Part ??A - Stage Front Dancin'

''Aurora and Enflared walked into the room at the end of the Heart's Core. The door shut behind them and Enflared shrugged. Enflared turned around started to take a step forward when he saw Jackie, sitting in the middle of the large room staring at them. Enflared slowly put his foot down and waved.''

Enflared: O- Oh. Hi Jackie.

A smirk came across Jackie's screen as she waved back.

Jackie: Hello Enflared, darling.

Enflared: Let me guess... you aren't gonna let us past, are you?

Jackie: Nope. We're at the "big climax" where I'll try to kill the human again, but Josh will come in and "shut me down." Saving you once again.

Enflared: Oh. Josh is putting on an act?

Jackie: Yup. He wants the human to trust him so much that he can convince them to avoid going to Sam.

Enflared looked away, his smile fading.

Enflared: Oh... I should have guessed.

Jackie: But I think it's time to turn the tides!~

''Jackie pulled out a tiny remote and pressed a button on it. Aurora and Enflared heard the door click behind them. They suddenly heard pounding on the door.''

Josh: G- Guys? Th- The door is jammed! L- Let me in!

Jackie: Sorry Joshua, but the original program has been cancelled!

Jackie pressed another button on the remote and the floor they were standing on suddenly began to shake, like they were in a massive elevator.

Jackie: It's time to get the REAL show on the road! Give it your all darlings!~

Battle start!

???: *Jackie emerges!

''Aurora turned to Enflared, a nervous expression crossing her face. Enflared shook his head and gave her a patient smile.''

Enflared: Don't worry Aurora, we'll get through this.

Aurora nodded and spared Jackie.

Jackie: Really darling? Come on! We need to make this performance exciting! Give it your all!

Enflared's smile faltered and he began to sweat.

Enflared: *This really does not bode well...

Enflared: Hey Jackie, do we really need to do this? I mean, can't you just let us slip past?

Jackie: In any normal situation, I would... but... I'm doing this not only for the show but...

Jackie: You know that Sam has suffered too much... and I just don't want him to go through more pain than he needs. You know?

''Enflared sighed and nodded. Jackie turned Aurora's soul yellow and launched a few boxes her way. Aurora shot some of the boxes and dodged the rest, then looked back at Jackie nervously and she began to wrack her brain.''

Aurora: S- Surely there must be something we can do to convince you to let us past.

Jackie: Listen "darling," I've made up my mind, and I decided I don't want the king to have more stress than he needs.

Enflared's breathing began to sound a little funny and he started tapping his foot.

Jackie: Is something wrong Enflared?

Enflared: Y- Yeah... just a little winded... the other puzzles were a l- little endurance testing. M- my inhaler went missing earlier this week a- and I'm just feelin' a little funny.

Jackie: Oh dear! That isn't good at all! I can't have you in this much pain! Hmm. Oh! I know!~

Jackie pulled a tiny piece of metal out of her body and handed it to Enflared.

Jackie: Here, Josh installed one into this body for if something like this were to ever happen. But please do be more careful Enflared.

Enflared took a moment to use it, then he sighed with relief and gave it back to Jackie.

Enflared: Thanks Jackie.

Jackie: No problem Enflared, darling!~

Enflared: *Now, back to the task at hand...

Enflared: Jackie, what if we can find a peaceful way to break the barrier without Sam needing to hurt anyone?

Jackie: Well I don't know about that, I might be smart, but I'm not as scientifically endowed as you are.

Jackie: If there is a solution, the camera IS rolling darling! Speak your heart out!~

''Enflared nodded and began to think, in the meantime, Jackie sent out tiny bots that began shooting homing heart bombs at Aurora. Aurora ran in a circle a few times until all of the bombs were gone. All of a sudden, Aurora's phone began to ring and Jackie paused for a moment.''

Jackie: Oh? Is that your phone? You'd better answer it.

Aurora picked up the phone and put it up to her ear.

Josh: H- Hey... I- I don't know how good the reception is in there... b- but listen carefully...

Josh: There's a switch on th- the back of Jackie. I- If you press that, y- you should be able to take the upper hand!

''Aurora nodded and hung up, then whispered the information into Enflared's ear. Enflared's eyes lit up and he nodded.''

Enflared: Hey Jackie, before I give you that answer, why don't you use this pocket mirror to ensure you look your best?

Jackie: Oh thank you Enflared darling! You really are the best! Give me one moment!~

''Jackie turned around and began to use the mirror. Enflared nodded at Aurora and Aurora nodded back. Aurora quietly snuck up behind Jackie and flipped the switch.''

Jackie: Oh. You're good.

''All of a sudden, Jackie dropped the mirror and began to shake, her screen flashing multiple colors, until the room erupted with a bright light. All of a sudden, the room was dark.''

Jackie: Oh my, you flipped my switch. How very clever.

Jackie's voice suddenly sounded less metallic and more soft.

Jackie: That means one thing, you're excited to see the debut of my TRUE body.

Enflared: Wh- What?

Jackie: I'm not really a robot. I'm actually a human.

Jackie: Josh made that robot body special, so the longer my human body was in it, the more perfect it would become, turning me into the most perfect, beautiful gal you'd ever meet. If you flipped my switch, that means you really want to see the REAL me.

Jackie: Well if that's what you want, then I'll give you a reward.

Enflared: A- A reward...?

Jackie: Indeed. Even if my body isn't perfect, I'd just hope it isn't ugly. Well, lights on then!~

''Suddenly, the room flashed and the lights were back on. Standing in front of them was a beautiful, taller woman wearing a white t-shirt and a yellow flower in her hair. She had deep amethyst eyes and a perfect hourglass figure.''

Jackie: Shall we get this show on the road?

''Enflared's jaw nearly hit the floor. He quickly and violently shook his head, putting his focus back on the battle.''

???: *The real Jackie makes her debut.

''In this battle, there are a few acting options. Check is still there like normal, and just like the normal Mettaton EX battle, there is the option to strike a pose. However, there are also a few new options, with heckle being replaced with "Joke," there is an option to flirt, and just the option to talk normally. Aurora struck a pose and Jackie applauded, then struck a pose as well. (The option to pose when damage hasn't been taken yet is +20 to the ratings, +50 at half HP, and +100 at 1 HP)''

Jackie: Finally! Putting some action into it! I love your style!~

Jackie turned to Enflared and smiled.

Jackie: So Enflared, darling, be honest with me. How do I look? I want your thoughts.

Enflared: You- You're the most beautiful woman I think I've ever seen.

("Honesty" adds 250 to the ratings) Jackie's face flushed slightly and a warm smile crossed her face.

Jackie: You're too kind darling! I owe you a little something after this for all of your kindness~

Enflared quickly shook his head and regained his focus.

''Enflared: *Now is not the time to be losing my cool! I need to focus!''

Enflared: All of that aside, how high would the ratings for this performance need to be for you to let us past?

Jackie thought for a moment, then chuckled.

Jackie: Tell you what Enflared, darling. If you can get my ratings to 150,000, then I'll let you past early.

Enflared's eyes lit up as he saw the ratings were at 3852 and he nodded.

Enflared: Deal.

(Mutual agreement, which is a rating that can only really go up at that moment brings the ratings up by 150.)

Jackie: Fabulous!~ Let the show commence then!~

''Most of Jackie's attacks at the beginning are similar to that of Mettaton, with miniature Jackies shooting small homing projectiles, as well as bombs and boxes that the player could shoot, so there isn't a lot to say about her attack patterns during the first portion of the battle. Just know that Aurora survives that first attack, gaining a few rating boosts with having close calls with dodging 5 projectiles. (Every "Close Call" boost increases the current ratings by 10, but each consecutive close call increases that number by 10, capping at 150, where the cycle would start again.)''

''Aurora reached into her pocket and pulled out the stick. She tossed the stick and Jackie did a flip, catching the stick. (This can only be done once, but the "fetching" rating increases the current ratings by 500.) Jackie pointed at Aurora and winked.''

Jackie: Nice toss darling~

Aurora: Thanks!

''Enflared: *Argh! Stop getting flustered and focus you idiot!''

''An idea came to Enflared. He took a deep breath and put on a brave face.''

Enflared: Ok, I have an answer the question of another possible way of breaking the barrier.

This one instance, the "Dramatic Suspense" rating appears, which increases ratings by 200 for what is a very obvious reason.

Jackie: Oh? Well go ahead then darling! The audience is just DYING to know your answer!~

Enflared: Well, I know it is a rough spot, but think about... her. She crossed the barrier with only one soul! If that's how it works, couldn't we just get someone to cross over, and relate to the humans enough for them to open the barrier?

This gives a rating increase called "Irrefutable Logic," which increases the ratings by 2000.

Jackie: That- wow! That's the most brilliant idea I've ever heard! Multiple people could cross over and convince them to free us!

Jackie gave Enflared a hug and winked.

Jackie: This is why you're the most brilliant mind in the underground darling! Almost EVERY idea you have had has bettered our lives somehow!~

Jackie: We'd all be lost without you, darling~

Enflared's face turned bright red and he began to laugh nervously.

Enflared: I- I think you're overexaggerating Jackie.

Jackie: Nonsense! You BUILT The Heart's Core! You made the armor for the Royal Guard and you built that one statue for your friends!~

Jackie: You're a shoulder that nearly EVERYONE in the underground can cry on! Without you, we'd all be mindless zombies, darling!~

''The "Utter Truth" rating appears here, which increases the ratings by 250. Jackie lets go of Enflared, and moves back to her battle spot.''

Jackie: Well! That was certainly a nice little heart to heart! Now how about I show you mine??

''The attack that would follow would work very similarly to that of the Mettaton EX battle with a heart shooting projectiles. Aurora has a few close calls, boosting the ratings by 70.''

???: *Stage lights are blaring.

Aurora decides to be logical in this scenario and she chooses the option to talk to Jackie.

Aurora: You know Jackie, I've gotta ask... what do you really have to gain from fighting us? I mean, clearly you don't want me to be harmed, right?

Jackie: You'd be right darling, you've really started to grow on me. However, at the same time what's a show without a plot twist? Either way, not fighting you just sounds like a bad idea, you know? I mean think of it this way, you're the final soul! The key to freedom! The one everybody has been waiting for for so long! If I didn't at least try to fight you then wouldn't that be letting my audience down?