Fallout Undertale

Prologue and Chapter 1: Prewar Ruins

(SPOILER WARNING: This story DOES contain Undertale Spoilers and Fallout Spoilers)

[Something to remember: In Undertale the characters speak with an asterisk * next to their dialog but in this story asterisks will be used to describe their actions. Their dialog will be between parenthesis "" like in Fallout.]

War. War never changes. A long time ago, two races ruled over the Earth: Humans and Monsters. One day, war broke out between the two. It was a one sided war. The humans had killed almost every monster on Earth, leaving only a handful alive. The remaining monsters retreated underground. The humans accepted this retreat as a victory and sealed the monsters underground with a magical barrier. Hundreds of years have passed and without a common enemy humans have turned on each other, fighting wars over resources and ideologies with each war seeing the conflict get bigger and bigger. Eventually, humanity's destructive nature got so big that it finally lead to the end of the world by nuclear Armageddon. But the apocalypse was not the end of the human race. A few survived the holocaust by surviving in underground shelters known as Vaults. Eventually humans returned to the surface and began to recolonize. Most concerned themselves with survival and rebuilding civilization but some valued exploration, wondering from place to place looking for places to explore, items to find and people to meet. Some of them would even explore dangerous places just for the thrill and experience. One of the most feared places of the wastelands was a place known as Mount Ebott. Legend says that those who go there never return. This is the story of a legendary man who had saved the world but was denied happiness and now had nothing to lose. This, is Fallout Undertale.

The Vault Dweller awakes on a bed of golden flowers with a light shining from above. He looks around and follows a hallway that enters another room where light is shining on a single flower.

?: "Howdy! I'm Flowey! Flowey the Flower!"

Vault Dweller: *options for what he should say next pop up in front of him and he picks the second one* (Side note: Whenever the Vault Dweller is taking with someone and responds, just imagine that this happens like in Fallout 1 so I don't have to right *the options appear* every time. I'm just establishing that's how he speaks to others in this world like in the games) "You know, I really shouldn't be surprised by this. You wouldn't imagine the stuff I've seen, like this one time-"

Flowey: *Flowey cuts him off* "Uhhh, yeah." *Silence for a second* Sooo you're new here, eh?"

Vault Dweller: "Yeah, I fell down a hole over there."

Flowey: "Well good you survived. Welcome to the underground! Is safe down here but be warned, this place is filled with monsters! Don't worry though, I'll be your new best friend and help you survive!"

The classic Undertale sound of beginning an encounter mixed with the V.A.T.S sound from Fallout plays. The room suddenly turns black and Flowey and the Vault Dweller turn white. A small red hear appears in front of the Vault Dweller and a white box appears around him.

Vault Dweller: *the Vault Dweller looks around contemplating just what the heck is going on when he notices a red heart floating in front of him* What's this heart thing in front of me?

Flowey: "That is your soul. It is the very essence of your entire being." *Flowey looks down and sees the Vault Dwellers LV is very high* "Well, well, well, looks like you have plenty of LV human, but do you know what that means?"

Vault Dweller: "Level?"

Flowey: No silly! It means LOVE! With more LOVE you grow stronger! You seem to already have a lot of it, but here in the underground we have different ways of gaining LOVE. *Flowey winks making a little sparkle or pellet appear* In this world, we share our LOVE with little white 'Friendliness Pellets" which will give you EXP to earn more LOVE. The more you grab, the stronger you get! Make sure to grab as many as you can."

The Friendliness Pellets begin moving towards the Vault Dweller, but he moves out of the way.

Flowey: "…" *Flowey's expression changes to a slightly disappointed yet still smiling look* "Hey buddy, you're supposed to grab them, not avoid them like the plague. Let's try that again."

More Friendliness Pellets begin moving towards the Vault Dweller but he moves out of the way again, causing Flowey's expression to turn angry.

Flowey: "Are you fucking retarded? Run. Into. The. Bullets Friendliness Pellets!"

Despite the threat and more Bullets Friendliness Pellets coming towards him, the Vault Dweller moves out of the way again. Flowey's expression changes to a very sinister look that can't really be described and his voice turns demented.

Flowey: "You know what's going on here, don't you? I should have expected someone with so much LV to not be fooled so easily. I'm sure you already know this, but just like the world you came from, it's kill or be killed.

The white box around the Vault Dweller suddenly gets so small that he cannot move and he is surrounded by a ring of bullets.

Flowey: "DIE!"

The bullet ring begins to close in on the Vault Dweller as Flowey laughs maniacally. Just as the Vault Dweller begins to accept his fate as the bullets draw their closest, they suddenly disappear and the Vault Dweller heels as if his former injuries have just faded away.

Flowey: "...what?"

Suddenly, a fireball appears beside Flowey and hits him, causing him to fly off screen as he lets out a little demented "ow".

?: "Oh my, what a horrible creature, tormenting an innocent visitor."

A woman appears in front of the Vault Dweller, but she is not human. Though she stands on two legs she has the head, hands and feet of a goat with white fur but has very a very humanoid structure and is dressed in a robe of some sort with a strange symbol on it.

?: "Pleased to meet you. I am TORIEL, caretaker of the RUINS. I pass through this place every day to see if anyone has fallen down. I will guide you through the catacombs."

The box around the Vault Dweller disappears and his soul returns to his body. The room as well as the Vault Dweller himself and Toriel regain color.

Vault Dweller: "Thank you for saving me. Another moment and I would be dead."

Toriel: "You're welcome! You are very polite. Please follow me, I have much to show you."

The Vault Dweller follows Toriel into ruins. The walls are purple with some vines on them and red leaves are scattered across the ground. A strange shimmering golden light catches the Vault Dweller's eye and he proceeds to investigate it while Toriel proceeds up the stairs into the next room. The Vault Dweller touches the light.

(The shadows of the ruins looms above, filling you with determination.) (HP fully restored) [A save screen similar to the Fallout game appears but this one only has one save slot. The Vault Dweller saves his progress.]

Toriel: "Welcome your new home, weary traveler. Allow me to educate you in the operation of the RUINS." *Toriel proceeds to walk on some buttons to her left but leaves two un-pushed then pulls a lever that opens a door to another room* "The RUINS are full of puzzles. Ancient fusions between diversions and doorkeys. One must solve them to move from room to room. Please adjust yourself to the sight of them." *Toriel leaves the room*

The Vault Dweller sees something written on a stone in the wall. It reads "Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road." The Vault Dweller then proceeds to the next room where Toriel is waiting for him.

Toriel: "To make progress here, you will need to trigger several switches. Do not worry, I have labelled the ones you need to flip." *She walks to the other side of the room*

The Vault Dweller gets distracted by another stone sign in the wall and reads it only to find a demoralizing slap across his explorative nature by saying "Stay on the path." As the Vault Dweller returns to the path like a good playable character should, he crosses a small bridge to where Toriel is to finds a switch labeled with so many arrows and a note to its side telling him that this is the lever he is supposed to pull, that even if the Vault Dweller took out all of his intelligence points, got high AND drunk effectively putting him not so very far from the point of being braindead he could not miss it. He pulls it. Toriel and the Vault Dweller cross another small bridge to find another idiot proof switch. There is another switch that is not labeled but not wanting to look like he just got high of jet and fucked every whore in the entire wasteland only to stumble back to Vault 13 with his pip-boy stolen and his vault suit unzipped to find out that not only did he forget to retrieve a water chip but that someone else already found one, he pulls the labeled switch retracting the spikes blocking their path and proceeds as Toriel congratulates the Vault Dweller for accomplishing the most basic of RPG tasks. They proceed to the next room. In the room there is what looks to be a training dummy.

Toriel: "As a human living in the UNDERGROUND, monsters may attack you. You will need to be prepared for this situation. However, worry not! The process is simple. When you encounter a monster, you will enter a FIGHT."

Vault Dweller: "I have been in many fights but nothing like the one with that flower. Is all form of combat like that here?"

Toriel: "Indeed. That is why we are here now. To survive a FIGHT, strike up a friendly conversation. Stall for time. I will come to resolve the conflict."

Vault Dweller: "The reason why I couldn't defeat Flowey was because he trapped me. I know how to fight and now that I can move around again why don't I just punch them or hit them with a stick or something?"

Toriel: "The flower was an unusual. Most monsters are kindhearted by nature and will not attack you but the ones that do are not murderers. Humans are much stronger than us monsters and those that do attack do so only out of fear. If you can prove to them that you mean no harm, they will back down and may even thank you with gifts. So here, practice with this dummy."

The Vault Dweller walks up to the dummy and the FIGHT is initiated. Four new options appear below the text screen: FIGHT ACT ITEM and MERCY. His soul seems to act as a computer mouse to interact with the options. The Vault Dweller moves his soul towards the FIGHT option but suddenly stops. He remembers his old life in the Vault and in the wasteland, and he remembers all the fights he has been in and all the people he killed. From raiders to super mutants, seeing their bodies torn apart into guts and blood by his own hand and weapons. It's never bothered him before, and that's the problem. The Vault Dweller never killed when he was in Vault 13. He was a kind soul. Just another face in the crowd. Then he stepped outside into the wastelands, and became a murderer without a second thought. Even though most were in self-defense he never tried to talk or reason with his attackers and he always could have just ran away… but he just drew his weapons and killed. He also remembers the times he broke and killed defenseless people, the biggest being when he killed his former overseer for banishing him from Vault 13. That's when he realized he couldn't live with anymore blood on his hands. He moved his soul away from the FIGHT option to the ACT option. He selects it, selects *Dummy then *Talk. He talks to the Dummy but it doesn't seem much for conversation. Toriel seems happy with the Vault Dweller. A message appears on his pip-boy saying "YOU WON! You earned 0 XP and 0 gold."

Toriel: "Ah, very good! You are very good." *Toriel walks into the next room*

The Vault Dweller pauses for a minute. Refusing to fight, hearing Toriel's praise and his pip-boy congratulating him for a bloodless victory.

Vault Dweller: "…" *'New Game' perk gained* *The Vault Dweller feels something warm inside his heart* *He proceeds to the next room*

Toriel: "There is another puzzle in this room… I wonder if you can solve it."

Toriel and the Vault Dweller walk down another corridor when suddenly a FIGHT is initiated. Froggit attacks you! The Vault Dweller selects ACT and then selects *Compliment.

Vault Dweller: "You look nice."

Froggit didn't understand what you said, but was flattered anyway. Toriel appears on the right side of the screen with a pissed off mother look staring right at Froggit. Froggit sees this and slowly moves away. YOU WON! You erned 0 XP and 0 gold. Toriel and the Vault Dweller continue walking when the Vault Dweller once again gets distracted by a dang rock sign on the wall. This one reads "The western room is the eastern room's blueprint." He continues to follow Toriel. The two come to a bridge of spikes surrounded by a small pond of water.

Toriel: "This is the puzzle, but… Here, take my hand for a moment." *She extends her hand*

The Vault Dweller holds Toriel's. For a brief moment, the Vault Dweller feels an unusual sense of safety and happiness as if he was back in Vault 13 with his family. The two walk over some of the spikes but they retract, making safe to walk over. Toriel leads the Vault Dweller by the hand in a pattern motion over the bridge with the spike retracting as they walk over. The both make it over the bridge unharmed. On the other side Toriel and the Vault Dweller attempt to let go of each other's hands but they stay held for a brief moment. After the moment passes the two blush and quickly let go of each other's hands in embarrassment, though they both smile quietly.

Toriel: "Puzzles seem a little too dangerous for now." *Toriel and the Vault Dweller procced to the next room* "You have done excellently thus far, my child. However… I have a difficult request to ask of you. … I would like you to walk to the end of the room by yourself. Forgive me for this." *Toriel runs off*

The Vault Dweller enters an unusual state of unease, as if he was a child lost in the bowels of Vault 13 who lost his mother. He runs as fast as he can to the other end of the room, breathing in and out quickly. The room seemed to go on for a while and the Vault Dweller begins to panic but soon makes it to the end of the room. The only thing he sees is a marble column flanked by some vines. The Vault Dweller looks around franticly for a sec, then Toriel appears from behind the column.

Toriel: "Greetings, my child. Do not worry, I did not leave you. I was merely behind this pillar the whole time. Thank you for trusting me. However, there was an important reason for this exercise. To test your independence. I must attend to some business, and you must stay alone for a while. Please remain here. It's dangerous to explore by yourself. I have an idea. I will give you a CELL PHONE. If you have a need for anything, just call. Be good, alright?" *Toriel leaves*

The Vault Dweller holds the phone and stands in silence for a few minutes thinking to himself.

Vault Dweller: (Why did I get so scared? It's not like I haven't explored much more dangerous ruins in the past. Was I really scared? Maybe I just felt… lonely… alone…) *The Vault Dweller looks at the phone Toriel and turns it on. He decides to call Toriel. The phone dial tone plays a few times then Toriel answers*

Toriel: This is TORIEL.

Vault Dweller: "Hello?"

Toriel: "You only wanted to say hello…? Well then. 'Hello!' I hope that suffices. Hee hee." *click*

The Vault Dweller appreciated the call but felt like he should have said more, so he calls Toriel back.

Toriel: "This is TORIEL."

Vault Dweller: "Hi Toriel, I wanted to get to know you a little more."

Toriel: "You want to know more about me? Well, I am afraid there is not much to say. I am just a silly little lady who worries too much." *click*

The Vault Dweller feels a little sad hearing that. He calls again.

Toriel: "This is TORIEL."

Vault Dweller: "… Mom."

Toriel: "Huh? Did you just call me… "Mom"? Well… I suppose… Would that make you happy? To call me… "Mother?"

Vault Dweller: "…Yes."

Toriel: "Well then, call me whatever you like!" *click*

Toriel sounded happy with that last call and the Vault Dweller felt like he made the right choice calling her so many times. So he calls again with a little more devious intentions.

Vault Dweller: "Hey good lookin', what's cookin?"

Toriel: "… huh? Oh, heh.. heh… Ha ha ha! How adorable… I could pinch your cheek! You can certainly find better than an old woman like me." *click*

The Vault Dweller calls again.

Vault Dweller: "Baby, who cares about the sun? I'm the only light you need."

Toriel: "Oh dear, are you serious…? And after you said you want to call me "mother…" You are an… "Interesting" man." *click*

The Vault Dweller snickers with sick enjoyment when suddenly a cake pan falls on his head. After recovering from mild brain trauma he waits for few minutes as Toriel instructed but quickly gets bored and decides to proceed to the next room. This time, Toriel calls the Vault Dweller.

Toriel: "Hello? This is TORIEL. You have not left the room, have you? There are a few puzzles ahead that I have yet to explain. It would be dangerous to try to solve them yourself."

Vault Dweller: "Lie Don't worry, I'm right where you left me."

Toriel: "Excelent! Be good, alright?" *click*

The Vault Dweller feels bad for lying but he knows that the story wouldn't progress unless he left the room. He notices another golden light which he has named "Save Points" on a bed of red leaves. He touches it. (Playfully crinkling through the leaves fills you with you with determination.) (HP fully restored.) The Vault Dweller overrides his previous save. He also notices a Froggit in the room that has not attacked him and decides to talk to it.

Froggit: "Ribbit, ribbit. (Excuse me, human. I have some advice for you about battling monsters. If you ACT a certain way or FIGHT until you almost defeat them… They might not want to battle you anymore. If a monster does not want to fight you, please… Use some MERCY, human.) Ribbit."

Vault Dweller: "Ok, I shall exercise MERCY."

Froggit: "Ribbit. (Thank you.)"

The Vault Dweller enters another room with only a jar of candy on a pedestal with a sign saying 'take one.' He takes one and… then another. How disgusting. Oh look, he took another one. Well doesn't someone feel like the scum of the earth. Because of his greed the candy ends up spilling onto the floor. Look at what you've done. The Vault Dweller leaves gaining the perk "Taking Candy from a Baby" to forever remind him of the heinous act of greed he has committed this day. And with that the Vault Dweller continues on encountering a weak willed monster that ran away almost as soon as he started the fight and falling down a hole only to climb back up. Suddenly, he gets a call from Toriel.

Toriel: "Hello? This is Toriel. For no reason in particular… Which do you prefer? Cinnamon or butterscotch?"

Vault Dweller: "hmm… Butterscotch. Kept my lips from being chapped out in the wastelands."

Toriel: "Oh, I see. Thank you very much!" *click* *the Vault Dweller walks two steps* *ring, ring* Hello? This is TORIEL. You do not DISLIKE cinnamon, do you? I know what your preference is, but… Would you turn up your nose if you found it on your plate?"

Vault Dweller: "It's not so much the taste as it is the dehydrating properties it has. If there is a glass of water nearby I would more than happily eat it."

Toriel: "I understand. Thank you for being patient, by the way." *click*

The Vault Dweller proceeds onwards with a few encounters with two other monsters he consoled and danced with, a few more pitfall puzzles and a somewhat rude rock. After that he then makes it to another room with a save point in it. The room also had a mouse hole and some cheese on a table in it. The Vault Dweller touches the save point. (Knowing the mouse might one day leave its hole and get the cheese… It fills you with determination) (you know the rest). After saving the Vault Dweller enters the next room and encounters a ghost lying on some leaves and blocking his path.

Ghost: "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… (are they gone yet) zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…"

The ghost keeps saying 'z' out loud repeatedly, pretending to sleep. Move it with force?

Vault Dweller: "Hold on, let me handle this." *the Vault Dweller clears his throat* "Excuse me, Mr. Ghost."

Ghost: "…."

Vault Dweller: "Hey buddy?"

Ghost: "…"

Vault Dweller: "[Speech 100/100] They say ghosts are nothing but lost souls, so it's very important that you talk to me so you don't fade away."

Ghost: "…i…i am not important…best that i just fade away."

Vault Dweller: "[Speech 75/75] If you weren't important I wouldn't be talking to you."

Ghost: "…ok."

The ghost gets up and looks at the Vault Dweller. He states at the Vault Dweller until the Vault Dweller says something to reengage the conversation.

Vault Dweller: "What is your name, kind spirit?"

Ghost: "…napstablook…" *Napstablook looks down* "…i like your outfit…"

Vault Dweller: "[Speech 50/50] Thank you. I know you're a ghost, but do you have any clothes?"

Napstablook: "o-of course… watch this." *Napstablook cries and his tears form a hat on the ghosts head* "i call it "dapper blook. do you like it?"

Vault Dweller: "[Speech 25/25] It makes you look very handsome."

Napstablook: "oh no…" *Napstablook's hat fades away and he seems to blush* "i ususally come to the RUINS because there's nobody around… but today i met somebody nice… oh, i'm rabbling again. i'll get out of your way. *Napstablook fades away*

Vault Dweller: "Poor guy… I hope he found peace."

The Vault Dweller continues to another room with a sign and two spider webs in it. The sign reads "Spider Bake Sale. All proceeds go to real spiders." Out of curiosity the Vault Dweller leaves 18 bottle caps in the bigger of the two webs. A spider climbs down and pours 'Spider Cider' into the Vault Dweller's water flask. Greatly confused by this, the Vault Dweller takes a swig. It's actually pretty tasty. He decides to saves some for later. The Vault Dweller then proceeds on to the next room where he finds three(?) Froggits. The first one talks about how people often skip his dialog and complains that I am merely summarizing it and not writing the full dialog. The second one breaks the fourth wall wondering what pushing F4 and 'Fullscreen' mean. The last one says something interesting.

Froggit: "Ribbit, ribbit. (I have heard you are quite merciful, for a human with such a violent past… Surely you know by now a monster wears a YELLOW name when you can SPARE it. What do you think of that?)"

Vault Dweller: "That is very helpful. Thank you."

Froggit: "(It is rather helpful. Remember, sparing is just saying you won't fight. Maybe one day, you'll have to do it even if their name isn't yellow.)"

Vault Dweller: "And maybe, you'll think of me, when you're all alone."

Froggit: "(…what?)"

Vault Dweller: "Nothing." [Done]

As the Vault Dweller walks off to the next room, his phone rings.

Toriel: "Hello? I just realized that it has been a while since I have cleaned up. I was not expecting to have company so soon. There are probably a lot of things lying about here and there. You can pick them up, but do not carry more than you need. Someday you might see something you really like. You will want to leave room in your pockets for that." *click*

Vault Dweller: "Ain't that the truth…"

The Vault Dweller continues into another pitfall room with a switch and then into another room involving a switch puzzle and pillars. He manages to solve the puzzles and makes it to the end of the RUINS. He walks to the far right where he finds a Froggit.

Froggit: "Ribbit, ribbit. (Just between you and me… I saw TORIEL come out of here just a little while ago. She was carrying some groceries. I didn't ask what they were for… We're all too intimidated to talk to her.) Ribbit."

The Vault Dweller proceeds to the room next to the Froggit. The room is actually a balcony looking over a ruined city. Despite the name, this city looks much better than the prewar cities ones the surface. The Vault Dweller gazes in awe at the peaceful silent beauty of the ruins. No gunshots. No explosions. Ne screaming. Just silence. Then he notices something lying on the ground to his left. It's a spear. The Vault Dweller picks it up and examines it. The shaft is long and made of wood (shut up) and the tip is made of metal. Upon further inspection, the tip seems to be manufactured from scrap metal with something engraved in it. "ND GECK". The Vault Dweller was puzzled by this. He decides to take the spear with him and stores it in his pip-boy. The Vault Dweller proceeds to a room with a black tree with its base surrounded by leaves. Then, they hear a familiar voice.

Toriel: "Oh dear, that took longer than I thought it would." *Toriel walks on screen, stands next to the black tree and uses her phone. The Vault Dweller's phone rings and Toriel notices him standing right in front of her. "How did you get here, my child? Are you hurt? There, there, I will heal you. I should not have left you alone for so long. It was irresponsible to try to surprise you like this. Err… Well, I suppose I cannot hide it any longer. Come, small one!" *Toriel walks to a house in the back of the room.*

The Vault Dweller follows and notices another save point in front of the house. He touches it. (Seeing such a cute and not destroyed house in the RUINS gives you determination.) (From now on I am just going to write what gives the Vault Dweller determination because I'm sure you know what comes after.) After saving, the Vault Dweller walks into the house. Toriel stands at the entrance ready to greet the Vault Dweller.

Toriel: "Do you smell that? Surprise! It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie. I thought we might celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here. So I will hold off on snail pie for tonight. Here, I have another surprise for you." *Toriel walks to the right hallway and the Vault Dweller follows* "This is it." *Toriel holds the Vault Dweller's hand and walks him to a door in the hallway* "A room of your own. I hope you like it!"

Toriel proceeds to pet the Vault Dweller on his head. The Vault Dweller begins to cry. It has been so long since he had felt this kind of affection. He wandered the wastelands for so long, feeling betrayal and anger, seeing people kill each other over the most trivial of maters when humanity was supposed to be coming together to survive the nuclear fallout and rebuild humanity. He forgot how to care. Toriel notices the Vault Dweller's tears and comforts him with a warm hug. The Vault Dweller hugs her back. The embrace lasts for only a few short moments, but to the Vault Dweller it feels like hours. Soon the tears stop and the Vault Dweller feels something that has was long lost to him. Happiness. He smiles.

Toriel: "Is something burning…? Um, make yourself at home!" *Toriel releases the Vault Dweller and runs off towards the kitchen*

The Vault Dweller wipes his cheeks and goes into the room. It's way bigger than his room was back in Vault 13. The walls are painted red and there is a small bed. At the foot of the bed is a box of cool toys! The don't interest the Vault Dweller at all. On the sides of the bed are two stuffed…toys and a cabinet that is filled with clothes of varying sizes. Beside it is a desk with an empty frame on it and a picture of a flower hanging on the wall. Looks like someone drew it. There is also a box filled with shoes of varying sizes. The Vault Dweller lies on the bed and just stares at the ceiling. Safe. Calm. Happy. The Vault Dweller drifts off to sleep. The Vault Dweller awakens with the covers of the bed over him. It has been a very long time since he has slept with covers on or with a pillow for that matter. It was the best sleep he ever had. He gets out of bed (still wearing his vault suit) and notices a slice of pie on the ground. He picks it up and takes a bite out of it. It's delicious. The Vault Dweller consumes about half of it but his time in the wastelands seems to have shrunken his stomach as he can only finish half of it. On the other hand, it is a pretty big slice. He saves the rest in his Pip-Boy. He walks out of his room and goes to the living room. Toriel is there sitting on a rocking chair and reading a book. There is a fire burning in a fireplace but it's not hot, rather lukewarm at best. Comfortable.

Toriel: "Oh, good morning my child! Did you have a nice nap?"

Vault Dweller: "It was the best nap I have had in months."

Toriel: "I'm glad to hear. I want you to know how glad I am to have someone here. There are so many old books I want to share. I want to show you my favorite bug-hunting spot. I've also got a restoration project we can work on together. This may come as a surprise to you… But I have always wanted to be a teacher. I'm sure you have already obtained an education, but I hope we can learn from the projects together."

The Vault Dweller smiles and agrees. Toriel is elated. The two live together in peace. Toriel and the Vault Dweller spend their days hunting for bugs and studying them. The Vault Dweller has only seen giant bugs on the surface and was very surprised to see them so small. The two also spent time restoring items from the surface Toriel had found before meeting the Vault Dweller. Items like television sets, radios and even parts of a robobrain. In the evening, the two would cook all kinds of different food. Toriel taught the Vault Dweller how to make pie along with other snail based dishes and the Vault Dweller thought Toriel how to prepare instant noodles. At night the two would read books together until one of them fell asleep. Whoever was still awake had to carry the other to bed. It was usually the Vault Dweller who fell asleep first so Toriel decided to read to him after she tucks him into bed. In Vault 13 the Vault Dweller read prewar books about something called the 'American Dream' which described families living carefree and peaceful lives. To the Vault Dweller, his life with Toriel was the American Dream… at least, for a while. After about a week, the Vault Dweller began having nightmares. Though not clear, the nightmares contained visions of hearts in jars, a horned monster with a red trident, golden flowers, a child with glowing red eyes and a knife, a skeleton with a glowing blue eye and bombs dropping. The Vault Dweller would wake up either screaming or drenched in sweat. At first he tried to downplay the nightmares but they only got worse. After two weeks together, the Vault Dweller knew his journey was not over yet and he had to leave. One day in the living room…

Vault Dweller: "Toriel."

Toriel: "Yes my child, what can I do for you?"

Vault Dweller: *the locks eyes with Toriel* "Living with you has been the best time of my life. You are kind and nurturing and I feel so safe just being with you. You have given me a life I only dreamed of."

Toriel: *smiles warmly* "You have also been the best company I have had in a long time. Our time together reminded me of a time long gone. A time when I had a family. Ever since my family fell apart and I left my husband, I often wondered why I still remain, what purpose I served. But you have given me new purpose, my child. Thank you."

Vault Dweller: *he looks down, holding back tears in his eyes* "Toriel… how do I leave the ruins?"

Toriel: "…" *Toriel's smile fades, replaced by a frown* "…what?"

Vault Dweller: "I… I need to leave the ruins."

Toriel: "But, this is your home! Why would you want to leave it?"

Vault Dweller: "I have… been having horrible nightmares recently. Visions of flowers… a horned monster with a red spear and a child… with glowing red eyes."

Toriel: *Toriel's expression turns stern* "Stay here. I have to do something." *Toriel dashes off*

The Vault Dweller is caught off guard quickly regains his composure and chases after Toriel. He sees her go into the basement and follows her. He never really went into the basement. Toriel told the Vault Dweller that it was just an empty hallway with a dead end. When the Vault Dweller attempted to check it out a couple of times, Toriel would deter any further exploration by taking him by the hand and leading him back upstairs. But today was the day he would find out what lies at the end of the hallway. The Vault Dweller runs to the end of the hall chasing after Toriel. He reaches the end and is shocked at what he finds. He finds Toriel standing in front of a vault door. The door did not bear a number, however. Instead, it had the same symbol as the one on Toriel's robes. The winged circle with three triangles below it.

Toriel: *facing the door with her back to the Vault Dweller* "This is the doorway that leads to the rest of the underground. It is a one-way exit. I am going to destroy it. No one will ever be able to leave again. Now be a good child, and go back upstairs."

Vault Dweller: "Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me leave?"

Toriel: "Every human that falls down here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. The come. They leave. They die. You naive child… If you leave the RUINS… They… ASGORE… The horned monster you saw in your nightmares… Will kill you. I am only protecting you, do you understand? ...go to your room."

Vault Dweller: "If he is a monster like you I can talk to him. You do not have to worry about me, I have dealt with greater threats."

Toriel: "The ones that came before you said similar things. They all felt they could survive down here as they did up there, but things are much different down here. The monsters that lie beyond this door are loyal to ASGORE and they are nothing like the mindless abominations on the surface you humans have told me about. They're smart and wield powers you cannot imagine and they will use those powers to kill you without a second thought."

Vault Dweller: "You told me before that most monsters are goodhearted people and now you're saying they will kill me on sight. What is really going on here, Toriel?"

Toriel: "The monsters have held a deep hatred for humans ever since they sealed us underground. For a time the hatred went away but after the death of the prince… my son… as well as problems concerning overpopulation and supply shortages, the hatred was revitalized and ASGORE created a plan for revenge. The plan is to collect seven human souls to break the barrier that keeps all the monsters trapped underground and take back the surface. He already has six. If he gets your soul, he will gain the powers of a god and what remains of humanity on the surface will parish by his hands."

Vault Dweller: "That must be what the nightmares were trying to tell me! This is why I must go Toriel, I need to stop ASGORE."

Toriel: *her voice deepens slightly* "heh, heh, heh… you stubborn child. ASGORE is the king of the monsters. He is the most powerful monster in the whole world. Every human who has faced him has died. You will be no different. That is why I cannot let you leave. I will not have another human life on my conscious. Do not try to stop me. This is your final warning."

Vault Dweller: "I'm not going to hurt you Toriel, but I need to get out of here."

Toriel: *her voice becomes annoyed* "You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. There is only one solution to this. *Toriel shoots a fireball at the Vault Dweller but he dodges it* "Prove yourself." *Toriel faces the Vault Dweller* "Prove to me you are strong enough to survive."

The room fades to black and a FIGHT is initiated. Toriel blocks the way! The Vault Dweller moves to ACT.

Vault Dweller: "I will not fight you."

Toriel: "I don't want to hear it. Show me you can fight."

Toriel shoots a barrage of fireballs at the Vault Dweller but he evades all of them.

The Vault Dweller ACTS again.

Vault Dweller: "I will not kill!"

Toriel: "Silence! There is not choice in this matter! FIGHT me or die!"

Toriel lets out another barrage of fireballs. This time some manage to hit the Vault Dweller but he brushes them off only taking minor damage.

The Vault Dweller ACTS again.

Vault Dweller: "You have shown me that conflict can be resolved with words before they even begin! Toriel, have faith in what you have taught me."

Toriel: "If you leave, I will not be around to protect you. Words may only get you so far until your hand is forced…"

Toriel shoots more fireballs at the Vault Dweller, only this time they seem to have slowed down, making them easily avoidable.

The Vault Dweller ACTS again.

Vault Dweller: "These last few weeks have been the best of my life. Never before have I felt so safe. So nurtured. So loved."

Toriel: "…"

Toriel shoots more fireballs. She's not even aiming anymore.

Vault Dweller: "I love you, Toriel. I will not hurt you. Even if I die here, I will leave this world knowing what it is like to truly live. To feel real happiness and to know what it truly means to be alive. All because of you. Thank you, mom."

Toriel: "…"

Toriel looks down and unleashes final barrage of fireballs. None of them come close to hitting the Vault Dweller.

The Vault Dweller ACTS again.

Vault Dweller: "No more fighting, Toriel. No one has to die."

Toriel: "…heh. Pathetic, is it not? I cannot save even a single human."

Vault Dweller: "That is not true. You have taught me something that no human on the surface could ever teach me. You taught me to be human again. That alone has saved me."

The Vault Dweller selects MERCY. Toriel is SPARED and the FIGHT is over.

Toriel: "…I understand. Staying here would do you not good. You are not a child. You are a beautiful young man. My expectations… My loneliness… My fear… For you, my young man, I will put them aside. If you truly wish to leave the RUINS… I will not stop you. However, when you leave, please do not come back. I hope you understand."

Vault Dweller: "I understand. Thank you."

Toriel hugs the Vault Dweller and he hugs back.

Toriel: "I love you."

Vault Dweller: "I love you too."

The hug lasts only a few short seconds… they both wish it could last longer.

Toriel: "Goodbye, my young man."

Toriel opens the vault door. The Vault Dweller walks through it and it closes behind him but just before it closes, he sees Toriel, crying. He sheds a single tear. He walks through a long corridor leading to the second door when he enters a dark room with the second door and a light shining on a single flower…

Flowey: "Clever. Verrrryyy clever. You think you're really smart, don't you. Well understand this, fucker. In this world, it's kill or be killed, just like where you came from. So you were able to play by your own rules. You spared the life of a single person. Big. Fucking. Deal. I bet you feel really great. You didn't kill anybody this time. But what will you do if you meet a relentless killer? You'll die and you'll die and you'll fucking die. Until you tire of trying. What will you do then? Will you resort to your old ways and kill out of frustration? Or will you give up entirely on this world … and let ME inherit the power to control it? Yeah, just run on back to your shitty post nuclear role playing game where you can kill someone just because you like their equipment or find them annoying. Get this bitch, I am the prince of this world's future. Don't worry, my little monarch, my plan isn't regicide. Seeing a murderer in denial march around believing he can change the world for the better by talking things out? This is SO much more interesting."

Flowey's face grows smiling sinisterly and he lets out a demented laugh then retreats underground.

Vault Dweller: "… What uncouth vocabulary."

The Vault Dweller walks through the second door.

Fallout Undertale