Well would you look what the cat dragged in? 

Hi there, you guys! If you didn't already know, I'm Nyds, and I wrote this fledgling of a story. That's me up there, in the bad cosplay. 

Nearly four years ago, in the summer after eighth grade, I sat down at my brand new laptop (now decorated with stickers, makeup, and a crack down the length of the screen) and typed out my first chapter of Flip My Switch. I intended it to be something small and quick, an indulgence of my numerous headcanons and ideas. It was a passion project of sorts, and it was never supposed to be anything big. 

Four years later. Four years later. 

I'm a senior in high school, and I was set to graduate next month, before coronavirus shut down my school. I got into my top choice school on what is essentially a full ride. A merit scholarship covered the bulk of it. The rest was paid for by a scholarship contest in which I won first place. 

A scholarship based on writing. 

Four years ago, people read my story. They liked it. they voted on it. They loved it and they felt it and they told me. And I believed that maybe, just maybe, I could make something out of my writing. 

Today, the total reads on all my Mettaton fanfics reach just about 100k reads. And every day, I still get notifications from people reading Flip My Switch, voting on it, commenting, adding it to their libraries. You all have given me so much love and support, and I am endlessly thankful to you all. When I think of everything that this story has brought me...it's almost too much to bear. 

I haven't stopped writing, of course. I'm going to major in writing when I go to college next year. And I post fanfiction on AO3 now as @andthemumblingintensifies. An homage to where I began. An homage to all of you, and everything you have done for me. 

I'm so grateful to you. And yet. 

And yet. 

Two years ago, I promised you more, and I abandoned you. And while most of the people who were reading Flip My Switch at that time probably aren't even on Wattpad anymore, I still feel guilty about it. I still feel that I owe you more. After everything you all have done for me, it doesn't feel right to leave it be. So. 

I currently have two WIPs on AO3, one for Good Omens and one for Cats. I don't want to stop progress on those, because I feel they are proof of how much my work has grown. But, I do have one thing. 

I recently found an old version of chapter 13. I ended up cutting it down because, well... it got rather, uh, smutty. And I know that wasn't really my audience on here. But I do feel that the ending to that chapter is much more satisfying than what I left you all with. So here is my compromise. 

Comment here to let me know if you want that version of chapter 13 to be published as a sort of extra. If you don't I understand, I just think you all ought to have the option. 

I was never really happy with the way Flip My Switch ended, even if you all seemed to be satisfied. The thing is, I purposely wrote a shoddy, unsatisfying ending in the hopes that you all would complain. That was how I was going to lead into Hold to Reset: I was going to address the readers directly, and remind them that they asked for more before tossing them into the shitshow that was the plot of Hold to Reset. But, given the insanity that the world is experiencing recently, I doubt we need any more negativity. Nobody wants to be bombarded with even more pain, especially when reading is an escape. I've considered completing HTR, but now isn't the right time. 

Again, a compromise. 

I'm going to write an epilogue. A True Ending, of sorts, just to give you all what you deserve. I don't know when it will be published, but I most certainly won't wait another two years. I promise you that much.

I think that I've never quite been able to part with Wattpad due to the manner in which I left. Everything was only half done, and I sort of left it. I never said goodbye. After all the goodness that you have shown me, that was hardly fair. 

So, this will be my thank you. And then, it will be my farewell. An honest one this time, with no loose strings left to be tied up. It's the least that I owe you. 

Thank you to everyone who read all of this, or even just skimmed it. You truly are too good to me. 

Was that all a bit melodramatic? Yes. Am I going to apologize? No. ONTO THE Q&A SECTION!!!

Two years and a day ago, I held a q&a. I only got six questions, but now I shall have six answers. 

From @internal_screeching : "What taught you the ability to paint such vivid images in words so well in your story? Did you self teach yourself or learn from books? I think your writing style is very elegant!" 

        Well, first of all, thank you so much?!?!?! I've always considered my style, especially back in the FMS days, to be more simple rather than elegant, so it's a bit of a shock to hear that. Still, it means so much!  You honestly flattered me too much with your question, but I'll answer :) Most of it was just practice, practice, practice. I've been writing stories since I was four (absolutely no joke), and I guess you just sort of develop a style and get good at some things in all that time. My style has developed quite a bit recently due to my English and Creative Writing classes, but really, the biggest part is just practicing it and practicing finding your voice.

From @RonaToresu (now one of my valued friends on ig): "What inspired you to make the reader's personality like it is?"

     Honestly? I just kinda tried to make a twenty-something year old that was mature enough to handle a relationship (HA!) and had enough depth to carry a plot, while also making them relatable to myself (age 14). After I was diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder in my sophomore year, I realized that I unintentionally gave the reader's character a bit too much anxiety as well, so...whoops? I was really just trying to write a character that was me, but older and wiser and relatable to a wide audience. Also I really didn't want them to be a Mary Sue (Mary Jane? I forget wattpad terminology).

From @lonelylemondemon : "Did you have a plan from this story from the beginning if so what advice can you give to people struggling with plot lines?" 

     UMMM???? 

     Okay, honestly, I constantly make fun of myself for my lack of planning when it comes to my larger pieces. I did write an outline (believe I showed that in a 1k or 5k update?), but it was NOTHING like what the story ended up becoming. From the first chapter, I went wildly off track and just kinda winged it. I think that's why I had such big issues with my upload schedule... I couldn't ever really figure out where I wanted to go next! As such, the story suffered from major plot holes, time jumps, and really just poor planning. I'm learning to plan a bit more now, but I can already tell that my Cats fic (the way of wanting on AO3...shameless plug) is beginning to have that same issue. I definitely suggest writing out at least a bit of an outline beforehand. You don't necessarily need to know each chapter down to the last detail, but at least map out your beginning, your end, and the major plot points in between. Then I'd try to figure out the more minor things. Highly recommend looking up a diagram of "The hero's journey" and just a plot map and making sure you can fill out something for each milestone along the way before you get to actual writing and posting... it definitely helps you focus your story. 

"What first inspired you to create this story?" 

      Ah, much easier. Well, I liked Mettaton, and I liked fanfiction. I read scores of Mettaton x Reader fics and just sort of realized that there was a story that I wanted that I couldn't find (I'm an absolute slut for the enemies-friends-lovers trope, which this almost kinda was). I decided that, if nobody else would write it, then I would. Three thousand words later, the first chapter of Flip My Switch was born. 

        Some of my biggest inspirations to write the fanfic in the first place include @Levirne (who wrote the infamously beautiful Turn Me On, from which I stole my title, I am sorry) and

@estrellaluna13 (from whom I took quite a bit of inspiration for Mettaton's personality, at least initially.) 

Hope they don't mind me tagging them. 

From @KuribohKlub : "Is Mettaton your favorite character in Undertale or is it someone else? I love your story btw"

     *Looks at my two MTT paintings, my MTT lockscreen, my custom MTT t-shirt, my official MTT t-shirt, my MTT sweatshirt, my MTT button, the hot pink six-inch heels I bought so I could feel more like MTT, the pink pleather jacket I bought so I could feel more like MTT, the yearbook that I signed with "Knock em dead, darling", the literal hundreds of photos of me in closet MTT cosplay, and my four published works of MTT x Reader fanfiction* 

      Eh, honestly I'm more of a Flowey sort of guy.

      (In all honesty, and as stupid as it sounds, Mettaton got me through so many hard times and so much struggle, and I owe a lot of my life, health, and happiness to this stupid little character. I don't think I'll ever go a day without being grateful that he metaphorically strutted his stupid hot pink self into my life.) 

     Also thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

For (FMS) Frisk: "Did Mettaton ever get together with your [sibling] in any of the other timelines?" 

     oOF, it's been a long time since I've written as Frisk. Give me a sec. 

Ahem, ahem, cough, check-one-two, check-one-two

*Frisk voice* I mean, I've seen them making out in more timelines than I ever wanted to. But, yeah. I don't know why, but it happens in every single timeline, one way or another. Kinda gross, honestly. Kinda cute too. 

From @GrellSutCliffs_Mom : "Wut made u want to start this book? (its amazing)" 

     Y'all are too nice to me, I sWEAR. Anyway, this is sort of the same answer as the inspiration one. I wanted more Mettaton fanfiction, so I wrote it. 

Genocide, Pacifist, or Neutral? 

     Pacifist all the way, I am a baby and I cannot stand the guilt of hurting these delightful characters. This also extends to real life, where I am absolutely terrified of confrontation and prefer to solve things with a hug. My zodiac sign is cancer, so I guess that isn't too big a surprise. 

Alright, y'all, I've finally done my duty. I shall see you all in the future, with (possibly) chapter 13 version 2 and with (definitely) the epilogue. Stay fabulous, my darling corpses!