Chapter Text
Clover ran as fast as he could through Waterfall and Hotland he knew that if anything went wrong with the CORE the underground would face massive consequences.
"PA!" He called out as he entered the CORE, "I'm here, What's wrong?"
"Son,” Gaster said panicked, or as close to panicked as his monotone speech pattern could convey, ”the CORE's stabilizer has failed we must hurry before it destroys itself"
Clover and Gaster raced to the heart of the CORE.
Clover had never seen the CORE like this before, the energy that usually stayed beneath the bridges was flailing around the entire facility, like lighting on a stormy day.
"Clover we have to shut down the CORE in order to repair the stabilizer, go to the east path to and flip the emergency shutdown switch. I will go to the stabilizer."
Clover nodded and the pair began running down separate paths. Clover ran down the path, crouching in order avoid the energy whipping through the air. Once he made it to his destination he walked up to the switch and pressed it-
"Yaaaoowwww!"
The switch electrocuted him as soon as he touched it, burning his hand and completely frying itself. Clover pulled out his phone to talk to Gaster.
"Pa," he groaned, "the switch is fried, I cant turn it off."
"That is....unfortunate..”
“…….I will try to fix it with the power still on, meanwhile Clover, you should begin turning each of the power generators off one by….. one."
"Are either of those things safe," Clover asked, concerned for both his and his fathers safety.
"No....... but it is all we can do. Remember the entire underground relies on the CORE……. and we are currently the only ones who can fix it..”
“Right” Clover said as he hung up the phone while messaging his burned hand. After a moment of hesitation he began to run to the first power generator.
”Damn!” he exclaimed as he watched the energy flair around the first of the CORE’s generators, that stood away from the bridge on a pole over the sea of raging energy “If I survive this I’m askin’ Chara on a date the next time I see her.” He promised to himself. Considering his options he decided to take a leap of faith over the abyss deadly energy and onto generator, turning it off once he landed.
“hehehehe”
“heh heh heh HA!”
Clover laughed in relief as he clung onto the pole the generator was located on, watching the energy simmer down a tiny bit as a reaction to the generator’s shutdown.
“One down,” Clover announced while smiling, then frowning he said “to many more to go….” He then jumped back to the CORE’s bridge and started for the next one.
Gaster was frantically trying to re-wire the CORE’s stabilizer, while still keeping maintaining his calm demeanor that he was famous for. That was until the stabilizer shocked him, after his shock he looked down to see his hand beginning to pulse and ooze rapidly.
”No, no not now,” he muttered to himself, “the boy already worries about me enough as is. If he sees my form losing its shape he’ll never let me be alone again.”
Five years ago Gaster had a horrific accident in the lab that caused his body to begin melting in random places and at random times, through many experiments he had managed to slow and control this “melting,” he was still sure that he did not have much time left alive. If Clover were to find out about his condition, the young man would most likely get himself killed trying to find a solution, yes it is best that this is kept secret.
“Pa!” Gaster heard from his phone, “ I managed to get all the generators, I’m comin to you”
“No!” Gaster replied a bit too emotionally for Clover to believe his father was ok, “that is…… not necessary……. I can handle everything myself now….. thank you for your help son….. go explain to the Dreemurrs why the power is off”
“Alright” Clover responded hesitantly, “are you sure your ok?”
”Yes…… I am fine…… you better get going son, I am sure the king and Queen are wandering what has happened to the power……”
The CORE connected to the Dreemurr’s house so as soon as Clover hung up the phone he found himself outside of the the royal family’s front door
*knock *knock *knock
Clover waited awkwardly for someone to answer when he remembered the promise he made himself early “don’t be Chara” he thought to himself “I ain’t ready for that yet.”
Of course with Clover’s luck today the person who answered the door was obvious.
”Wow long time no see cowboy” Chara said sarcastically once she saw who knocked on the door, “did you enjoy that cinnamon bun?”
“I uh yeah I d-did”
…
…
”So, not that you are unwanted but why exactly are you here?” Chara asked desperate to break the silence.
“O-oh yeah, Pa wanted me to tell you that we had to shut down the CORE so he could fix it.”
”That would explain the blackout” Chara replied “honestly I could only tell it was you because of the silhouette of your hat, it’s to dark to see anything else.”
Clover was glad that Chara couldn’t see him, he must terrible due to burnt clothes and hand.
…
…
”So uh do you wanna come in?”
Clover realized that he had been standing in the doorway deciding if should ask Chara out for far to long, eventually he decided that he had nothing to lose and asked:
”Actually I was wandering if I could ask you something?”
"Oh," she inquired, "what is it"
"Well-"