Winnie grimaced, her ears pressing against her head as she glanced up at him "then we will take your soul and present it to King Asgore."

"To which he will use it to destroy humanity. But if you kill Asgore and go home..."

"Monsters will remain trapped underground."

"What will you do?" they say in unison, he chuckled darkly as he adjusted the hold on his helmet.

"You didn't get this far by dumb luck, did you? That's right, you have something called "determination". But unfortunately for you, determination alone won’t stop me from taking your soul." he had a though as he placed his helmet on while summoning his axe, should he and Winnie go faster? Would they even be able to react in time if they did? But just like before, Winnie charged forward and when he attempted to slice their neck off, they ducked and avoided his blade. He leapt off of her back and intended to slam his blade down but they rolled out of the way even before it came down, before they could even right themself, he pressed his hand into the ground and a flurry of ice rushed towards the human and trapped them in a glacier like prison.

"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day where you'd miss." she grimaced when she saw the frozen mess that was of their human friend, she whined softly "But did you have to go that far?" he ignored her as he approached the human that was slowly succumbing to the ice that encased their body. He sneered at the sight of them and raised his axe once more and striking their frozen body, looking down upon their body that shattered into hundreds of pieces.

'So that's what you've been doing it, human.' he thought as he watched their soul rise from their body, but not even a second later, he was back in the throne room again as Asgore pleaded with him to show the human some mercy 'That's how you've survived so long in the Underground.'

"Fuck."

[with the human]

He's fast. He's too fast.

Sans wasn't kidding about being unable to outrun either of them, Wynona alone was fast but they didn't expect Grimm to be just as fast. Their biggest challenge before getting here would be a bounce between Papyrus, Muffet and Mettaton. They were able to get a grasp of their attack pattern a few deaths in and beat them, but Grimm was proving to be impossible. Unlike all the other monsters they've faced, where they've been able to [ATTACK] or [ACT] first, Grimm and Wynona attack them first. That instance where they tried talking to Grimm they were immediately met with the GAME OVER screen, not even realizing they had lost until they saw their soul shatter into pieces. Round two was the same, where they had just barely dodged his axe but was met with the same demise when it split them in two. And even the third time where they managed to dodge both his attacks they were swallowed by a block of ice in less than a second, he certainly earned his title as the Ice Butcher.

*The room drops in temperature as the Ice Butcher approaches.

What? Already? That was too quick, they usually had some time to prepare before Grimm and Wynona would appear but this was much faster than before. They raise their head at the sound of rushed footsteps, it didn't sound like Wynona's heavy steps or her armored hooves meeting the ground, they were heavy nonetheless and were coming straight for them. They saw a flicker of Grimm's flames through the shadows but were surprised when he seemed to have disappeared the moment he stepped into the light, their breath hitched when they saw a shadow cast over them.

"I now understand how you've been winning, human." they barely had enough time to jump out of the way when Grimm brought his axe down in an attempt to slice them in half, spikes of ice erupting from where his axe made contact "I am no longer blind to your abilities." he snarled as he ripped his axe out and started approaching them.

*You ask what he's talking about.

"You and I both know what I'm talking about." he snickered at the confusion on their face "I've killed you three times, have I not? And yet here we are again." their eyes widened in shock.

*You question how he's aware about that.

"I've always been well versed with the concept of death, after all, my very presence in human folklore was that of a harbinger of death." he glared at them "I noticed during your battle with Undyne and Mettaton that in the beginning you could barely keep up with their attacks, then all of a sudden you're predicting them before they even summon them. I couldn't figure out how you were getting a head of them, but I know now. They killed you, however many times they did until you figured out their attack patterns. But that tactic won't work on me, human."

*You ask what makes him so different from the other monsters.

"Because I won’t be so easily swayed like the others. I’ll keep killing you each time you come back, over and over, until you finally give up. I’ll be here, waiting, until you give up." they let out a shaky breath as the blue-flamed lanterns flared brighter with each of his steps. Ice and snow crept outward, slowly consuming the surroundings. "I’ll send you to your icy grave." he spoke as he lifted his blade from the ground, now holding his axe with both hands. In the blink of an eye he appeared right in front of the human, they couldn't do anything when he brought his axe down and cleaved them in half once more. He let out a breath as he lifted himself up, taking his helmet off and letting a few strands that weren't on fire fall over his shoulders just as he heard Winnie rush into the corridor.

"Grimm, why did you- wha... what happened?" she approached him and winced at the sight of the human's mangled body "Did you have to go that far?" he ignored her as he watched the human's blood start pooling around them but started to freeze when they made contact with his feet, he watched as their soul rose out of their body and just like the previous times he found himself back in the throne room.

Grimm and the human had long since lost track of how many times they’d been caught in this endless cycle of death. Each time the human tried, and failed, to learn his attack patterns, Grimm would switch tactics. He never gave them a chance to act first, he didn’t wait for their turn. The moment they returned, he struck, not even allowing them a word before the fight began. On their fifty-sixth attempt, they managed to survive long enough for him to unveil something other than his axe. They spotted a blue attack surge toward them, and instinct told them to stop moving. That was their mistake. The attack still struck their soul, drawing a pained grunt from them, and when they tried to move, their limbs dragged sluggishly, weighed down by the magic. This was one of Grimm’s unique techniques, born of his mastery over ice and snow. The spell was meant to deceive: tricking his opponents into freezing in place, only to slow their movements when it made contact. They suffered under this attack more than twenty times before finally learning to evade it. Yet even then, every time they adapted, Grimm unveiled something new.

He had to admit though, this was the most fun he’d had in centuries. Grimm couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been able to unleash his full arsenal. During the war, he’d always held back, careful not to let his magic spill over and harm his allies. Gerson had been one of the few who could truly keep up with him, someone who could even push him to the point of breaking a sweat. Now, though, the cycle gave him freedom. Every time the human fell, they returned at the exact same moment, body restored to a perfect state. Where Grimm should have been overexerting himself, hammering them with relentless attack after attack, the reset wiped all strain clean. And every time the human learned to endure one of his techniques, he found himself almost eager, thrilled, even, to unveil another. Sometimes he caught himself hoping they would adapt, just so he could reveal something new, or better yet, weave his attacks together into devastating combinations.

The human knew this would be their hardest battle yet. They couldn’t even properly interact with the [ACT] option, forced instead to survive by dodging and scraping by on the scraps their inventory could hold. Grimm gave them no time, no chance, to go on the offensive. On their eighty-seventh attempt, however, they finally managed to interact with the [ATTACK] option. Timing it perfectly, they struck the bar dead center. But the brief spark of triumph was crushed by a cruel reminder: Grimm was not like the others. Instead of standing there and taking the blow, he slipped out of the way with ease. In that moment of shock, he froze them solid in a block of ice. And yet, even this seemed to delight him. Grimm relished the fact that the human was improving, now even daring to strike back. In return, he met their attacks with effortless dodges, and sometimes, with the added cruelty of a perfect parry.

It was during their one hundred and twelfth attempt did Grimm start questioning them.

"Why do you keep coming back, human?" he asked after kicking them down, tilting his head to the side when they weakly pushed themself back onto their feet, going so far as to wiping their sweat drenched forehead "You know you're not going to win, and yet you keep trying. I haven't seem someone as stubborn as you since Undyne when she was about your age." the human took this chance to eat a few items from their [INVENTORY] to replenish their health when it depleted after tanking Grimm's ice attacks.

*You struggle to find the answer to his question, the cold and fatigue making it difficult to think of an answer.

"Wanting to go home can't just be your only goal, right? Most children would have given up a long time ago with the psychological damage countless deaths would do to them. You must have a different goal now." his fire flared up as he readies to launch another barrage of attacks yet waits to hear a definitive answer from the human, more curious than anything as to why this human could keep going despite suffering over a hundred deaths by his hands.

*Instead of answering, you ask him why he's so hellbent on keeping you here.

"Hah, isn’t it obvious? For you to leave the Underground, you’ll have to kill Asgore. And I can’t let that happen. The last thing we need is to lose another member of the royal family to you humans." whether intentional or not, the human caught the venom laced in his words.

If their memory served them right, the story the monsters had told them spoke of a tragedy long ago, when the former prince and his human friend had died, the entire monster race had been thrown into disarray. Unlike most monsters from that era, nearly all of whom had long since perished, Grimm was one of the unfortunate few still alive. He had witnessed the Dreemurr family’s downfall with his own eyes, once a picture of love and harmony, torn apart because of the humans. They had taken so much already, but when their precious son Asriel died alongside his human friend, it became the final straw. Grimm had stood there as Asgore, broken by grief, was forced to become a symbol of hope for his people, in the cruelest way imaginable.

So Grimm had come to hate humans with an unfathomable rage. It was the humans who stripped the monsters of their freedom, chaining them to this underground prison. It was the humans who took the life of their prince. It was the humans who dragged them all to the edge of hopelessness. He could never forgive them for the ruin they had caused. And so Grimm and the other monsters were willing to do the dirty work so that Asgore would not have to stain his own hands red, it was the least he could do for his grief stricken friend who had lost his entire family within one night.

"So I ask again, human, why are you still trying? You're never going to win against me, so why do you still bother to get up?" they sniffle to themself, wiping at the blood that dripped from their nose from falling on their face to dodge one of his attacks.

*You don't answer but instead ask a question of your own.

*You ask Grimm why he's willing to stay in this endless loop to keep them at bay.

"As I said, the last thing I need is for you to kill Asgore just so you can go home. We can't afford to lose him since the Queen disappeared, and I don't believe you can talk your way out of it either. One of you is going to have to die, and I'd much rather prefer it to be you." the fire from his lanterns erupted and surrounded the two of them "Enough, if you're not going to answer my question, then perish." they take a breath as they stand up straight despite the shake in their knees.

*You ask if shouldering this burden is worth it.

"Wha-" he blinked in surprise, his posture faltering at their question.

*You ask if staying here with them, just to keep them at bay, is worth it.

"I- of course."

*You tell him that being stuck here with them means that everyone else, too, is stuck in their own loop.

*But unlike him, who is aware each time, they are left unaware that they've been repeating the same moment hundreds of times.

*Are you willing to live with that just to keep one person alive?

"You…" His face twitched beneath the helmet, jaw clenched as his grip on the axe tightened. The flames around him surged higher, blazing in fury. "What do you know?! If I let you kill Asgore, we’ll be thrown into chaos once more! How could I allow that when our freedom is finally within reach?! You’d be doing us all a favor if you just died and surrendered your soul!" he slammed his foot against the ground, sending fire racing outward. The blaze spread across the floor, instantly freezing into solid ice. Reaching back, he seized the flames trailing from his helmet and tore his head free. What followed forced the human to clap their hands over their ears. A bloodcurdling scream, sharp and shrill like a banshee’s wail, erupted from Grimm’s throat. The sound shattered glass panes and ruptured their eardrums, leaving nothing but ringing agony. He takes their inability to move as his chance to finally kill them, he grimaced as he held his head loosely in his hand, startled that the human got under his skin.

Dammit.

From that moment on, Grimm’s strikes grew ruthless. He was no longer playing with them, he was actively trying to kill them. Every ounce of his arsenal was unleashed in relentless succession, and yet, no matter what he hurled at them, the human kept coming back. With each return, they grew sharper, learning how to dodge and minimize the damage. Little by little, they began surviving long enough to [ATTACK]. Still, Grimm never let their blows land, his speed kept him untouchable, and a single mistake on their part meant being cleaved clean in two. But after their one hundred and forty-eighth death, the human began to notice something. Subtle, almost imperceptible, yet undeniable. Grimm was starting to tire. They began to notice the cracks, how his breathing turned uneven whenever he pushed the pace of his attacks, or how his banshee’s scream no longer carried as long as it once had.

Sans was right, if you can tire him out, that would be your best bet in beating him.

"Why… why won’t you die?!" Grimm roared, his breath ragged as he swung in a wide, rotating slash aimed straight at the human’s soul. The magic to slow their movement should have doomed them, yet they endured, taking only half the damage and surviving the brutal arc of his attack. His voice cracked with fury and disbelief. "What are you trying to prove by coming back?!” the human let out a shaky breath of their own, pulling another item from their [INVENTORY] to heal the damage his attack had done.

*You tell him that you wish to go home.

*But you also tell him that you don't wish to hurt him nor Asgore just to achieve it.

"And you expect me to believe that just because you didn't hurt the other monsters to get here? The only way for you to go home is to kill Asgore, our king, my friend, and I'm not going to let that happen." he tore his head free once more, unleashing a shrill, piercing cry to stun them. Grimm’s jaw tightened when it only staggered them for a second before they shook it off, weaving through the deadly barrage of ice he hurled to impale them.

*You point out that his unresolved anger for what the human's did in the past is making him act irrational.

"Well of course it's unresolved, we don't exactly how a trained therapist down here in the Underground who would understand my issues."

*You tell him that you just want to help.

"I told you how you can help. Just give me your soul, and all of this will be resolved." he tells them as he puts his head back on, the fire from his helmet slowly consuming his head as his temper started to boil over "Why is it so hard for you to understand that there's nothing you can do to stop me? You can't kill me, and you can't convince me to stop. I won't let you be what stands in the way of the future for monsterkind." they let out a dry cough, constantly inhaling the cold air Grimm's magic was emitting always made it hard for them to breathe.

*You tell him that his actions, though noble, it is not what the Underground needs.

"Not… what it needs?" he growled, ripping his helmet off and tossing both it and his axe aside as he advanced on the human. They backed away in panic but slipped on the ice, forced to lie helplessly as he drew closer. Pressing themselves flat against the frozen floor, they froze when he slammed his foot down beside their head and leaned in until they were face to face. The fire fully engulfed his head, revealing a skull wreathed in flame and as he spoke, small bursts of fire escaped with every word "Not what it needs?! What would you know what we needed?! Please, enlighten me. Tell me what my people need. Tell me what you can do to help us. How can you, a mere human child, save us from our life of imprisonment?!" the more he raged the more his fire grew, it was so out of control that the frostbite already forming on their body became worse.

*You tell him, albeit it in the form of a weak whisper, that you truly don't want to hurt anyone.

*You tell him that you want to go home.

*But you also don't want to leave behind your friends.

"Well, that’s life for you, kid. We can’t all get what we want, can we? You can’t have both, human, you only get one choice, and sometimes it isn’t the one you want." he leaned back, gripping his temples as his fire flickering around him, voice dripping with venom "If only that human hadn’t died… if only the prince hadn’t found that child… none of this would be happening. We don’t need your help, because the last time we placed our faith in a human, it was your kind that stripped us of our hope." he soon reached down and clamped his hand around their throat, his ice cold touch freezing them as he strangled them.

*You tell him, with a voice you could barely muster, that you promise you'll give them hope once more.

"And I ask you again," he starts, tightening his grip around their throat and watched it crack under his hold "how will you do that? How can I believe you'll achieve something so impossible?" he flinched when he saw their hand reach for him, despite the pain they were suffering, their hand tapped gently against his and they smiled.

*You say that if you can make the most stubborn and bitter person in the Underground hesitate, then nothing is impossible.

He flinched at their words before slamming his hand into their head, effectively crushing their head. His breath came in ragged pants as their voice echoed in his mind. Hesitate? Was he… hesitating? No, there was no reason for him to hesitate. And yet… perhaps the endless cycle of death was finally wearing him down. Perhaps he really was beginning to miss Winnie, it had been so long since he’d last spoken to her. Every time he returned to that moment in the throne room, he ordered her not to follow, to stay by Asgore’s side while he dealt with the human. Each time she resisted, he grew harsher, more forceful in his demands. Maybe that was why he had snarled at her. Why his voice had risen in a way it never had before. Was he scaring her?

"Oh, Wynona..." he pressed his hand to his forehead, their blood smearing all over his pale skin. The roaring flames around him slowly started dying down as well as his own initial anger, his hair fell over his shoulders as he battled with the dilemma of continuing this cycle or... letting the human go. There were too many cons in letting the human past him, he just couldn't trust them not to take their last light of hope away. They have all been suffering for so many centuries that if he could just take their soul, everything will finally go their way... but-

"I see. I don't suppose you can go easy on them, could you? Try and make their death as merciful as you can?" Winnie pouted softly, knowing that Grimm would never grant something like that to a human, no less a child. She glanced up at him from where she was bowing but blinked when she saw the distant look on Grimm's face, even Asgore noticed this and he reached for him "Grimm, my friend, are you alright?" he stood in silence for just moment before letting out a tired exhale.

"I'm... tired." this earned him a confused look, they've barely done anything and he's tired. Winnie opened her mouth to question him but stopped when he lifted his head up and placed it on his neck, he then turned to her and gently rubbed up and down her muzzle "Wait for me here, won't you?"

"But-" the tired look in his eyes had her taking a breath "You... aren't going to do anything stupid, are you?" he chuckled weakly.

"I might." she huffed and answered by nuzzling her head against his.

"You better tell me what you did afterward." he returned her gesture of affection before patting her head.

"I will." he bows his head to Asgore before proceeding to make his way to the final corridor, and just like the previous attempts, the human stood their waiting for his arrival. They were surprised, however, when he didn't attack them right away but instead entered the hall with his helmet off and a conflicted look on his face "Human... will you truly spare Asgore? You won't... take him from us?" their eyes widened, were they finally able to get through to Grimm.

*You tell him that you swear that you fully intend to spare Asgore, that you do not wish to take his life to achieve your goal.

"But can I really trust you?" he pressed a hand to his face as he shook his head "How can I trust you to keep your word? Perhaps it was our fault for putting it all onto a child, but how can I put my faith in a human child again? How can I know that you'll hold up to your promise to help us?" he didn't know why he was starting to feel emotional, how his hair caught a light and started burning again as snow started falling, he blinked when he felt something against his leg so he looked down and saw the human placed a hand on his knee.

*You tell him that he can trust you.

*You are determined to give the monsters the ending they deserve.

"We deserve, huh?" the human took a step back when Grimm knelt down to look them in the eye, he reached forward and gently placed his hand on their head and this time they saw a genuine look in his eyes "I better now regret letting you go, human." he was startled when they human threw themself into his arms, his hands hovered over their body before finally wrapping around them and falling into an embrace. They sat like that for a few moments before Grimm finally let them go, he cleared his throat as he looked away but the human didn't miss the small hue of blue dusting his cheeks "Get out of here kid, before I change my mind." they giggle to themself as the skip past him.

*You tell him that he won't regret his decision.

"I... really hope I don't." he muttered to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck, it wasn't until moments later did Winnie come trotting into the hall with a look of disbelief on her face.

"You let the human through? You, of all people, spared a human?" he waved her off.

"If I told you what happened, you wouldn't believe me."

"Well I highly doubt that human beat you, there's neither of scratch of either of you. Nor is there any damage anywhere." she snickered softly, her tail swaying side to side "And you said they wouldn't be able to sway you with their words." he made a face.

"They more or less... taunted me into letting them pass."

"What?" he waved his hand once more "What do you think will happen between the human and Asgore? Do you think they'll be able to hold their own since they didn't fight you?" she didn't see that he made a face.

"I think they'll be fine. They made it this far, didn't they?" if they can survive his attacks, I'm sure they can survive against Asgore, unscathed if they really pushed it.

"But you're convinced that the human will spare Asgore? You wouldn't have let them through if that wasn't the case." he smoothed his hair down when he felt it start to burn again.

"I wouldn't say that I'm convinced, but I'm sure that human doesn't have any ill intentions." her ears flickered as she looked him up and down.

"Who are you? What the hell happened in that moment you were gone? I feel like you're an entirely different person." he shrugged.

"You could say I had a lot of time to reflect." she rolled her eyes.

"Sure." she then pumped her body into his "Well, why don't we go check on the human and Asgore?"

"You want to watch their battle?" she shook her head.

“No, we’ll just wait outside. I’m sure we can eavesdrop on their battle.” He rolled his eyes but agreed nonetheless, it wasn’t like they had anything better to do. They walked side by side toward the barrier, but paused when the hallway greeted them with an eerie silence. Was the battle already over? Surely not enough time had passed. He didn’t even realize he had broken into a jog until Winnie called out, urging him to slow down, insisting it was probably nothing. He clenched his jaw, ignoring her, and pushed forward at a quicker pace. Bursting into the chamber of the barrier, his eyes widened, there was no trace of the human, no Asgore, not even the souls. The barrier was still intact, so that could only mean tha-

"No..." he spoke out weakly.

"What? What? Where is Asgore?" she stopped when she saw him fall to his knees, peering over his shoulder, her eyes widened when she saw the pile of dust. She looked between it and Grimm and saw how his face twisted in anguish and rage, she opened her mouth to say something but took a step back when he slammed his fists into the ground and a flurry of ice exploded around them.

"That liar... that fucking liar!" he shouts as spikes formed from the ice, he threaded his fingers through his hair and started pulling at it "They said I could trust them... they said I wouldn't regret my decision, but Asgore is dead and it's all my fault!" he exclaims as he starts to cry, his magic was out of control to the point that his tears were turning to ice.

"You can't blame yourself, Grimm. You... you couldn't have known."

"But I did! I never should have let them past, because now... I've lost my best friend." he sobs as he buries his face into his hands "I've doomed us all. The souls are gone, Asgore is dead and that human got out scot free." Winnie looked down at Grimm as he wept silently, sniffling to softly before taking a seat beside him.

"What... do we do now?" he didn't answer immediately, instead, he looked at the pile of dust before him.

"... what can we do but give up." her eyes widened.

"G-Give up? But why?"

"We lost the souls so we're back at square one, and it takes centuries for humans to fall into the Underground. We can't break the barrier on our own, and our future is looking bleak. I don't know what to do anymore." he said as he slumped against her "What more can we do?"

"I... don't know." Grimm had lost that last bit of hope that human managed to light inside him now that Asgore was gone, at this rate, all the hard work the monsters did just to get those souls were going to be in vain. And what was he supposed to tell the public? That he let the human go because they swore they weren't going to kill the king? It was all his fault this happened in the first place. If only he hadn't given them a chance, if only he kept-

"But you're convinced that the human will spare Asgore? You wouldn't have let them through if that wasn't the case." Winnie blinked when she saw a fresh wave of tears drip down Grimm's face, she gently nudged his side in concern as she looked him up and down "Grimm? Are you-- why are you crying?" he gasped as he looked around in confusion, finding himself and Winnie in the final corridor once more. Before any words could be shared, he rushed past Winnie to get to the barrier room where Asgore and the human were, he practically kicked the throne room doors open and trampled over Asgore's golden flowers just to get to the human.

"You..." he snarled upon seeing the human at the end of the hallway, just outside the room that would lead to the barrier. He marched right up to them and proceeded to grab them by the collar of their shirt and slam them into the wall, the tears from before frozen on his face as his hair was set ablaze once more "You lied! You said you'd spare him! You said you'd help us, and what do I find? Him dead, and you gone! I never should have trusted you, I never should have..." his words got caught in his throat when he saw the human shake under his grip, he leaned down to look at their face and blinked in surprise when he saw that they were crying too.

*You tell him, through your tears, that you didn't kill him.

"If you didn't, then who did? There was no one else here but you."

*You tell him that you can't say who, but you didn't wish for him to die.

"Is that why you're back? Because of a guilty conscience?" at that moment Winnie entered the hall, she began to approach but stopped when he glared at her to stay back "Why did you come back? Do you think I'm going to trust you again after what you did? I can't trust you again, human." their hands slowly lift from their sides and gently grasp at his wrist.

*You tell him that things are going to be different.

"Please, elaborate. Tell me why I should let you go. Why should I put my faith in you again?"

*You tell him that you need to meet up with Papyrus so you can hangout with Undyne.

"Wha- Undyne?" he sputtered out in confusion "What does Undyne have to do with this?"

*You tell him, after a moment of silence, that you still need to be friend her.

...

...

"What?" maybe leaving the human will save him the headache, but even if she were to kill them, they'd just come back. Could he risk letting the human go after what happened with Asgore? Maybe it was better because now they have their eyes set on someone else, as cruel as that sounded, but what could he do? "You're really going to hang out with Undyne?" they weakly nod their head.

*You tell him that you promised Papyrus that you would.

"Hmm, of course you did." he murmured as he pinched the bridge of his nose, somewhat forgetting the phone call the human had with Papyrus while Undyne was chasing them into the Hotland. If what they said is true, that they really weren't the one that killed Asgo- no, who else could have done it? There's no other way to get into that room without having passed himself and Winnie, unless you're Sans' with his endless shortcuts. He exhaled deeply before finally putting the human down, he pinches the bridge of his nose and opened his mouth to say something but let out a grunt when he felt the human collide into him. His face fell when they proceeded to cry into his legs so he gently placed one hand on their head while the other pressed against their back, rubbing circles in a form of comfort. Winnie couldn't help but watch in astonishment as Grimm comforted the child he was previously threatening, he was like a totally different person.

*You tell him that you're sorry that you let Asgore die.

"Kid, I..." he grimaced before kneeling down to be eye to eye with them, they sniffled as they looked up at him "I'm sure you tried your best, and if you can survive me, then I'm sure you can get through anything without so much of a fuss. Don't make me regret trusting you again." an oof left his lips when they pulled him into a hug again, he sighed softly and gently pat their back and let them stay there for however long they needed. A couple seconds later and they finally let go of him but they rubbed at their eyes to wipe away the tears, sniffling softly to themself.

*You thank him for placing his trust in you again, and promise that he won't regret it.

"I better not, or I'll slice you in half again." he stands up straight and looks towards Winnie "Take them to Waterfall, they've got a date with a fish." she looks between him and the human in shock.

"B-But-- what did I just--" he gives her a stern look.

"Wynona." she blinked before letting out a sigh.

"Alright, alright. But you're telling me what's got you acting all mushy with that human." he picks the human up just as Winnie approach them both and placed them on her back, he ruffled their head and smiled softly when they laughed.

"Now get going, or else Papyrus will call you again." he ignores the look they give him, wondering how he knew about that. With that he was left alone once more with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.

grimm acts as the sans of the pacifist and neutral route, where it is near impossible to beat him unless you tire him out and constantly talk to him using [act].

he isn't completely aware of game resets either, just that whenever he's around where frisk has died he will also reset to the moment in time before it happened.

he's much more aggressive and less willing to forgive if you've killed someone.

during genocide where you're about to kill sans, that's when he'll step in and protect him and you either fight one or both at the same time.

double trouble.

anyways-

for the rest of the game grimm and winnie act as a fast travel for frisk.

winnie off handedly mentions that grimm uses the lanterns they see around the underground to get around places quicker, like a shortcut.

so now, instead of going to the ferry man, they merely whisper to one of the lanterns and grimm will open a gateway for them to travel to wherever they need to go.

other than that, grimm plays a minimal role for the rest of the game, only popping on every now and then.