(A/N. This is an unfinished/first draft of a story a couple of friends and me are writing, crossing over the universes of Homestuck and Undertale. I am unsure how much of this first chapter will make it into the final thing, since my friends haven't had chance to read over it and suggest their changes just yet, and I have noticed a significant change in the following chapters, which I prefer much more to this one. This chapter seems to follow the game a little too literally. But any feedback/criticism is welcome. I also don't think this site will be the fanfic's final destination, since we will be including illustrations/animations and coloured text, but I haven't found a place that does all that yet. Hopefully, if I don't get lazy, all the text at least will make it onto here. ^w^ (I'm also super not used to writing in first person present tense, and it probably shows. XD))
Narrator: Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: Humans and Monsters.
Narrator: One day, war broke out between the two-
) (IC: ) ( OLD UP! hold just one codsweepin moment!
Narrator: What?
) (IC: hold the fuck up!
Narrator: Would you mind not interrupting my narration?
Narrator: And tone down the swearing! You rude fuck!
Narrator: Who are you, anyway? And how did you get in here?
Narrator: Oh blast, now I have gone and forgotten where I was! Are you happy?
) ( IC: i wouldna had to interrupt if you were tellin it right
) (IC: where the trolls at? wheres the mention of my boatiful shellf? ) (M?!
Narrator: Well, I was getting to the trolls. I had to set the mood right, first.
) (IC: you was tellin it all too slow what happened to my part in all this?
) (IC: cant you skipper ahead to how i liberated the fuck out a the humans even tho they looked to be doin just fine at beatin the monsters themshellves
) (IC: but whatevs i lent them my godly powers anyway cause im nice and shit
) (IC: then like the shell slamming empress i am i took over this joint sealed those motherfuckin monsters underground and told the humans to bow down before their saviour
Narrator: Yes, I was getting to all of that. Now would you mind letting me resume?
Narrator: Your alien highness.
) (IC: aight chill
) (IC: go ahead
Narrator: Thank you.
Narrator: *Ahem.*
Narrator: Once the monsters were sealed below ground, the humans were made to bow down to their new ruler. (for fear that the same would happen to them.)
) (IC: you make it sound like im some kind a tyrant jeeze!
Narrator: Don't interrupt!
) (IC: sorry
Narrator: Years later, legends say that those who climb Mount Ebott never return...
Understuck: Level 1.
A young man stands in a tall cavern, lit only by a sliver of sunlight shining down from above, aiding his tremendous headache. It seems he has fallen down.
Lucky this bed of golden flowers is here or that might have hurt a lot more. What is a bed of golden flowers doing down here anyway? He wonders. Or, would wonder if he gave a fuck about the location of flowers.
The young man tries desperately to remember how he got here. Oh! That's right! Today was his wriggling day, and his lusus brought him to the mountain to engorge themselves on disgustingly sweet cake. He recalls seeing a small child in a striped sweater, playing near the mouth of a deep looking hole. He told the child to get out of there before they fell down and had all sorts of wacky adventures.
Apparently the young man fell down instead. He takes a short moment to ponder what would have happened if the child had fallen down. Welp. No one will ever know now.
It appears to be time to name the young man. A naming screen appears above his head, and he looks at it like what the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck is that?!
What will you do?
LEGENDARY FARTMASTER
No! No! That will never do!
JOHN EGBERT
That's better.
Your name is John Egbert. Now that your headache seems to have abated somewhat, perhaps it is time to move on to the next room?
John- Use the arrow keys to navigate into the next chamber.
You walk into the next chamber, using your own legs, and your own brain, because you have no idea what that command was all about. Anyway, as you step through a rather extravagant archway, you are greeted by...another golden flower. But hold on. This one is looking right back at you!
Flowey: Howdy!
Flowey: I'm Flowey! Flowey the flower.
What a friendly little guy. You should totally go and greet him. You are positive that is the right choice to make right now, and nothing could possibly go wrong at all.
Flowey: It looks like you're new to the underground. Golly! You must be so confused.
Flowey: But don't worry. I'll take good care of you. I'll even show you how things work down here. Ready?
John: uhh...
Flowey: Splendid!
Flowey: You see that heart? That is your soul-
John: wow, really?
Flowey: -The very culmination of your being-
John: it's so cute and small and blue!
John: oh fuck yes i can move it around!
Flowey: ...Your soul is weak for now. But it can grow strong if you gain a lot of LV!
John: level?
Flowey: ...No...LOVE, of course!
John: lame...
Flowey: Down here. Love is shared through...Little white...'friendliness pellets'.
John: gay!
Flowey: ...You want some love, don't ya?
John: i dunno, sounds pretty gay.
Flowey: Just...Move around and get as many as you can!
John: alright. if that is how things are done down here, i'll embrace the blatant homosexuality just this once.
You move around and get as many gay-...I mean 'friendliness pellets' as you can.
John: ouch!
Flowey: You idiot!
John: holy shit that hurt!
Flowey: Oh man, it feels so good to finally shut you up.
Flowey: DIE!
Just when you think you are about to die – which would have been a very shitty way for your adventure to end – a fireball appears and knocks the living shit out of that demonic flower. Yeah convenient fireball! You get him!
It looks like there's someone else here. You keep your guard up this time. In hindsight, maybe you should have kept it up from the beginning.
No, don't flip ME off, John. You only have yourself to blame. Sheesh.
Toriel: Oh, what a terrible creature, torturing such a poor, innocent youth.
Toriel: Worry not, my child, I am Toriel, caretaker of the Ruins. I have taken it upon myself to check every day, to see if anyone has fallen down.
Toriel: Come. I will guide you.
She seems nice.
You follow Toriel out of this chamber and into the next, all the while using your own legs, and all the while keeping your guard up.
Oh look! A little yellow thing on the ground.
Although your experience with little yellow things has gone abysmally so far, what could it hurt for you to just...reach down and...touch it...
Suddenly, you are filled with DETERMINATION!
You also realize all your wounds are healed. You feel much better now.
Toriel leads you through another room, and a series of puzzles. But you barely pay any attention to them. Surely they won't be of any importance later on. Surely.
HoNk!
What the hell was that?
You choose to ignore the ominous sound, confident that won't become relevant later on, either.
Toriel leads you into a small chamber, inhabited only by a dummy.
Toriel: Now my child, being a human in the underground, monsters may try to attack you.
Toriel: When you encounter a monster, you will enter a FIGHT. But do not fret. Stall for time. Talk to the monster, and I will come to resolve the conflict. ]:D
John: uh...what?
You suddenly become aware of the hammer in your hand. You brought it along to fight off any cakes your lusus attempted to feed you today. However, now you may have found another use for it. Good ol' monster bashing!
Toriel: Here. Practice talking to the dummy.
You stare at the dummy in front of you. It stares back. A strife menu is activated, and four options appear in front of you:
FIGHT ACT ITEM MERCY
Fight seems the obvious choice. But it's just a dummy. The item option doesn't even work. Maybe because your pockets are empty. Fuck it. You hit ACT and TALK to the dummy.
John: um...hi.
Dummy: ...
John: nice weather to...
John: fill some buckets.
John: don't you think? ;B
You wiggle your eyebrows at the dummy and decide to spew profanity, because there is no way this could come back to haunt you later. And there is no way that was a pun.
For a moment, you feel as though the dummy gave you a look like 0_0 but you shrug it off because Toriel seems happy with you.
You won! You got 0 EXP and 0 GOLD. You don't know what that means, but it pisses you off anyway.
hOnK!
As Toriel leads you through yet more puzzles, and into a large chamber, you begin to decide you can trust her. She seems genuine enough. She hasn't tried to eat you or bombard your poor little adorable blue heart soul with 'friendliness pellets'. Yes, you will tag along with her until you find an exit. You are almost certain she won't abandon you before then.
Toriel: You have done excellently thus far, my child.
Toriel: However, I have a difficult request to ask of you.
John: oh shit! Do you want me to battle a dragon and rescue the whole of the underground?
Toriel: Wh-what?
John: or like, slay a whole army of the undead?
Toriel: I...
John: or play a video game that sucks me straight out of this reality and into a big wacky adventure with a group of friends i haven't met yet? where i become like a god with awesome powers and cool as shit pyjamas?
Toriel: My child...I would just like you to walk to the end of this room.
John: walk?
Toriel: Yes. Alone.
John: ...oh...
Toriel takes off faster than you can say, well fuck, she abandoned me after all. You try to follow and catch up, but by some magic force out of your control, she is already gone.
God damn this room is long! And that music isn't helping, either.
You feel something could jumpscare you at any moment...
Any moment...
Any moment now...
Oh sweet troll Jegus in a bucket there it is!
Toriel ambushes you from behind a randomly placed pillar, looking pleased with her ability to scare the absolute fuck out of you. You're pretty sure your little blue heart soul just disintegrated. RIP little blue buddy. You will be missed.
Toriel: Are you listening, my child?
John: huh?
Toriel: I said, I will give you a cell phone. Feel free to contact me at any time.
Toriel: Be good, alright?
Toriel: Oh, and do not leave this room until I get back. It is dangerous ahead.
Well shit. Now you are well and truly alone. You guess you could always just take a peek at the next room...
John- Disobey orders from your new goat lusus.
You decide to step out into the next chamber, and the moment your foot crosses the threshold, your phone begins to ring.
How do they always know!
John: i didn't leave the room!
Toriel: That is good, my child. ]:D Just wait a little longer.
Toriel: I was just calling to make sure you are alright.
John: yeah i'm fine.
John: totally still where you left me, and everything.
Toriel: Great! Well, call me if you need anything.
Oh dear, it looks like she really trusted you to stay where you were. You really feel like a total douche now. But look! Another little yellow thing. You should go touch it.
Again, you are filled with DETERMINATION. You feel this may be important.
To the North, there is a completely blacked out doorway. Hm...Sounds like a whopping good time!
You enter the room and find yourself face to face with a bowl of monster candy. The sign says: 'Take one.'
Take a piece of candy?
You take a piece of candy, and immediately find that the ITEM option is now available. Looks like you have quite a bit of space.
You take another piece of candy, while simultaneously feeling like the scum of the Earth. But you don't stop there! That candy looks hella delicious. You are unable to stop yourself grabbing more.
The bowl tips over and spills all the candy on the floor.
Look at what you've done, you greedy asshole.
You decide to explore the Ruins. They don't seem so tough! If every room is like the dummy room, or the candy room, or the ridiculously long room with the randomly placed pillar, this will be a breeze! Show Toriel you're an independent child.
As you go, you feel eyes watching you, and clutch your hammer in anticipation. You're really in the mood to slay evil beasts right now! Bring them on!
Almost immediately after you think this, one of the aforementioned evil beasts approaches.
It's a Froggit. This monster looks a little slow.
The strife menu pops into existence, but before you decide to bash the little guy's brains out with your super cool customized hammer, you drag your adorable little blue soul heart over to the ACT option. This monster doesn't seem so bad. And you think you'd feel terrible if you senselessly pummelled it to death without at least trying to make it uncomfortable enough to leave on its own first.
You decide to compliment the Froggit.
John: that's a nice...er...slimy thing you've got going on.
John: you must get all the frog ladies.
The Froggit stops being angry, and blushes. Although you feel like it didn't understand a word you said.
It fires a few half hearted magical attacks at your soul, which you dodge effortlessly.
The Froggit's name is now yellow. You're not completely sure what that means, but you suppose that's progress. Although, it isn't just giving up like the dummy. Probably because the Froggit is a sentient, if not dim-witted being. Too proud to back down itself. But, at the same time, you can't bring yourself to raise your hammer to such an adorable opponent, no matter how awesome it is, or how suited to monster bashing it happens to be.
No, you'll leave FIGHT alone for now. ACT seems to have served its purpose in calming the little guy, and you don't want to give him any of your delicious candy. You try the MERCY option, and find two more choices: SPARE and FLEE.
You shall not abscond like a coward! So you decide to be the bigger man and refuse to fight.
You spare the Froggit. You won! And...you got 0 EXP and 2 GOLD. At least that's more than the cheap ass dummy gave you, but it still pisses you off.
You wander around a bit more, encountering and conquering more adorable monsters as you go. And by conquering, you mean sparing them mercifully. You begin to want to use your hammer less and less. In fact, you are certain beyond any reasonable shadow of a doubt that they are now your friends.
John- Become leader of the cute little monsters of the Ruins.
You parade around for an hour or so, loving every awesome moment of the little Froggit's and Whimsun's and Loox's and Moldsmol's and Vegetoid's sweet attention. You go into great detail as you tell them about your favourite movie, Con Air. It's an ancient one, but oh, you must show them one day! Nic Cage is a God and should be enjoyed by all; even little slime monsters who wiggle their hips flirtatiously. You didn't even know slime could flirt.
As the time ticks by, you think maybe you should contact Toriel soon. It's quite unfair to keep her out of the loop on this sweet Cage celebration. But, again, as the thought crosses your mind, your cell phone begins to ring.
You swear, every lusus must be a psychic, or something.
John: hey toriel.
Toriel: Hello, my child. I am sorry for taking so long.
John: it's fine. i'm having a blast!
John: er...here in this room.
John: which i haven't left.
Toriel: I am glad.
Toriel: I just called to ask you...hypothetically, of course. Do you prefer cinnamon or butterscotch?
John: uh...
For some reason, this question seems familiar to you, and you begin to feel a little uneasy.
Toriel: Oh, wait!
Toriel: Let me guess. Hehe.
Toriel: It is butterscotch, is it not?
John: ...
John: yeah.
Toriel: And you have an allergy to peanuts?
John: um...yes.
Toriel: Alright.
Toriel: I mean, not that it will be relevant any time soon.
John: right
Toriel: Oddly enough, I often feel like I know the humans who fall down here. How bizarre! Hehe.
John: ...haha...yeah. that's pretty crazy...lol.
The feeling of unease only grows as Toriel hangs up. You decide this is enough partying for today, and bid farewell to your new friends.
You don't know if it was the strange déjà vu you just experienced, or if someone spruced up the air conditioning down here, but this corridor is a little thermonuclearly challenged.
Napstablook: Zzzzzzzzzzzz...
Napstablook: Zzzzz...Snore...Zzzz...
Napstablook: Totally asleep right now
This ghost is pretending to sleep. It's so obvious, you almost feel bad disturbing him.
Almost.
You have to get through, after all. The strife menu appears again, as you decide to move it with force.
This guy's name is Napstablook, and they look like they could use some cheerful encouragement.
John: Cheer Napstablook.
John: hey, ghost. do you think you could move over a little bit?
John: only i really think the place i need to be is probably down this way.
Napstablook: Oh no...Have I inconvenienced you?
John: little bit.
Napstablook: Oh no...
Goddamnit John. They're more upset than ever now. Way to go, dick for brains!
Napstablook is inconsolable, and their tears are getting all over your little blue heart soul!
John: ow ow ow! sorry! ok, calm down! you don't have to move, just please stop pelting me with tears!
John: you want cheering up? fine!
John: here's a joke.
John: why couldn't the ghost go to the prom?
John: he had no BODY to go with.
Nabstablook absconds. They have never been so insulted in their entire afterlife!
You won. But at what cost?
Oh well, the next room looks all kinds of interesting. Look! There's even a sign and everything. You should read it.
John- Press Z to read signs.
You read the sign using your eyes because seriously, what the hell? You are a busy man, and you don't have time for bogus commands.
[Spider 8akesale ahead! Come eat food made for spiders, 8y spiders, OF spiders! ::::)]
That sounds a8solutely disgusting. But your curiosity is piqued. You leave 8 GOLD in the web. Some spiders politely hand you a doughnut. It looks like it will be relevant to the plot later, but it also looks almost as disgusting as it sounds. You decide to leave it.
On your way out of the room, something catches your eye. In the corner, you find a dusty old pair of shades. Oh, God they look cool! You can barely fathom the level of coolness they possess. You are absolutely certain that wearing the shades will make you at least 50 times more cool than you are now.
You decide to take the shades and add them to your inventory, inadvertently destroying a cobweb in the process.
You got the Ironic Shades.
As you leave the room, you could swear you just heard a very small, very angry voice call you an 'ASSH8LE!' but you ignore it. It's time to go find Toriel and show her how independent you are!
While you were busy upsetting ghosts, and toying with the emotions of spiders, neither, you are certain, will come back to bite you in the ass later, your adorable new monster friends have deactivated all the puzzles ahead. How kind of them! Unhindered by strife or puzzles, you take time to admire your surroundings. Everything is so purple, except for the leaves scattered about. How could all these leaves get so far into the Ruins? You ponder. Now you think of it, there were no leaves in the golden flower chamber. Perhaps that means there's a way out ahead!
Eager to find an exit, while also being sad about the prospect of leaving behind your new friends, you stumble upon a crossroads. Hm...Which way?
John- Proceed straight forward?
Oh wow! Look at that view. The Ruins are far bigger than you had first thought. So many buildings. It is kind of melancholy, you think. The majority of the buildings look abandoned. What happened down here?
Something on the ground catches your eye, and you realize it is a sword...Er...You think? You pick it up.
You got the Legendary piece of shit!
This is...without a doubt...THE shittiest sword you have ever seen. Can it even be called a sword? It's broken and everything! But you shrug and put it in your pocket anyway. You make a mental note to swap it out for your hammer at some point and try it out. Not on these cute monsters, though. Never on your adorable new comrades.
Speaking of cute monsters, it looks like that Froggit wants to talk to you about something.
Froggit: Ribbit, ribbit.
Froggit: Hello human.
John: hi froggit!
John: er...if that's your name?
John: like, are you all called the same thing? like pokemon.
John: or do you all have individual names and stuff?
Froggit: Ribbit.
John: you didn't get a word of that, did you?
Froggit: Ribbit..
John: ok. i'm going to call you casey.
John: you are a girl, right?
John: can froggit's be girls?
Froggit: Ribbit...
Froggit: Human, there is something I must warn you about.
John: huh? what? oh no, don't tell me that douchey flower has been following me.
John: that guy really makes me uncomfortable with his weird sort of way of coming on to me. doesn't he realize i'm not a homosexual?
Froggit: Ribbit!
John: i mean, if a super hot HUMAN guy came on to me, i might be open to the idea. but he's a goddamn flower! how would that even work?
Froggit: RIBBIT!
Froggit: Human! Shut up!
John: oops, sorry.
Froggit: It's not the flower I want to warn you about.
John: it's not?
Froggit: No. Although, I'm sure he's following you. That's kind of just his thing, the way saying ribbit is a Froggit's thing. But, the one us monsters trapped in here are concerned about, is Toriel.
John: toriel? no way! she's super cool. She gave me a phone and everything. it's really old, but it works. and she keeps calling to see if i'm ok.
Froggit: She's far stronger than everything else here, and it's been said every human she's captured has disappeared. And I'm pretty sure she eats grubs.
John: ew. you mean troll wrigglers? why would she eat those? they're gross!
John: oh no, she's not going to make me eat them too is she?
Froggit: Ribbit. Probably.
Froggit: If she doesn't eat you first.
John: sheesh, you're a really grumpy froggit, you know that?
John: i regret calling you casey now.
John: i'm sure everything's fine. toriel seems really nice.
John: and if not, i just found this sweet sword.
John: ok well, it's not really sweet.
John: it's kind of shitty, actually. but i have my hammer too.
Froggit: Ribbit. You can only use one weapon at a time.
John: what? really?
Froggit: Yes. One weapon, and one defence item.
John: well that's lame. what if i wanted to make a sweet combo attack?
Froggit: You can't.
John: fuck.
Froggit: You'll get used to it.
John: *sigh* i guess.
John: well...later, not casey.
You leave the room, feeling perturbed. Was that little detour really worth it?
HoNk!
Toriel: Oh dear. I should not have left the human for so long! I do hope he is alright.
Just before you can explore the other path, Toriel appears at its entrance, dialling a number on her phone.
Your phone begins to ring, and you answer it.
John: hey toriel.
Toriel: Are you alright?
Toriel: I am on my way back right now.
John: er...
Toriel: Stay where you are. I will continue to help you through the Ruins.
John: toriel, i think there is really no need to do that.
Toriel: My child, it is not safe. There are many monsters, and you may get lost.
John: ...
John: you should probably look behind you.
You hang up your phone just as Toriel turns to see you. Her eyes widen in shock, and you wave awkwardly back at her.
Toriel: How did you-
Toriel: When did you-
Toriel: Are you hurt?
John: nah, i'm fine.
Toriel: You left the room.
John: i...was unclear on where the room ended. it was pretty big.
Toriel: Oh.
Toriel: I apologize for not making it clear.
Toriel: Well...it seems there was no harm done. Come, my child! I have a surprise for you.
You follow Toriel down the unexplored path, and find yourself in a cute little garden. There is a cute little tree in the center. Ironically, there are leaves all over the ground, but none on the tree itself.
One last little yellow thing greets you before you enter Toriel's house, and you grab yourself some of that sweet DETERMINATION.
As you enter Toriel's house, the aroma of baking fills your nose, and you groan inwardly. Yet another lusus obsessed with cake.
Toriel: Can you guess what the surprise is? Tee hee.
John: er...
Toriel: It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie!
John: ...great.
Toriel: Oh, and I have one other surprise!
John: a chocolate cake?
Toriel: No, silly. Follow me.
You follow Toriel down the corridor, and come to a stop at the first door.
Toriel: It is a bedroom of your very own. I want you to be comfortable living here.
John: living here?
John: what?
John: wait! toriel!
John: what do you mean 'living here'?
John: Examine your new bedroom.
You decide that, before making your daring escape, you should at least see what this place has to offer. There might be benefits to living with a big goat monster. She could fuck up all your enemies for one thing. If you had any enemies. Which you don't. Because you've been super nice to everyone down here. There is no way in hell anyone else is going to attack you. Ever.
Entering the room, you find it is pleasantly cosy, if a little dusty. There is a box of toys at the end of the bed. They look as though they haven't been played with for quite a while, which is a shame, because they look really cool. They don't interest you though. You're too old for that sort of stuff!
You sit down on the bed, gazing over at the empty photo frame on the shelf. It's even dustier than the toys.
John- Fall asleep.
You're not entirely sure how, or by what stroke of wizardry you even felt so tired in the first place, but you find yourself waking up, tucked snugly under the blanket. It's dark now, and you feel confused and disorientated.
The aroma of butterscotch-cinnamon pie wafts up from the floor, and you see Toriel has left you a slice.
What a considerate kidnapper. You take the pie and put it in your pocket, along with the monster candy, ironic shades and shitty sword.
Nice.
Nice going, John.
Something else catches your eye while you are busy being ridiculous, and you go see what it is. Is that...a box of children's shoes? Human children's shoes? Ok, now you wonder whether the Froggit was onto something...
John- Explore house.
This house really is cozy, yet it has the same melancholic, lonely feeling as the rest of the Ruins. You don't think Toriel ever has company. This saddens you.
As you examine furniture and faded patches on the walls, where photographs had once hung, you feel an overwhelming amount of sympathy for Toriel.
So much sympathy, that the next room you decide to snoop around in, is Toriel's bedroom.
On the desk is a diary, opened at today's page. Will you read it?
John- Read diary.
'I think he is really beginning to warm to my puns. I hope so. He seems like such a sweet boy, even if he is a little loud. It is nice to have a little company every now and then. I hope he continues to show up.
Oh! I have just remembered a good one!
Why do crabs have to wear mittens when they go to the shop?
So that they do not pinch anything.
Hehehe! I think he will love it.'
You move away from the diary to explore the rest of the room.
Behind you is a very tsundere looking cactus, and to the right, you see a chest of drawers.
You open the top drawer.
Scandalous!
It's Toriel's sock drawer.
Do goat monsters even wear socks?
There is something else by the desk...Oh God is that a bucket?
You recoil in horror and flee from the room before you can see it is merely full of snails.
One more room awaits at the end of the corridor, and you decide to brave it. What could be worse than a bucket, you ponder? Oh God, what if this room is filled with multiples of them! Do you really want to try that handle and reveal the horrors inside?
Well, you can't because it's locked. Which makes it even more suspicious.
You gaze thoughtfully at your reflection in the mirror at the end of the corridor. It's you!
I͂͆͏̗͓̳̰̺̀ţ͖̖̙͔̦̯̬̣ͩ͊̓ͣ̑ͮ̕'̶ͮ̃̍ͨ̓҉̹̳͡s̶̘͈ͥͩ ͙̗̤̙ͮ̽ͣ̽͛ͅy̻̦̜̆̀̏̂̂ͤ͊ͩ̀͡͞o̝͔̬̥͔̾͌̌u̷͈̐̌.͚̥͚͚̘̼͑͑̿̑̇ͭ̊͝.̢̳̰͉͙̹̦̹̠̒̒ͬ͑̔͘̕.̵̖͖̦̣̥̩̝̒͑͌ ̘̭̹̱̞͖̠͇͗͐̈͊̈͘͝͞
J̺͇̻̞̒o̙͖̮͓ͨ̊ͬͯ͑̆͌ͅh̩͒̈́ͨ͗̅̌n̵̢͙̰̍̒̆ͧ̌̿͢:̙̬͈̜͈͌̒͌͌ͭ ̋̎̉ I͛ͪͧͯ҉̥̦̕͞g͙̺ͦ̑̀̎̒n̶̗̤̖̩͊͟ͅo̴̾̓ͮ̂̈̂ͣ͏̘̥̩̗̻͉̭́r̢̼̫͓̆̀ͩ͝e̴͊̌̿ͯ͏̡͔̞̖ ͉̺̺̋͑ͤͬ͋ͯ̚͜t̷̸̢̺̭ͨ́͗ͣ̅̋̉͗h̖̦̲̣̟̳̜͒̋ͦe ̴̢̫̠̦̗̮̘ͭ̽̿͝g̺̝̘̱̪̰̫̀̇ļ̩̦̳̓ͪ̇ḯ̴ͣ͌̍̉͂ͬͧ̓҉͇͇ẗ̷̘̞̠̱͓́̈́ͭ͗̏͠c͙̮̫̺̻̳̝͎͆ͧ̌̕͜͝ͅḩ̲͙͕ͨ̋̓̚ỉ͛͆ͨ̎͡͏̣͈̝̻n̢͎͕̥̹͈͚͙ͩ̒̐ͤ̾͐̊ͩ̾̀g̡͉̺̹̬̣̞ͦ͗͗ͧ͐́̈̃̀̀ ̤͈̖̯ͬͤͪ́ͣį͍͎̩̣̀̂n͉̹͚͉̗͍͓̏͒̽͜ ̳͕ͫͮ͟ṭ̷͎ͪ͛́̀͞h̪̭̦ͦ̿̈́̀͝e͈̺̓̅̉̀͢ ͔͓̈̈́̉̅͆M ̳̺̪à̵͍̖̦̽̌ͫ̃́t̘͓̳͈͖̥̬̭̗̽̏̑͗r̷̴̪̞͔̹̺͙͖̯ͬͤͬi̺̠̰̲̊̍̀̒̀͘̕ͅx͓̦̪̌̿ͬ͌ͭͩ̾̒͟͝͝ ̯͖̯̺̝͚̔̀͛ͩ̏̓͛ͫ͡a̢̙͔̺͚̺ͦ̅̌ͪ̽ͧͯ̍͐ͅn̞͈̳̖̙̬͑̈́ͫ̋͐͞d̵̞͇̰͍̞͎̂͊̓͋́͜ ̵̢̜̝͖̪͎̳̲̪͆̾̐͐͞g ͇͓ơ̞̣̰̩̅ͣͅ ͋ͥ͌ͬ͛͊҉̣͞f̷̡̗͔̜̐̒̐͂̽͠i̡͕̰̳͓̓ͮ́ͦ̚̕͠ņ̞͓̹̠͎͈̲̽̓͑̈ͩͨ͟d̝̹͑̋͌͐̽͊ͧ̊͋́͝ ̴͔͖͉͈̜̻ͭ̆̿ͣ̽̓ͣ̄̕͝T̙̮͖͔̪͓̖̏̈ͅỏ̧͚͚͔̯̈́̈͑̃ͯr͚̘̰͉͎̞̉́ͅḭ̥ͯe̶̥̪̣̯̦ͥ͌ͮͤ͂̐̃͆ͦl̨̠̘̗̹͈̤̖̅͆͗̑͌̇ͦ.̠͕̻̞̝̬̮̙͙̏̊
Toriel is in the living room, reading a book in a comfy looking chair. The scent of butterscotch-cinnamon pie is heavy in this room.
You wouldn't mind staying here just a little longer, but you really don't want to out stay your welcome.
John: hey.
Toriel: Oh, awake so soon?
Toriel: What is it, my child?
John: um...thanks for the pie, and the bed and everything. but i really should get going.
John: my lusus can get a bit full on when he's worried. i bet he's baked like a dozen cakes already since i've been gone.
Toriel: You...wish to leave?
John: yes, very much so.
Toriel: But, my child, THIS is your home now.
John: ...no...no i don't think it is.
Toriel: Wouldn't you like to stay and help me finish this book?
John: no, i should definitely be on my way now.
Toriel: It is fun though, see!
Toriel: Here, here is a fascinating snail fact-
John: a who now?
John: no, toriel. i am super grateful for everything, but i really have to leave.
Toriel: ...
John: toriel?
Toriel: ...
Toriel: I have to do something.
John: huh?
Before you can fathom what the hell that was all about, Toriel flees the room. She even left her book so you're pretty sure she's up to some serious business. But you don't have time to wait for her to get done with whatever shenanigan she's boggled herself down with in an attempt to shun this awkward conversation. Plus, you're pretty sure she's doing something to prevent you from leaving.
John- Follow Toriel.
You follow Toriel down into the basement. The homely feel upstairs is completely gone now. Something big is about to happen and you don't think you're going to like it.
Rummaging in your pockets, you switch your defence and attack items to the ironic shades and legendary piece of shit. You're more protected this way. Also, you look pretty badass, you think.
Toriel's eyes flash with a sort of sad recognition.
Toriel: You foolish child.
Toriel: Please go back upstairs.
Toriel: I am trying to protect you, do you not see?
Toriel: Every human who comes down here...They all leave eventually...And they all die. If I let you go...ASGORE will kill you.
Toriel: I am going to destroy the exit to the rest of the underground. No human will have to suffer at his hands ever again.
John: no, no. that is a thing you definitely shouldn't do.
John: i can protect myself. i've been doing a pretty sweet job of it so far.
Toriel: Hmph.
Toriel: You want to prove yourself?
John: wha-
Toriel: Fine! Prove yourself. Prove to me you are strong enough to survive!
The strife menu appears in front of you, as Toriel blocks the door ahead. You stand your ground, and stay Determined!
No matter how hard she attacks. No matter how much she refuses to calm down. No matter how much she rejects all attempts to talk, you refuse to fight back. Toriel is tough, but you don't feel she is evil. You get the feeling that harming her would be a big mistake. An almost looming feeling of déjà vu keeps you in place, using the shitty sword only as a shield.
The shades only provide a little extra defence, and you're down to your last monster candy. They replenish your health about as well as the little glowy yellow things. Your health is down to two, whatever that means. But it doesn't sound good. You should probably use that last monster candy.
But, just as you reach for it, you realize something. Toriel's aim is off. Is she not trying to hit you any more?
You refuse to fight one more time, deciding to take the chance.
Toriel: Huh?
Toriel: What are you doing?
John: ...
Toriel: Attack me!
Toriel: Attack me right now, or go back upstairs!
Toriel: You will never defeat Asgore this way!
John: it's not asgore i'm fighting.
John: it's you, and you're a good person. and i refuse to hurt a good person.
Toriel: ...
Toriel: Please.
Toriel: Please...Just go back upstairs!
Toriel: You could be happy here.
Toriel: WE could be happy here.
Toriel: I will make sure you are never lonely.
Toriel: I can be your friend, and teacher, and guardian.
Toriel: So...Please...Stop being so defiant!
John: ...
John: i'm sorry toriel, but i can't do that.
Toriel: ...
Toriel: Hehe...
Toriel: I really am pathetic, am I not?
Toriel: I can not even save the life of one child.
Toriel: Go ahead. I will not stop you. I just hope you can prove me wrong.
John: Be hugged by Toriel.
Toriel: Goodbye, my child. And good luck.
You watch as Toriel walks away, feeling like literal garbage. Maybe, once you have used your shitty sword to defeat Asgore, who sounds like a total asshole, maybe you can come back and help Toriel.
You proceed up the long corridor ahead towards the exit of the Ruins. You are confident about the journey ahead, and Determined to succeed.
End of Level 1.