Chapter 1.

A/N: Hello, this is my first fanfic of Undertale, so please go easy on me! Let me know what you think or if there should be any changes made as for the accuracy if any facts are misplaced in further readings. Rating may change upon future chapters for language, gore, and suggestive themes. Thanks for reading!

This wasn't right, I should not be here…anywhere but here. The Underground was no place for a human, and I scolded myself for letting my curiosity get the better of me. You would think of all people that knew first hand out how dangerous and aggressive monsters were, having told your younger siblings to stay away from Mount Ebott, I would have refrained from venturing up to investigate further on my own subjective matters.

It was true that I have never personally seen a monster nor considered climbing the steep mountain side for whatever reason there could have been at the time, being I just always trusted my parents and took the tales of the Underground very seriously. I wish now though that I could have actually put two and two together: If you continue lying to yourself for such a long time having no personal reference to back up your beliefs, than you bound to doubt everything you've thought or were told. Maybe if I can get back home I could warn my siblings from ever attempting to try and seek out this place…if I can get back that is.

I wasn't even going to get very close to the opening, its vast and dark abyss being more than enough to drive someone away from seeking it out further. Perhaps it was the slope of the mountain that seemed to have worn away from…certain factors, (I tried not to think of it as being other children having fallen carving down the slope…) but it could have just been because I am so clumsy and stepped to close to the bowl of the mountain.

A slip and fall would have been dressing this situation nicely, wrapping it with the "dusting yourself off and getting up again" motive, but I found it difficult to try and nullify how serious and…uncertainty that had begun to rise in my stomach when I had finally stopped tumbling into the cavern.

The impact itself is hard to describe, being that I had not actually landed on the hard earth that I deemed expectable, but rather thick mustard yellow flowers that had seemed to reach up and hug me close as I reached the ground. It was almost as if they were expecting me to fall into the underground opening, stretching their petals out to ensure a softer landing as my screams quieted down having realized what happened.

The walls were a dusty gold, or perhaps a copper hue that was illuminated barley by the light of from the surface. The ground though, at least around the flowers, was growing thick green grass with the exception of grey slate like gravel stretching out down the area. Upon looking up I could see just how far I had actually fallen, and realized that if the flowers weren't there to…catch me, I probably would have suffered greatly from the impact.

Drawing my thoughts away from the atmosphere of dust and dirt that fell from the surfaces edge, I slowly leaned up as the flowers seemed to relax, easing me gently to a sitting position as I looked around once more before my eyes began to widen slightly.

"This can't be happening." My voice was barely above a whisper as I saw there was no possible way that I could get back home from the way I came, my eyes staring upwards at the mid-day sky with anxious anxiety. Visible dust from the fall was still floating in the air as well as sparkles of copper like dust that littered the place. I lowered my head glancing at the flowers that curled under me, their petals a soft waxy texture with thick stems and glowing disks that reflected a deep orange.

My eyes lingered on the flowers a moment longer, before I felt a slight shake go through my body as my heart rate increased. What could be described as a choking or perhaps a strangled cough was heard as both the sharp intake of air and watery eyes began to flood my surrounding. A lingering feeling of fear that I continued to try and push at the back of my mind, began to wedge its way through my thoughts as I really took everything in perspective.

Growing fear began to consume me as I unconsciously gripped the flowers beneath me, their form almost molding in my hands like playdough as I shook my head in denial. I was more afraid of never seeing my family again than actually dying here alone and confused in this underground hell hole. My voice hiccupped as I tried to calm myself down, "S-Stop crying, R-Ren." The confidence or comfort that I tried to give myself yearned for re-encouragement or assurance that despite what was happening, I still had control over the situation. "Try and think…m-mom is probably fixing lunch right n-now and Sophia a-and T-Travis are…" my lips curled back as my eyes forced themselves shut, brows burrowing down as I let out a sob. "They're waiting for y-you to get back from the s-store."

Lying was the last thing I ever did, unless I thought it to be out of good measure or for the benefit of everyone in the situation. But in this case, I was being selfish enough to actually tell them I would only be going down to the market to pick up a cake mix for a fun activity. Of course my heart ached slightly when I saw their smiles grow wide, their feet jumping up and down as they asked for a specific kind of cake. I told myself that after I made a quick look at the mountain that wasn't far from the market, that I would go back and pick them up two cake boxes for them…partially to make them happy, but more to compensate for my guilt.

I hadn't even noticed the flowers that had begun to lean into me, not even seemingly bothered by the fact I was partially sitting or lying on them. I liked to think it was in some manner of a comforting gesture, but I was too overcome with emotion to focus on anything else. With a shaking hand, I gently placed my palm on the flowers side, staring at them with a slight whine as I shook my head. "What have I done…?"

It could have been a little over an hour before I actually collected myself and decided that this would be the very last place anyone would think of looking for me when they realized I was gone, and that my best bet was to get up and try and find my way home through another means. I recall as I got up with careful measure to not hurt the yellow flowers, that they almost seemed to turn to me as I left, and a part of me wanted nothing more than to stay with them and wait for a rescue.

Little did I know that getting home was going to be more difficult than I could have ever imagined.

The thought of running into monsters was certainly unnerving, but thinking of what could actually be lurking in the dark itself scared me more than anything. I was pretty fast for only being close to five foot in height, which meant if push comes to shove, I could always run away-

…

My thoughts though stated to freeze and I felt my heart skip a beat as I leaned against the wall of the cavern for support, not because I saw something…I heard something, and it was screaming.

I didn't move for a moment, the sounds of crying overdrawn with pain sending me into shock. It was so…heart wrenching and terrified, that I too felt tears flood my vision as I took an unconscious step back after hearing the voice cry out again, this time with the sound of what I could only describe as slashing something…or someone.

My body shook and I looked over my shoulder back to the flowers that were now only a slight mold of yellow and orange in the distance, the thought of returning to them almost making me feel sick to my stomach as I heard more cries and unnerving factors. The thought of actually turning and running away made me wince. I may be a liar…but I was not about to turn into a coward.

With nervous hands I guided myself against the wall, feeling the bumps and growths of earth that jutted out in the process. My lip quivered and my stomach turned as I heard a faint mumble along with another cry, two distinct voices echoing in the hollow as I treaded my feet in the dark. What was I going to do? Watch and see what happens? Try and help? I couldn't think though as I got closer, light beginning to filter on my face as I slowly came to a pause. My hands tightened on the corner of the wall, my eyes widening as I took everything in at once.

A large white creature that resembled something along the lines of a goat species, stood shakenly with its hand at its side, a visible amount of red pigment spilling onto the floor. Its eyes…her eyes I assumed were mixed between horror and betrayal, almost like she didn't expect something to happen to anyone, especially her. A faint whisper, one word that I almost didn't catch over the increased breathing I was beginning to feel, caused me to lock up with shock. "You…"

It sounded so confused and understanding at the same time, like events leading up to this moment made sense. The blood that continued to spill over as she almost fell to her knees made sense, the hanging silence in the air between the two individual's made sense…the girl, with her back turned to me and a bloodied knife in hand, made sense.

I was so horrified that I didn't hear the next few words she whispered, her eyes widening and narrowing as she reached out hesitantly before drawing back seemingly frightened. The sound of the goat creature thumping against something brought me back to my senses as I stepped forward slightly, my eyes drawing concern as she tightened her hand over her side, the other stretching outwards as if to get away or stand in denial once more.

"To think…" the creature whispered shaking her head, tears beginning to spill over soaking her fur. Her lilac dress that she was wearing began to soak through more, and I could see she had been struck in more than one place. "To think, I was worried you wouldn't fit in out there." She continued leaning more against what looked to be a heavy door. I felt myself perk up slightly, wondering if that door would actually lead back to the surface had me stepping outwards again, before the creature let out a chocked scream.

My eyes snapped back and I could see the human, the girl with the knife digging into the monsters chest, as the creature's right arm that had been stretched out, reached forward to grasp her shoulder as another wave of disbelief struck her. I felt my insides turn, my head slowly shaking as I stared onwards trying to put my thoughts into actions. Run and help, call out and say something! But my feet stayed glued to the floor, my mouth sewn shut as the human pulled back roughly, causing the monster to lose her balance and fall to one knee.

This wasn't right. This was not right. Monsters…humans shouldn't be attacking monsters. A slight laugh caught me off guard as I focused back in on the two, the creature shaking her head. "I thought I was protecting you from them…" my heart tightened slightly, the sound of a nurturing tone taken hold on those words. There was another still silence, my eyes trained on the human who stood awaiting, before I felt something focus in on me.

A pair of golden brown eyes locked on my forest green stare. A mixture of near fear and relief overtook her gaze, before they closed turning back to the human that stood before her. I let out a slight gasp, feeling an empty ache inside my chest, tear away from me as our gaze was cut off by another slight laugh, painfully shaking the monsters form as she lowered her head. "But…" the goat began again, her brows going down as her teeth grit with discomfort. Her eyes snapped open once more, locking on my gaze once more, the empty feeling being filled again, but this time with what felt like remorse, pity, and fear being thrown at me at once. "I was protecting them, from you."

Time seemed to stand still, as I felt a wave of pain and an aching desire to rush up between the two as the human lifted their hand with knife in grip, before a sickening sound of flesh being torn and a muffled scream sent me reeling. I turned away, my back to the scene as I fell to my knees, dry heaving with a growing red face and salty tears that began to make my eyes throb from the excess sobbing. I couldn't stop crying, my audible voice more than enough to alert any creature below that I was here, my presence no longer a question.

My hands gripped the dirt around me, the slight texture of dampened sand forming beneath my hands as I slowly with whatever energy I had to crawl back towards the flowers, and away from the murder I just witnessed. My voice didn't cease to stop crying, nor did the individual who heard it that decided to slowly approach from behind.

I knew they were there, and I was terrified. My shaking limbs didn't help at all as I tried to continue inching my way on the floor, before I felt a firm grip grab my shoulder, causing me to freeze in my tracks. The hand didn't move, but the images of the human lifting the knife over that monster, drilled itself into my head as I pictured the same was about to happen to me. My breathing hitched as my open mouthed gasp turned into a bared grimace of teeth, as I tucked my head beneath my chest as the hand began to slowly apply pressure, pushing me down on the dusty floor.

I was about to die and my emotions were making my thoughts blurry and breathing irregular, as my stomach and chest touched the cold ground, the hand still on hold of my shoulder caused me to let in a sharp intake of air, feeling dirt rest between my teeth. This was going to hurt, I was never going to see my brother, sister, or my dad again. If it was as bad as what I had saw, this human won't show any mercy towards me-

…what?

My body froze and my rambling thoughts ceased, as I felt a hand begin to gently rub my shoulder in a circular motion as I felt the other person body rest closely against my side. The feeling was distracting and I felt my eyes squint shut as I turned my head away trying not to make my sobs any louder than they were. The hand didn't stop rubbing my shoulder and the back of my neck, the thought of being chocked or having my vertebrae snapped causing me to shake under their touch.

"Hey…" a soft voice broke the routinely sounds of my sobbing, as well as the silence that followed as their hand stopped moving but rested lightly on the middle of my back. I didn't move, nor did I answer. My heart was racing so fast that I could hear and feel my pulse in every nerve of my body, even under the human's hand that gently and slowly began rubbing my back once more. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you. Please, don't be afraid."

I could tell the way they were talking that it was a child, a young female to say the least. How on Earth could a child, a child attack and kill a monster? Did they know something that I didn't? Were they going to spare me because I was a human just like them?

Their hand began to travel back over my shoulder once more before giving a gentle squeeze, causing me to flinch slightly as my racing thoughts sent questions through my mind. "I promise I am not going to hurt you, I was trying to get away from that monster…" the child's voice almost sounded desperate, and I had to stop and remind myself that this person just killed someone. For all I knew this could be a trick. But the sound of sniffling caused me to stop and listen, before their hand pulled away and I heard the sound of the knife dropping on the ground. "Please, I just wanted to get away, they were trying to hurt me and I'm…"

My protective instincts of what was similar to when my siblings cried sent a wave of guilt over me, before slowly and very cautiously, I turned my head to rest my eyes on the said humans face.

Big deep copper eyes, almost the slight color of a reddened hue rested on me as their small hands began to rub away tears that began to fall. There were visible bruises and a few scratches that covered their face, the long sleeve shirt having a few tears in it as well. The shoulder length brown hair seemed to have dry cakes of blood in it, and I had to hold back a slight gag as I had a flash back of what I saw.

"Please, I'm so scared…" they said again, this time covering their face with their hands and letting out a soft sob. My eyes stared as my expression began to change, a feeling between comforting them and getting away mixing between the two. But seeing the knife was dropped, looked like she even had thrown it a good distance from us, gave me the courage to gently reach out and touch their head. The child let out a slight gasp at the touch, but quickly leaned into my hand before showing their face once more and sniffling with a frown. "I'm…I'm sorry I scared you."

It was that one sentence that snapped me back into a collected composure, trying to act my age and gently nodding before taking my hand and holding their extended one. Their big eyes searched my face for a sign of understanding, and I swallowed slightly trying to give what one could consider a comforting hug. The child sensing this did not hesitate to reach out and lock their arms around me, burrowing their face in my chest and curling up in my lap. My hands quickly found the back of their head as my arm snaked around their back, holding them protectively close against me as I let out a slight gasp of relief and control.

The young girl didn't seem to be interested in letting go, and at the moment I was willing to let that slide. The contact of holding a child against me made me realize that this young little girl, may have fallen as well…scared and confused, not having any guidance or protection from what was below. Almost sensing my thoughts, the girl looked up at me with big rose copper eyes before frowning with a sniff.

"I wanna go home." Her voice was above a whisper as she tucked her head back into my chest. I stared at her for a moment before unconsciously nodding, running my right hand over their head in a comforting gesture. "I wanna go home…please." She said again, this time tightening her hold on me.

Home. Yes, we both wanted to go home. Carefully taking my arm that was around them, I slowly looked back over my shoulder to the flowers before my gaze looked to the child. How long have they been down here? I didn't recognize them, but that didn't mean that they couldn't have fallen into the underground recently. It took me a minute to realize that the child had asked me a question, having leaned back slightly to look at my face expectantly.

"Huh? I'm sorry sweetheart, what did you ask?" I whispered looking back down at them apologetically. The child nodded seeing they had my attention before carefully reaching out and gently holding a piece of my loose blonde curls. My name, they wanted to know my name. I swallowed thickly trying to keep my voice from cracking. "Renee', but my friends call me Ren."

The child nodded hearing this, looking up at me nervously. "Can…can I call you Ren?" The desperation in their voice hurt me, and I quickly nodded earning a slight smile from them as they hugged me back quickly. I heard their sniffling slow down as they seemed to relax slightly in my hold. I could smell the faintness of blood on their clothes, and I shuddered slightly causing them to look up at me before frowning.

"We need to find a way out of here." I whispered, almost more to myself as I carefully stood with them still gripping onto me. Shifting them gently onto my hip, I looked around the inside of the cavern, glancing back at the door that the monster was slaughtered at. I grimaced, the last place I wanted to actually turn to was there, but I knew that from where I had fallen there wasn't any other paths. Carefully watching my step, I made myself wayward to the premises, trying to hold a stoic face as I glanced about the room.

The creature was nowhere to be seen.

I felt a slight jump in my chest at the sudden though that, maybe, just maybe they had survived and got away, but my thoughts were interrupted as the child looked over with a neutral expression, almost seeming to know exactly what I was thinking. "Monsters," she whispered, a bit of vile at the end of her tongue. "When they die…they kind of just fade away." My eyes softened slightly hearing this, partially because I felt a sense of remorse for the said being, and also for the fact this child seemed so mature in all the wrong ways being how young that they seemed.

I paused in front of the door, seeing a bit of the monsters dress scattered by my feet. I turned my head looking to see there was only one way to actually get to this area other than the flower path, but that alone seemed like it was out of chance that I managed to find my way where they were. The child locked their arms around me once more, leaning their head against me. I stared down at the dress, closing my eyes for a moment as I tried my best to block out the screams and horrible images that replayed over and over in my mind.

"I never asked," I began opening my eyes glancing to the brunette. Her eyes flittered over to me, almost expectantly as I tried my best to give a smile. "I never asked what your name was." Right as the words left me, I felt a distorted wave of nausea and dizziness over take me as I barely made it to the ground without dropping the child in my grip. The girl seemed relatively calm but took my hand in her own, helping me down as I let out a slight groan.

I felt like the room was spinning, seeing double of the girl as her voice seemed distant. I tried blinking a multiple of times to clear my daze, but that seemed to only make it worse as I felt a hand touch my forehead. "Ren." My name came out clear and my eyes felt scattered as I opened them to see the child with a strange expression on her face. I could tell she wanted my attention, but I was finding it as the seconds passed that it was becoming difficult to stay focused, to stay conscious.

"This isn't…" my words came out jumbled as I felt a sharp intake of breath rake through my body, as a hand came pushing on my chest. The feeling didn't hurt, but it was certainly making my head spin more than it already was. Trying to reach out to grab the child's hand, hoping to make the room stop moving and to get the growing sound of voices out of my head, I felt another jab in my chest.

This time, it hurt. A lot.

I let out a muffled cry unsure whether I was having a heart attack or if something was actually attacking. The child seemed to almost sit on top of me, but I could tell that she was still sitting beside me, trying to hold me against her as I felt another cry escape my lips. What was happening? The voices got louder, and I shut my eyes with a grimace feeling like they were yelling in my ears.

Yet as soon as it began, it all stopped abruptly. I felt my body stop shaking, I felt the child touch my head and chest again with a feather like touch.

Ren…

Her voice was distant as I heard my name being whispered in my ear.

Don't worry. I will take…

I felt my eyes flutter shut, the dizziness gone but a new found exhaustion stifling through me. My body wanted to sleep but I continued trying to fight the growing darkness that began to engulf my form. I had to get home. I had to get us home. But before I could think anymore, I felt the world stop. My heart skipped a beat as my body became numb.

Chara…you.