The Ruins
Frisk lay in a pool of golden sunlight. For a moment, she wondered if she'd arrived back in the Judgement Hall. Then, looking upwards, she saw the crater of Mt Ebott, just as if she had fallen through it. Beneath her was a bed of golden flowers, crushed when they had broken her fall. Her body ached, so she sat up, gingerly, checking herself for injuries.
I'm ok. A few bruises, but nothing serious. My SOUL.. I feel it's still here with me. I feel.. hopeful!
Overjoyed to be back in this familiar world, she set off through the ruins.
"Oh! A pretty flower..", she said, trying to act surprised and innocent. Flowey had popped his head out of the ground to look at her.
"Howdy! I'm Flowey. Flowey the Flower!" he said, smiling sweetly. "Did you just call me 'pretty'? Golly.." he blushed.
Did you forget, Flowey, how I ripped your stem up from the ground? I still remember you cowering underneath the throne.. Crying and begging for your life.
"You're a talking flower.." said Frisk, "You're REALLY pretty. Will you be my friend?"
A gleam came to Flowey's eye. He smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. "Here's a little something for you, as proof of our friendship. Have some FRIENDLINESS PELLETS!" He waved his petals, and little white thorny shards started to rain down on Frisk. They stung her skin and pierced through her purple striped sweater like needles.
"Help! It hurts!" cried Frisk.
Flowey laughed. It was high, cruel laugh. He was thoroughly enjoying the sight of his victim in pain. He shot sharp pellets at Frisk and tripped her up with his roots as she tried to run. It had been weeks, maybe even months, since he'd had a worthy plaything.
Frisk struggled to her feet, but Flowey coiled one of his tendrils around Frisk's feet and cackled as she fell over again, this time, facedown.
There was some sort of commotion, and Flowey's attacks stopped. Frisk heard a kind voice, one she had missed very much:
"What a terrible creature, torturing such a poor, innocent youth.."
Toriel had come to the rescue. She saw Frisk in pain and rushed to her side.
"Ah, do not be afraid, my child. I am Toriel, caretaker of the ruins. I pass through this place every day to see if anyone has fallen down."
Frisk lay on the cold stony floor of the Ruins, in so much pain she could hardly move. Flowey had tripped her over, several times, and she was battered and bloody. Her elbow smarted where it had struck the floor, and she was clutching it to her body. Trembling, she lifted her head. A white furred hand caressed her cheek and brushed her dishevelled hair back from her face.
Unresisting, she allowed Toriel to pick her up tenderly and carry her.
"Come. I will heal your injuries", Toriel was saying. "I will take good care of you." Seeing Frisk gazing up at her, she smiled warmly.
Toriel carried Frisk into her small tidy house and sat her on the living room table. "Poor child.." she said. She hunted for her glasses and a basket of medicines.
Frisk let Toriel extract all of Flowey's thorns from her body. Toriel was so gentle that it hardly hurt at all. Then she put a soothing ointment on Frisk's wounds. Within seconds, the pain receded.
"How do you feel, my child?" Toriel asked her.
"I feel.. better! Thank you!" said Frisk. As she went to hug Toriel, her stomach rumbled.
"Oh dear.. It has been a while since I had any visitors. I don't have anything for you to eat", said Toriel, looking worried. "I must buy some supplies. And tidying up wouldn't hurt either! Would you mind being good and playing outside while I do some chores?"
Frisk held out her hand for Toriel to hold. She enjoyed the feeling of the warm fur and the cushiony paw pads. She let Toriel lead her through the ruins.
"The ruins are full of puzzles; ancient fusions between diversions and doorkeys. One must solve them to move from room to room" Toriel explained. She demonstrated a simple puzzle to open a door.
They walked past a mural which read: Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road.
I wonder who wrote it, thought Frisk. It doesn't look like something Toriel would do.
Toriel stopped in a courtyard. She pointed to a monster-shaped manikin in a corner. Frisk looked up at her curiously.
"As a human living in the underground, monsters may come up to you. You will need to be prepared for this situation. When you encounter a monster, strike up a friendly conversation. I will come to resolve the conflict."
"This is a monster?" asked Frisk.
"No, but let's pretend it is. Practice talking to the dummy"
Frisk approached the dummy.
"Hello, I don't believe we've met?" said Frisk, holding out her hand to the dummy. "Will you be my friend?"
The dummy didn't reply. It didn't seem much for conversation.
Toriel, however, was happy. "That was perfect! You are learning well", she said, stroking Frisk's head. "Now I must attend to my business, and you must stay alone for a while. Please remain here where it is safe, and play nicely. It is dangerous to explore by yourself. I will be back soon. I know, I'll give you this so you can call me.."
Toriel gave Frisk a cellphone and explained how to use it.
Frisk explored the courtyard and crinkled playfully through the fallen leaves. Several monsters noticed her and came to investigate.
The first she met was a friendly Froggit monster. Just as Toriel taught her, she started a conversation. At first, they didn't understand each other very well, for the Froggit's voice was gravelly and thickly accented, but Frisk said nice things anyway. Her new friend looked flattered and proud. She caught his last remark: "Gin ye'd a' like tae see a richt puddock", said he, "Ye'll never, I'll sweer, get a better nor me."
After bidding the Froggit farewell, a tearful Whimsun fluttered to her side. Frisk thought it looked like a fairy. She held out her hand for it to perch, careful to move slowly for fear of frightening it away. Ever so timidly, meekly, it sat on her hand, and its wings stopped fluttering. Still, it continued to weep. What could she say to comfort it? It would always flit away at the first word she uttered. Just then, some of its powder tickled her nose and she sneezed. The Whimsun fled.
Next, Frisk encountered a squishy Moldsmal. It gave her a sexy wiggle, and she imitated it. At that moment, her cellphone started to ring. It was Toriel. "For no reason in particular, which do you prefer? Cinnamon or snails?"
Frisk stated her definite preference for cinnamon.
A few minutes later, her phone rang again. "You do not DISLIKE snails, do you? I know what your preference is, but.. Would you turn your nose if you found them on your plate?"
Frisk assured Toriel that she was happy to eat anything she was offered.
"Right, right, I understand. Thank you for being patient, by the way." And Toriel hung up.
Toriel came to collect Frisk and found her flirting with the Moldsmal.
"Thank goodness you're safe. I should not have left you alone for so long", said Toriel, shooing the Moldsmal away.
"I made friends! I talked to them, just like you showed me. They were really nice" said Frisk.
Toriel patted Frisk's head. "You're a good child. Come, let's go home."
They went home to Toriel's cottage.
Frisk could see Toriel had made a hasty effort to clean up. She spied a stray sock that had been kicked under a cabinet. She passed by a cupboard that was stuffed full, nearly to bursting. The bookshelves were cluttered with miscellaneous objects that didn't belong there at all. She followed Toriel obediently to the living room.
"Do you smell that? Surprise! It is a Cinnamon-Snail pie. I thought we might celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here."
Toriel cut two pieces of the pie and they ate them together. It wasn't nearly as bad as it sounded. Frisk ate every crumb.
"What would you like to do next, my child?" asked Toriel.
"I don't mind. I.. I think I'd enjoy anything, as long as it's with you" replied Frisk.
"How adorable! I could just pinch your cheek. Well then, I have some laundry.. would you like to help me?"
Frisk nodded, smiling.
Toriel filled a large tub with warm water and soap, and washed her clothing by hand. Together, they wrung out each article of clothing and pegged it to the clothes line outside.
Even doing laundry is fun, when I'm with Toriel, she thought. I feel so peaceful. This is what it must be like, to have a family.. to be loved… and cared for. I feel so safe.
With the laundry hung up, Toriel lit a fire in the fireplace and settled herself in her favorite reading chair. Frisk sat on the carpet at her feet.
Toriel stroked Frisk's cheek. "I want you to know how glad I am to have company", she said. "There are so many old books I want to share. You know? I always wanted to be a teacher."
Frisk asked for, and got, a history lesson.
Then they went to Toriel's favorite bug hunting spot and collected grasshoppers and beetles in a bucket.
Later, they made gingerbread monsters and baked them in the oven. Toriel melted a chocolate bar and let Frisk decorate them.
That evening, Toriel tucked Frisk into bed.
"I have another surprise for you: a room of your own. This room is yours. I hope you like it."
"Will you read me a story, Mom?"
"Did you just call me 'Mom', little one?"
Frisk nodded shyly.
"Well, I suppose.. would that make you happy? To call me 'Mother'? Well then, call me whatever you like!"
"Mom! Please read to me.."
"Alright. How about 'Peekaboo with Fluffy Bunny'?"
Toriel found the book and her reading glasses, and snuggled up next to Frisk to read to her. Toriel had a gift for storytelling, and she gave each character a different voice. The story had a surprising amount of depth to it, Frisk thought. Over the course of the book, Fluffy Bunny overcame prejudice and bullying, and by the end, he made true friends.
The story was over, but Frisk didn't want to go to bed. Not quite yet.
Flirt? Why not?
Frisk did something she had always wanted to try: she nose-nuzzled Toriel on her whiskery, velvety nose.
Toriel's eyes fluttered wide open with surprise. "Oh my!" she exclaimed, "You are a strange child.."
But Frisk clung to her and kept nuzzling, and soon, Toriel was nuzzling her right back.
NIGHT
Frisk couldn't sleep. She ran through her resolution again in her head. This would be the last time she visited the Underground. She would put everything right, lead the monsters up to the surface, and let them live peacefully. No more meddling.
Let it be a happy ending. Everyone was so kind, and I repaid them with betrayal. This time, I'll be good – I'll save everyone. Then I'll leave them alone.
Was it Frisk's imagination? Was there something in the room, besides herself? When she kept still and listened intently, it seemed it was only Toriel, whose room was next door, turning over in her sleep, or snoring softly. But why does it sound as if there's something in the room with me?
No matter how well she wrapped herself in the bedcovers, she couldn't seem to get warm.
Frisk must have fallen asleep, because she was suddenly jolted awake. There were sounds of activity coming from… below her? From the basement? That could only mean one thing – Toriel was destroying the exit to the Ruins.
Already? Why is she doing it so soon? In previous sojourns in the Ruins, Toriel wouldn't think to destroy the exit by herself. It had to be triggered by Frisk getting bored, of showing signs of wanting to leave.
This Underground world is different, in a subtle way, to the one I know.
Frisk gathered her belongings quickly and hurried to the basement.
There was Toriel, preparing a spell that would shatter the pillars that held up the doorway to the Underground.
"Mom! What are you doing?" called Frisk.
"Every child.. meets the same fate", said Toriel, mostly to herself. She looked infinitely sad.
Frisk understood. Every child that fell down the crater of Mount Ebott had been rescued by Toriel. Each of them had wandered out of the ruins and escaped into the Underground. There, they were hunted down by Asgore's Royal Guard and killed. Their SOULs were harvested and collected for the purpose of destroying the barrier that kept the monsters trapped.
Toriel's children had all been killed.
Still, I have a mission. I have given my SOUL to save the monsters of the Underground. As happy as I might be, staying with Toriel, I must do what only I can do.
Frisk pushed past Toriel and slammed into the heavy doors of the Ruins. They didn't budge.
"Please, Mom, stop! I have something really important to do here! Don't destroy it!"
"You'll be killed. Just like all the others. I can't let you leave." Toriel was resolute.
Frisk was just as determined. "I came here for a reason. I have something I need to fix. Now please.. let me through."
They stared at each other for a long time. Neither could move for fear of their dreams being shattered.
"There is only one solution to this." said Toriel. "Prove you are strong enough. Prove you are strong enough to survive!" She summoned fireballs with her hands and hurled them at the stone walls around them.
Frisk didn't even blink.
"Attack or run away"
Frisk calmly sidestepped the fireballs as they came near her. She knew from experience that Toriel was aiming to miss. All she wanted was to keep Frisk safe – she certainly wouldn't hurt her. Frisk remembered the first time they'd had this fight. Toriel had been unable to dissuade Frisk, and Frisk had been too determined and inexperienced. Toriel's fire had caught her clothing alight. The pain had been terrible, but her lasting memory was of Toriel staring in horror, her hands clapped over her mouth.
"Fight me or leave"
And the last time they'd had this encounter..
Genocide. Toriel had fought Frisk to exhaustion, then spared her. Frisk had waited for Toriel to let her guard down, then she'd stabbed her with a stolen kitchen knife. The memory burned.
Sins crawling on her back.
She narrowed her eyes against the pain of that memory. She'd betrayed someone who wanted only to love and protect her.
"Stop looking at me that way", said Toriel, in a hoarse voice.
One of Toriel's fireballs splashed against the stone door and Frisk's sleeve caught on fire. Quickly, she patted out the small flame. Toriel looked shaken and she stopped attacking.
"Please go upstairs now."
Frisk stood her ground.
"I promise I will take good care of you."
Frisk said nothing. Toriel's expression became even more desperate.
"I know we don't have much but, we can have a good life here"
It was a stalemate.
"Why are you making this so difficult? Please, go upstairs."
Frisk was unmoved by Toriel's pleading.
"Pathetic, is it not? I cannot save even a single child.."
Toriel's composure crumbled. All the grief she felt at the loss of her children was reawakened. She couldn't contain it. Frisk darted forward to comfort her.
At last, Toriel dried her eyes. "No, I understand. You would just be unhappy trapped down here. The ruins are very small when you get used to them. It would not be right for you to grow up in a place like this."
She pushed open the stone doors to let Frisk through.
"If you truly wish to leave the ruins, I will not stop you. However, when you leave, please do not come back."
She knelt down and embraced Frisk tightly.
"Goodbye, my child.."
Frisk walked out of the stone doors. She was near to crying too. Was this the last time she would ever see Toriel? It had been so short! And now her time with her adoptive mother was up. She clenched her fists to try to hold back the tears, but it was no use.
This is for the best, she told herself. Toriel will live a peaceful life. Her last child will succeed.
It still hurt.
The sky was starting to lighten. A new day was dawning.
Something moved, right next to her. She jumped back, alarmed.
It was Flowey. "You think you're really smart, don't you? You spared the life of a single person. But what will you do if you meet a relentless killer? You'll die and you'll die and you'll die. Think about it…hee hee hee…"
Frisk carried on walking. It seemed she was being followed by Flowey's creepy laugh, echoing off the walls.