The sun was setting. Soon he would hear his mother calling for him for wanted to explore the rest of this mountain before then. He had found this large strange height that felt different than any of the others in Mt. Paozu. Near Dragon Rock, just before the dinosaur settlement, he chased a small squirrel across the stream bed to this place. Now he was near the top, eager to be able to see the view. Oh the stories he'd tell his daddy today! He dodged lions, made nice with a dinosaur, and even climbed this huge mountain!
Giggling, Gohan ran past the woods near the summit. He was had almost reached the top! Darting past a warning sign, he jumped to the very tip top of the mountain. His tiny feet securely on rock, he looked out to the horizon. This view was amazing! It was almost as great at the biggest mountain his daddy took him to see! Turning around, he saw a wide, gaping chasm. Nervous, he backed away. He didn't want to accidentally fall down it.
An eerie voice penetrated his mind. "Go down."
Shaken and confused, Gohan retreated further. He didn't like this adventure anymore. Turning around, he resolved to dash away the way he came. A gnarled vine caught his foot, causing him to stumble backwards into the direction of the hole.
"No, no! No!" cried Gohan, tears in his eyes. The waved his arms desperately trying to regain his balance, but it failed. The boy fell backwards; rolling into the hole. No matter what the young boy did, he continued to tumble into the chasm. He fell in, and a blinding white filled his vision. Then, he blacked out.
It wasn't until he woke up that he realized he was ontop of a bed of golden flowers. He didn't seem to be hurt; fortunately there wasn't a bruise or scratch to be seen. The golden flowers must have broken his fall. Gohan got up, looking around nervously.
It was dark. The only light in the room was directly on top of him and the flowers. Looking up, he saw stalactites covering the entirety of the ceiling.
"Hello…? Anybody…?" He cried out even louder. "Mommy! Daddy!"
Usually, whenever he yelled out; his dad would save him within minutes. This was not one of those times. There was no way of climbing out, either with the stalactites covering the way. Gohan saw a path leading somewhere. He regained his composure, maybe this was the way out?
He passed through what clearly was an arched door. Surely there was somebody who could help him if there were manmade structures like doors around. Upon walking into the next room, it was much like the last room. He saw a single flower. It stood tall, had a white stamen with yellow petals. On the stamen of the flower was a face. On that face there was a smile..
"Howdy!"
Gohan hestitated to approach. A talking, smiling flower? He's never seen one of those…
"I'm Flowey! Flowey the Flower! Hmm. You're new to the underground, aren'tcha?
He meekly nodded his head, still nervous.
The flower continued. "Golly, you must be so confused. Someone ought to teach you how things work around here! I guess little old me will have to do."
Wiping the tears from his face, Gohan smiled a little in response. He mustered out, "T-Thank you."
He felt something float out of his chest. It was a little pink heart. T-That's supposed to be inside of him!
"See that heart? That is your SOUL, the very culmination of your being!"
Gohan twitched. This was his soul? Shouldn't that be inside of him though? Testing something, he was able to move his soul around at will. While he could do that, he was able to move his physical body as well. This was cool, but it was scary. He felt vulnerable.
Flowey smiled genuinely at the boy. "Down here, you're measured by your soul, like how you are right now. It starts off weak, but it can grow strong if you get a lot of LV."
He was scared about this new place. He was scared about this new experience. He'd have to ask his mom to forgive him for talking to strangers… So much was going through his head. Trembling, he continued to watch the talking flower.
Flowey giggled. "You might be wondering 'What's LV'. Why, it stands for LOVE! Silly! You want some love don't you? Don't worry, I'll share some with you!" He winked at Gohan playfully.
Sniffling, Gohan nodded. He just wanted to go home, and maybe this flower would help him if he asked nicely and got some love?
Tiny dots surrounded Flowey. "Down here, LOVE is shared through little white friendliness pellets! Catch as many as you can!" The pellets suddenly went flying towards Gohan.
Panicking, he dodged every single projectile with his soul. He started tearing up again. Too fast! Everything was happening too fast!
Flowey's grin seemed a little strained now. "Hey, buddy. You missed them."
He finally sputtered something to the flower, realizing that he hasn't even introduced himself yet. "M-My name is Gohan! S-Sorry, my mommy told me never to t-take anything from strangers…" He covered his face in embarrassment. This flower surely hated him now.
The flower's expression lifted again. "But Gohan, I'm not a stranger!"
The boy peeked at the flower. "You're… not?"
Laughing softly, the flower got a little closer. "That's right. I'm not a stranger, I'm your friend! You can trust me!"
Gohan stared at his hands intently as he considered this, his cheeks coloring slightly. "I-I've never had a friend before…"
Smiling wider, Flowey conjured up more friendliness pellets. "We'll be even better friends when I give you some LOVE. It'll make you and me so happy!"
Gohan looked up at Flowey with hope. "Really? Can you help me get out of here too?"
Nodding, the flower said, "Of course, my dear friend Gohan." At that, he launched some more pellets at the boy.
Gohan was thrilled! He couldn't wait to tell his dad about the new friend he made! A talking flower too! Laughing, the boy held out his arms. The soul made contact with Flowey's pellets.
He was met with searing pain. The impact was so forceful his hat with the four starred dragonball was launched to the back of the room. Gohan himself was knocked flat on his back, winded. He looked up at the flower, who was now wearing a very unfriendly smile on its face.
"You idiot."
Gohan's eyes welled up with fresh tears. "O-ow! That hurt! But... I... I thought we were f-friends…"
The flower spoke in a snarling voice. "In this world, it's kill or be killed. Who would ever want to be friends with someone as ugly as you?!"
And then, Gohan's soul was surrounded by a dense ring of friendliness pellets. He stared at them in dispair, knowing escape was impossible.
"DIE," hissed the flower gleefully.
The bullets-for that is what they truly were, he realized-flew towards him with a sadistic slowness. He closed his eyes and covered his face in his hands, bawling. The flower laughter rang in his ears as scenes from his four years of life flashed before his eyes. His mom and dad would never see him again.
But instead of more pain, he heard the flower give a yelp of surprise. Peeking through splayed fingers, he saw that the flower was gone.
Standing before him now was a tall white creature with two short, curved horns sprouting from the crown of her head, and long, flat ears draped over her shoulders. Gohan's first thought was that she looked rather like a goat, and yet she stood on two legs like a human, and wore a long-sleeved blue and white dress that reached down to her ankles. Just as mystifying was the aura of fire that crackled around her closed fist.
"What a terrible creature," the goat-like beast spoke in a warm, feminine voice. "Torturing such a poor, innocent youth…"
It was clear that she had saved him from the flower. He also felt much better; had she healed him too? But Gohan's fear had not eased. Gulping, he crawled backwards away from this new, strange person.
The goat's face softened at his movements. "Ah, do not be afraid, my child. I am Toriel, caretaker of the ruins." She approached him slowly, extending a paw to him.
Gohan's expression broke, and he began to cry anew. "H-He told me he was my f-friend!" This lady seemed nice, but so had the flower at first. How could he trust her when she might turn on him too?
To his surprise, he felt himself gently picked up by Toriel and held against her chest. "Shh. There, there, my child. It's okay." As she rocked him patiently, petting his hair with soothing strokes, eventually his tears dried and his sobs became an occasional hiccup. "Good. Now come, let me lead you through the catacombs, okay?" She set him back onto the ground so that he could walk on his own two feet.
Gohan sniffled and composed himself. He retrieved his fallen hat and followed behind the kindly woman. Up some stairs and through a door, she stopped. Inside was a dimly lit room, a closed door, and some rocks. He was intimidated by the dark hallway, and felt the urge to hold on to the hem of Toriel's flowing robe.
"Welcome to your new home, my child."
New… home? Wait, what did she mean by that?
Toriel proceeded to step on each rock, which all pressed downwards like pressure plates. Not all of them, only some of them. The door opened. "This is how you go through this room my child, just make a square like this, okay?" She smiled genially at Gohan, who only nodded meekly. "Come now."
The next room was larger, and much more brightly lit. Gohan clung close to Toriel, who regarded him in an amused manner.
"How old are you, dear?" She asked sweetly.
Gohan took a moment to register the question. "Um… four!"
Toriel pat his head affectionately. "In that case, I'll just take you through these puzzles. When you're a little bit older, I'll teach you to complete them on your own, okay?"
He nodded again, before realizing again what she had implied. He couldn't stay here; he had to go home! His mother and father would be worried about him if he wasn't back soon! But, as he followed behind Toriel and watched her activate various switches on the walls to disengage spike traps blocking their path, he felt he couldn't say this to her yet.
They made their way past the spikes, now retracted into the floor. In the next room stood a stuffed dummy with a black button eye. Toriel walked over to the dummy. "As a human living in the underground, monsters may attack you. You will need to be prepared for this situation. When you encounter a monster, you will enter a fight. While you're in a fight, strike up a friendly conversation!"
His mother had also taught him to resolve conflicts with his words first, so this made sense to Gohan.
Toriel nodded. "Yes, stall for time. I'll come to resolve the conflict. Practice with this dummy."
"It won't… come to life or anything will it?"
She giggled. "Oh my child, that's just silly. No, it's just a dummy. Go on."
He walked up to the dummy. Suddenly he got that feeling again. His soul floated out on its own. He couldn't force it back in, his hands just phased through it.
He stared up at the dummy. Shakily, he waved at it. "H-Hello mister… nice day today?"
Toriel beamed at him. "Ah! Very good, my child. I dare say you'll fit in just fine here."
Suddenly, the feeling disappeared. His soul floated back into his body as quickly as it floated out. Was this something only found in the underground? She walked off into the exit. Gohan followed suit after waving goodbye to the dummy.
Toriel took his hand into her much larger, furry one, and he found he didn't mind much. He grew nervous, however, when he saw that they were headed towards a hallway filled completely with spike traps. Toriel didn't seem to even notice, and continued to walk forward at a brisk pace.
"Woah! Miss Toriel! Please watch out!"
She only giggled. "My child, you're adorable. Do not worry, the spikes will not harm us. We simply have to tread on the correct path."
And indeed, as Toriel weaved her way through the corridor, the spikes sank into the ground on their own with every step she took, popping back into place once they had passed. Finally, the two of them reached the normal, magenta tiles again, and Gohan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Toriel could be trusted after all.
The next room looked long. It was a clear walk from one end to another. He felt her hand drop his. Curious, he looked at her.
"My child… you have done well. However, I have a difficult request to ask of you. I would like you to walk to the end of the room by yourself."
He tilted his head in confusion. What was she talking about?
"Forgive me," she said, before suddenly walking ahead without him at a surprisingly quick pace. She was so fast! Before Gohan had even realized the situation, she was out of sight.
Why… why would she suddenly leave him all alone like this? Gohan hugged himself uncertainly and took a small step forward. She had been so nice, so... surely he was safe here? It was just a hallway. Willing himself to be brave, he continued on. With each passing step, he felt more in control of the situation. And yet, the thought that maybe he wouldn't be able to go back home made a lump form in his throat. He liked Toriel, but he just couldn't stay here forever! Somehow, he had to find a way back home. A few stray tears trailed their way down his cheeks, but he refused to cry again.
It was an extremely long hallway, but before he knew it, he made it to the end. Toriel stepped out from behind a huge white pillar, much to Gohan's surprise.
"Greetings, my child. Do not worry, I did not l-" She noticed his tears and immediately went to console him. "Oh dear, are you alright?"
Sniffling, Gohan spoke. "I-I'm okay… h-honest I am." He wiped his tears away. He wanted to tell her how he missed his mom and dad, but felt this wasn't the time nor the place.
Toriel released the young boy. "My child… I was here the whole time, behind this pillar. I thank you for trusting me. There was an important reason for this… you must be independent at certain times." She thought about it for a moment. She wanted to make the boy a pie, but after that display, she couldn't very well leave him.
The boy composed himself again. He smiled at her gently.
She sighed, returning the smile. "I believe in you. I must now go attend to some business. Please remain here; it's dangerous to explore by yourself. Oh, I have an idea. Please, take this cellphone. If you ever need me, just call, okay?" She pressed a plastic flip-phone into his small hand.
Gohan stared at the device. He had never seen one before, and Toriel briefly showed him how to use it. He nodded, feeling a bit better about things. Although he wanted to beg her to not go, or to let him come with her, he forced down his fear. As long as he has the cell phone, he felt he could wait for Toriel here until she returned.
Giving him a hug, Toriel whispered, "Be good, alright?" With that, she exited the room, leaving Gohan truly alone.
Author's Note: I realize this is pretty unconventional. Two very different series meeting in one story. Granted it's just Gohan from Dragonball, I'm not sure if this is wanted by the fandom. If you guys have any interest in this continuing, let me know so I can keep writing more.