Letters to the Future #5 [Alphys]

#4: Undyne -> http://pastebin.com/CwcKsDpr

Letters to the Future #5

[ALPHYS]

Hi!

I'm Alphys, the former Royal Scientist of King Asgore!

And I really don't want to write this letter!

All of this was my idea, but I actually really-really didn't want to write this letter!

I'm really bad at letters! I can never decide on the greeting, what to include, how to structure, what honorific to use, how much to praise, how to say goodbye and where to even end it! I'm actually quite terrible at this stuff! I tried making a machine to automate the process of taking lab notes, but I kept changing the parameters so often, that it blew up! I refurbished it into Mettaton's systems in the end, though I'm not sure if I ever removed the printer function.

So this is supposed to be a letter to myself. Dr. Alphys to Dr. Alphys, two minds collide. This is a terrible idea. I'm the worst person to dish out advises. I should really just set this paper on fire and be done with it, but Undyne would probably notice. Still, I guess there's a few things I could mention?

It's been almost a year now. Nobody can really remember and not even my cameras could record how exactly Frisk broke the barrier, but I don't think anyone really wanted to know. All that mattered was that we were free to rejoin humans on the surface again. The reception was a little... awkward, but everything turned out mostly fine. I think the only casualty was a dropped sandwich. Even a year later, we're still kind of settling in and-

OH MY GOD I LIVE TOGETHER WITH UNDYNE I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THIS IT'S THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME

I really should have written a first draft.

But it really is a dream come true. We haven't left each other's side since we've first see the sun together. Once monsters were allowed to hold property, we got a cozy little home, close to everyone else. It had room for some of my lab equipment, and everything she managed to recover from her old place in Waterfall. Living with someone, even if she's as wonderful as Undyne, isn't always easy. It took some time, a lot of effort, and I'm sure it'll take even more of both as we go on.

Undyne snores. I hog the pillows. She drools on the pillows she manages to keep, while I mumble silly things while asleep. I worry when she's out training for her new job, she's worried whenever she comes home to find me just slumming on the couch. We learn a lot about each other, how similar and how different we are.

There's so much stuff here on the surface! The garbage dump really deserved the name, we only got a glimpse of all the things humans have had all this time. So much anime, food, little figurines and collectibles, giant piles of info on the human version of the Undernet. I've worked with some expert and it was actually pretty easy to transfer a lot of the Undernet data to the internet. Connections are a whole lot better now, so basically not one, but two worlds opened up for everyone, both real and digital! There's definitely a lot of interest on both sides, too. Humans have been very curious about our history since the war, while I keep seeing monsters creep into local bookstores, so much that they're ordering extra copies of even the more mundane books. I've even seen Sans pick out a book on physics, although he later claimed he was just looking for some new science jokes.

Still haven't tried re-applying as the Royal Scientist. Frisk helped a lot with disassembling the lab, both above and below. I don't want to risk anyone endangering themselves with any equipment or materials left behind, especially down there. We agreed that some things would best remain undiscovered. As we sealed the doors for the last time, we left nothing but empty rooms behind. There's still a lot of knowledge hidden in there, but that's for another day. Maybe when I'm ready. For now I'm much happier being a freelancer. Tinkering with and upgrading toys, household appliances and electronics is a great deal less stressful. A neighbor even brought us cookies after I fixed her mixer!

I conducted a few basic examinations on Frisk, once things started settling down. We consulted my findings with human doctors, and they agreed that aside from some minor vitamin deficiencies, they were healthy, if a bit on the underdeveloped side. Neither their time in the Underground, the barrier's destruction, or even all the monster food really changed them much. The report was both relieving, and a little upsetting. Both Asgore and Toriel have kept their arms wrapped much tighter around them since. I think they're growing fine. They've got strong arms to support them.

I run weekly check-ups on the Amalgamates, to see if there's any change. I don't know what I expect to find. There's never anything. Maybe that's a good thing. They're stable, which is more than I could ask for. Undyne or Frisk usually accompany me as well. It helps to know they're with me, but it's still embarrassing. They and their families are always so kind, completely ignoring everything else for just the joy of seeing their loved ones again. I really admire how positive they are.

Hi.

I'm Alphys. I used to be the Royal Scientist.

I like to hang around junk, when my mood is just as rotten.

But lately, nobody lets me do that.

It's good to have friends like these.

I don't know how different you and I will be in a year. Maybe we'll get over everything and go back to being a hard-working scientist under Asgore. Maybe it'll get worse and I end up relocating to the landfills permanently. Or maybe nothing special will happen at all.

Going by this year though, there's one thing I can say for sure.

Never underestimate how much the people you love might love you back. Whenever you trip and fall, grab onto the hand offered and let them pull you back to your feet. Own up and remember your mistake, but never again let it break your step.

An honest heart beats a little stronger every day.