Hello. Sorry for the delay. Had a bit of writer's block about future chapters. Which in all honesty shouldn't have delayed this chapter as bad as it did, considering I pretty much already had this one almost completely planned out. So actually I don't have a good justification for why this chapter took so long other then I was to distract with the future to focus on the present. Unfortunately I can't promise better update schedule for precisely that reason. But don't worry. The next chapter will come. Eventually... With that out of the way. Please, enjoy the chapter!
CH.3
Because I'm not popular, I'll get treated like a toddler!
Due to the better lit conditions of the room they where in, Toriel began to get a better look of Tomoko.
'Goodness! Between her thin complexion, dirty hair, and large eye bags, she looks like she has not ate, bathed or slept well for days! The poor thing. How long was she lost in the wilderness before falling down here?' Toriel observed with concern.
'Well, when we get home. I should make it a priority to give her a filling meal, a soft bed, and a warm bath.'
*Sniff*.
'...Especially a bath...' She concluded. Still bothered by the smell of urine stinging her nose.
After climbing the stairs and entering the next room, Toriel turned to Tomoko and began to talk.
"Welcome to your new home, Tomoko." 'New home!?' "Allow me to educate you in the operation of the RUINS."
'What does she mean by that!? Does she think I'm going to stay here or something? Or is she going to make me stay here? Actually, now that I think about it, it would be pretty cool living here. Fighting monsters everyday, being a keeper of the peace and all that. Being the one to teach new humans that fallen down here how to fight and survive-' "Tomoko?"
Tomoko was broken from her thoughts by Toriel calling her name. She looked up to see that Toriel was on the other side of the room. It was also here that the awkward teen began to actually study the room she was in.
The room was smaller then the last one. The walls and floor was still made of lavender bricks and stone. A lighter lavender path goes through the room form the door she entered through to a door on the other side, a door she was pretty sure was closed when she entered. on the right side of the room was what looked like six buttons on the floor, four of which were pressed down. on the right side of the door, and right behind Toriel, was a golden lever that was pulled down. on the left side of the door was another stone manuscript.
"Y-yes?" The teen finally responded.
"You were paying attention, right?" Toriel asked the oblivious teen.
"U-um..." was her only response.
Toriel simply smiled and made a small giggle. "It is alright. I will explain again. 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."
'Puzzles? Yes! This is getting more and more rpg-like by the second!' Tomoko thought with excitement.
"I would give you a example, but I have already solved the puzzle in this room. But don't worry, there are more to come! now follow me." Toriel said as she walked into the next room.
Before Tomoko followed her, she stopped to read the manuscript on the wall.
[Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road.]
'Cryptic. I wonder what it means?' Tomoko thought before she walked into the next room, still contemplating the meaning of the manuscript.
When she walked into the next room, she sees Toriel waiting right outside the the door with a sign besides her.
"To make progress here, you will need to trigger several switches." 'Yes! My first puzzle!' "Do not worry, I have labelled the ones that you need to flip." Toriel explained to Tomoko before walking off to the right, presumably to wait for the teen to solve the puzzle.
'Labelled!? What, does she think I can't handle it or something? I'll show her!' The teen thought, feeling slightly insulted that Toriel didn't have confidence in her abilities.
Upon looking at the room, Tomoko sees that it stretches out to the right with the light lavender path going in that direction. Two streams of water cut through the room and the path with only simple wooden bridges placed along them which Toriel used to cross earlier. The walls had green vines climbing up their lavender bricks throughout the room. Across the stream, she can see the switches along the wall as well as Toriel waiting on the other side of the stream.
Tomoko's first action was to walk up to and read the sign that was beside Toriel.
[This is how you read signs!]
'...Is this some kind of joke?' Tomoko thought, being rather confused by the sign.
She then noticed another manuscript on the wall behind the sign. The teen then walked up to investigate it.
[Stay on the path.]
'...But I had to walk off the path to read this...' The teen then decided to get back to solving the puzzle. Getting annoyed at the pointless signs.
After crossing the stream, Tomoko walked over to the first switch on the wall. And like Toriel said, it had a label painted on the wall besides it to signify it as such. It even had a message.
[Please press this switch. -Toriel]
'Does she think I'm an idiot or something? a little kid could have figured this out!' Tomoko thought with mild irritation as she flipped the switch.
Toriel smiled with approval at Tomoko before she crossed the second stream and made her way to the end of the room. With Tomoko following after. It was here that the teen noticed that the path out of the room was blocked by moving spikes. On the wall to the side, there was two switches. Only one of them was labelled though.
[Please press this switch too. -Toriel]
Seeing that the writing said pretty much the same thing as the last one, she flipped the switch. And like that, the spikes blocking the door went into the floor.
"Splendid! I am proud of you, Tomoko. Let us move on to the next room." Toriel congratulated Tomoko as she motioned the teen to follow her into the next room.
Tomoko however, was feeling her mild irritation transform into full anger.
'How old does she think I am, 3!? That wasn't even a puzzle! Even a dumbass child could have solved that.' Tomoko thought bitterly at the thought of Toriel treating her like a toddler.
'This other switch doesn't even work! She didn't even need to label anything at all.' The teen observed as she noticed the other switch was rusted solid.
Tomoko nonetheless walked into the next room where Toriel was waiting.
"As a human living in the UNDERGROUND, monsters may attack you. You will need to be prepared for this situation." Toriel began to explain.
'Yes! I'll finally learn how to fight!' The teen thought in excitement.
"However, worry not! The process is simple. When you encounter a monster, you will enter a FIGHT. While you are in a FIGHT, strike up a friendly conversation."
'...What?'
"Stall for time. I will come to resolve the conflict. Practice talking to the dummy." Toriel finished her explanation of the "fight mechanics" of this place before moving to near the exit of this room.
This room was similar to the one a room back. The only difference was that it didn't have a puzzle in it and the exit was to the left. In place of a puzzle, there was a dummy of some sorts to the back of the room.
'A conversation? Does she think I can't fight or something? Just give me a weapon and I can totally resolve a conflict myself!' Tomoko thought in frustration.
She nonetheless walked up to the dummy and decided to do what Toriel asked of her, feeling it wouldn't be a good idea going against her wishes... For now. Once the teen approached it, she herd the same beeping noise plus the pulling sensation on her chest from her meeting with Flowey. She also noticed the box frame appearing into existance this time, surrounding her and the dummy. She looked down to see her gray heart shaped soul floating in front of her chest.
"GAHH!" Tomoko screamed, startled by the return of the strange phenomenon.
'Does this happens every time I fight a monster down here? Even if its just a dummy?' The perturbed teen thought as she looked at the box frame around her.
[You encountered the Dummy]
'W-what was that!?' Tomoko jumped at the strange message that appeared in her head.
[DUMMY - ATK 0 DEF 0 *A cotton heart and a button eye. You are the apple of my eye.]
'...wha?' The awkward teen stared at the dummy blankly. Utterly confused by the message.
'this is really weird! Is this seriously how things work around here? Okay, just do what Toriel said and start a conversation... How am I supposed to do that!? I can barely talk to the kids at my school! how am I supposed to talk to a monster? No, how am I supposed to talk to a dummy!?' The awkward teen began to think about what topics a monster would like to talk about.
'does it work like talking to people? "Hello! would you like to have a conversation!" No... That wouldn't work. Maybe "Hey! those are nice... Stitches? You have there..." NO! That's dumb too! Gahhh, this is so stupid! Why am I sweating so much, it's just a dummy!' Tomoko continued to think up a topic that a monster, or at least a dummy, would like to talk about.
[Dummy tires of your soiled smell and meaningless internal conflicts.]
Tomoko was startled from her thought as another message appeared in her head. She then looks to the dummy only to notice that it's... Floating up?
The dummy was levitating upwards! Making a noise that sounded like a musical instrument. It continued to go up as it hit the ceiling, passing through it like a ghost.
"...Wha?" Was the teen's only response as she watches the dummy disappear into the ceiling. So thoroughly confused that she couldn't even think of a proper response to that.
[YOU WON! You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold.]
She didn't even acknowledge the mental message this time as her soul returned to her chest and the box frame disappears, she looks to Toriel for a answer to what just happened only to see that she looks just as confused as she is. They both just stand there for a while, not exactly sure of what to do. Finally, Toriel speaks up.
"...The next room awaits." She said quickly. As if she would like to leave soon and forget this ever happened. Something Tomoko honestly would like to do herself.
"...This place is weird..." The teen said flatly to herself as she followed Toriel into the next room.
After stepping into the next room, Tomoko notes that it stretches out to the right with a zigzag path going in that direction. Toriel stood on the path in front of her.
"There is another puzzle in this room... I wonder if you can solve it?" She explained before motioning the teen to walk down the path with her.
'Yes! This is my chance! I'll show her that I don't need hand holding. Once we get to the puzzle, I'll use my incredible observation skills to find the solution and complete it before she even finishes her explanation on how to do it!' Tomoko thought as she followed Toriel down the path, which led to a narrow hallway at the end of the room.
'She'll be so impressed by my natural intellect and skills that she'll stop seeing me as a defenseless little kid and start seeing me as a strong and independent woman with a potential for leadership. She will then become my first party member and-' Tomoko was broken from her train of thought by a strange white creature jumping in front of her, followed by her soul coming out of her chest along with the return of the box frame.
'A-a fight!?' Tomoko thought, now starting to get familiar with this strange battle mechanic.
[Froggit attacks you!]
'It's that strange message again.' She was starting to get used to the messages in her head as well...
Upon studying the creature in front of her, she sees that it appears to be a giant frog-like monster with bleach white skin. On it's stomach it has what appears to be a smaller, black face that seems to be looking around.
[Froggit - ATK 4 DEF 5 *Life is difficult for this enemy.]
'ATK? DEF? Oh! It means attack and defense. It's stats!' Thought Tomoko as she began to realize the purpose of the mind messages.
'What am I supposed to do? Fight it? But I don't have a weapon. I guess I should do what Toriel told me to do, for now.' The awkward teen then began to try and think of something to say.
"Eh. Erm, uhh. H-h-hi... I-it's a n-nice da-day outs-side, isn't i-it?" Tomoko awkwardly said to the Froggit.
'It's a nice day outside!? Of all the cliche, stupid things you could say to a frog that lives underground!' She then began to berate herself for the dumb statement.
"Rib-mmmhhhh." The Froggit cried out, it's face scrunching up in disgust.
[Froggit is too distracted by your smell to respond properly]
'My smell!?' Tomoko was rather offended by the message until she sniffed her self, and remembered that she... peed herself not to long ago. And just her luck, it had to be the kind that smelled.
'...I really hope we can get to Toriel's house soon.' The awkward teen wished. Desperately wanting to clean herself up as soon as possible.
The Froggit then looked up, and recoiled a bit at something behind Tomoko. The teen looked behind her only to see Toriel looking down with a glare. At first, Tomoko recoiled as well until she noticed that the glare was actually aimed at the froggit. It then began to slowly slink away from the pair and out of the box.
[YOU WON! You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold.]
The message said as the box disappeared and her soul returned to her body.
"I'm sorry for the distraction. Now come along, the puzzle is this way." Toriel said as she continued walking down the narrow hall.
As Tomoko followed, she noticed another manuscript on the wall. She stopped to read it
[The western room is the eastern room's blueprint.]
'What does this mean? Is it a hint for the next puzzle?' she thought as she continued to Follow Toriel.
At the end of the hallway was another room. The floor of the room was completely flooded with water that looked rather deep. However what really stood out was a platform that floated in the middle of the room and was covered in spikes. A wooden bridge connected the platform to the hallway. Toriel then turned to Tomoko and began to speak.
"This is the puzzle, but-"
She couldn't finish her sentence before Tomoko moved past her, determined to solve the puzzle on her own.
'Okay! This is it. Time to show her how competent I am! so... How do I get past this?' Tomoko thought as she starred down the puzzle.
'Do I jump it? No... Nobody could make a jump that far. Do I swim around it? No. They probably thought of that... Wait, the manuscript! It said that the western room was the eastern room's blueprint! It must mean the room we just passed through. But how does that room tell me how to get past this?' The teen then began to try to think about the details in the other room.
'Maybe the zigzag path? That must be it! Somehow. Just... Walk along the spikes... And I get to the other side. Right? But what if that's not the answer? And I get... Impaled.' Tomoko's knees began to become weak as she stood before the spike trap.
'And even if that's the answer, how do I cross them? Do they go into the ground like the ones in the room before? Are they just a illusion?' She then began shivering as she tried to will herself to cross them.
'And what if I remembered the path incorrectly? I-i could die! No! I can't think like that. I c-can do this. I can p-prove to Toriel that I can-' Her thoughts where interrupted by a furry hand touching her shoulder.
"Here, take my hand for a moment." Toriel said as she stepped up beside Tomoko.
The awkward teen was hesitant for a moment, but eventually took Toriel's hand. They walked to the spikes and sure enough, they did sank into the ground. The two slowly walked in zigzag pattern across the platform that mirrored the path from the room before. Tomoko was at least somewhat glad that she guessed correctly, however it didn't change the fact that the original reason for wanting to do it by herself was to show Toriel that she didn't need someone to hold her hand throughout her trip through the Ruins. Which was exactly what was going on right now. Eventually they made it to the other side of the room. Toriel finally let go of Tomoko's hand and turned to her.
"Puzzles seem a little too dangerous for now. It is probably for the best for us to wait for a safer puzzle for you to do by yourself."
"Y-ye-a. It's pro-probab-bly for the b-best..." The awkward teen agreed shyly as she averted eye contact out of embarrassment.
Toriel then led Tomoko into the next room. But not before the teen looked behind her at the puzzle they just passed.
'...I couldn't do it...' She then followed Toriel into the next room. hanging her head in defeat.
The next room was a straight, incredibly long hallway. After Tomoko entered, Toriel turned to her and began explaining her next challenge.
"You have done excellently thus far, Tomoko. However... I have a difficult request to ask of you."
'Difficult? Is she finally going to teach me something useful here?' Tomoko thought as she hoped that she would finally get a real chance to prove herself.
"I would like you to walk to the end of the room by yourself. Forgive me for this." Toriel finished before dashing to the other end of the room. However, Tomoko was too caught up in her thoughts to notice.
'... Walk to the other end of the room. By myself... What's so difficult about that? Does she honestly believe me to be so pathetic that I couldn't walk down a long straight path without crying for my mom!?' Tomoko thought angrily. it was then that she noticed that Toriel was gone.
'Well, whatever. Might as well do it.' And with that, the teen began walking down the long corridor.
While walking, Tomoko began to think. 'Why is she babying me? Why is she being so nice to me at all. Wasn't it humans that sealed monsters underground? Why would she be so kind to the species that put her here to began with? Maybe this is a trap! That flower from earlier tried to trick me. Perhaps Toriel is trying to do the same? But this seems like a lot of effort just to trick one kid. She could of just made me walk down that spiked platform earlier and let me get impaled. She even could of made me go down it the wrong way. Plus she could have just torched me at after the first room. She has those fire powers after all. Maybe she doesn't hate humans? Wait. Maybe she is trying to adopt me. Like some sort of pet! She does seem really protective of me. And she did say something about this place being my "new home". But no way am I letting that happen! I refuse to be some goat woman's pet. I get enough of that from Kii-chan!' Tomoko Then began to Imagine herself sitting in a pet bed with bowls of dry food and water. wearing a collar around her neck. With Toriel petting her head.
'Wait, maybe she wants to adopt me as her child? She does seem really motherly. And that would be a bit more preferable to being a pet. I still refuse go along with that though. As awesome as being a heroine traveling through this place is, I would still like to go home eventually. I couldn't live underground forever. I still need to get popular. And if there's anything that would give me that, it would be fighting my way through a underground world filled with monsters! I can see the news now! "Japanese high school girl discovers underground realm filled with real yokai and fights her way through them to safety! More at 11." I would make national, no, INTERNATIONAL fame in no time! The whole world will know who I am. People will hail me as a hero! I'll be-' Tomoko was broken from her thoughts by bumping into Toriel, who walked in front of her from behind a pillar.
"Greetings, Tomoko. Do not worry, I did not leave you. I was merely behind this pillar the whole time. Thank you for trusting me." Toriel said. Apparently Tomoko was so deep in thought that she didn't notice that she made it to the other end of the room.
"However, there was a important reason for this exercise." Toriel continued.
"W-what was i-it?" The awkward teen asked. Her contemplation on Toriel's motives still on her mind.
"To test your independence, Tomoko." The goat woman answered.
"My... I-independence?" Tomoko asked.
"Yes. You see, I must attend to some business, and you must stay alone for a while. please remain here, Tomoko. It's dangerous to explore by yourself." Toriel explained to Tomoko.
'She's going to leave me? And I'm supposed to stay here? She's not the boss of me! Wait. What if something attacks me while she's gone? I don't have a weapon!' Tomoko began to worry. Being left alone in a place like this without a means to protect herself.
"B-but Toriel. What i-if som-something at-at-tacks me while your gone? How am I supposed to f-fight back, I d-don't have a weapon!" The teen voiced her concerns to Toriel.
"There is no need to fight back Tomoko. Almost any fight here can be solved peacefully without violence by talking to a monster and showing a little mercy. You just need to reach out and understand the monster that is confronting you. And from there, you can pacify them. You may even make a new friend! Showing mercy is highly regarded around here. Still, it is safer to remain here. As monsters rarely come through here and I shouldn't be gone long. You will be alright my child." Toriel said to ease Tomoko's worries.
She then began to think of something that could help. "I have an idea. I will give you a cell phone." 'They have cell phone down here?' "If you get attacked, or if you have a need for anything, just call."
"I-I already have a ph-phone, thank you." Tomoko said as she showed her phone. Still rather surprised that they have technology that up to date down here.
"That may be the case. But unfortunately, human cell phones are incompatible with ours. So here. Take this." The goat woman said, giving Tomoko...
'A flip phone? Huh, guess they are not quite as up to date as humans are' Tomoko thought as she examined the phone.
"Now be good, alright?" Toriel said before leaving the room. To do whatever it is that she needed to do alone.
"Well, guess there isn't much to do other then to wait. I still don't want to take my chances with this place without a means to fight back. So I'll do what Toriel asked of me for now." Tomoko said as she sat down in front of the pillar, to think and daydream to pass the time until Toriel returned...
It had been a few minutes since Toriel left Tomoko alone in the room. And Tomoko already got tired of day dreaming
"Whats taking her so long. Wait. What if this is a trap! Leaving me here alone so other monsters can kill me! ...No. If she was okay with the idea of other monsters killing me, she wouldn't have intervened when Flowey attack me. What was even up with him anyway? He disappeared after Toriel blasted him across the room. Is he still alive? If he is, where is he now?" Tomoko wondered in hopes of passing the time.
"And that kid... What's his deal? Was that meeting with him really just a dream? I haven't seen him at all after I got down here. Maybe I can only meet him when I'm sleeping? But then how did I see him in the cave before I fell down here? I was wide awake then! And didn't he said he'll help me? Yet the only person that was helping me so far is Toriel. Some "help" he turned out to be. Maybe it's those messages I keep getting in my head in every fight? But those weren't helpful at all! Just confusing. In all honesty, he kinda give me a bad vibe. I probably should of put some thought into it before agreeing with his deal. For all I know he could be like Kyubey. Tricking people into making contracts with him with the promise of fun and adventure only for the other party to end up dying in misery and despair, while he reaps the benefits of the deal. And I probably walked right into it like a sucker..." The teen thought as she contemplated motives of the mystery boy.
"GAHH! When will Toriel return!? I Can't just leave without her. I don't have any means of fighting monsters by myself! Beside, she would probably be angry about me leaving if I meet her again. Which I probably will. And I still need to use her bathroom to clean myself. I don't want to smell like piss throughout me whole adventure here." Tomoko Said. Getting impatient with how long Toriel's been gone.
"Maybe if I called her." The teen pulled out the phone Toriel gave her.
She examined it. It's been a really long time since she used a phone like this. She was unsure if she remembered how to use one. Ultimately she did, and she noticed a number was already saved to speed dial. Toriel's no doubt. She pressed it and waited for a response.
"This is Toriel. Is that you Tomoko?" The goat woman said form the other side of the line.
"Y-yea. I j-just wanted to say he-hello is all." 'What? No, that's stupid! I wanted to call to know how long she'll be gone!' Tomoko answered, then berated herself for her reply.
"You only wanted to say hello...? Well then. 'Hello!' I hope that suffices. hee hee." Toriel replied warmly. Even a bit jollily.
'At least she's understanding.' "No... W-well. Actually. I w-would like to know w-when you'll b-be coming back." The teen corrected herself. Wanting to get to the point of the call.
"Oh... Well, I am close to my intended destination. It should be about... 40 minutes before I return. Without distractions of course. I hope this is not to troubling for you. Is something wrong?" Toriel answered. Sounding slightly worried.
"N-no no! I-it's fine. I just wanted t-to know how long it will be i-is all." Tomoko said. Wanting to reassure Toriel she is alright.
'Wait. Why am I concerned of her being worried?' The teen asked herself.
"Aright. Well, I will be going then. take care." And with that, she hung up.
Tomoko then sat there. thinking about what to do next.
"...Why was I concerned about her? She has been treating me like I'm a stupid toddler since I got here. And doesn't treats or respects me like the mature young woman I am. I'm still mad about the fact she thought I needed those switches to be labelled." Tomoko said, trying to figure out why she was said the things she said.
*Sniff sniff* "Ugh, the smell. Hay! There was pools of water in the other rooms. Maybe if I go back and take a quick dip in one of them to rinse myself off it could help? I would be soaking wet though. And cold. And Toriel said I had to stay in this room. But she'll understand, right? And it'll only be a quick dip. Just enough to get rid of the smell. There shouldn't be a problem with that." Tomoko then got up and started making her way to the last room.
However, she caught a quick glimpse of something sinking into the ground in front of her. She couldn't make out exactly what it was, but judging by the green, white, and yellow coloration and the flower like shape, she had a good idea of what it was.
'F-Flowey!? Hes here? is he stalking me? Oh no... I'm alone! Was he waiting for this? Does he want revenge? Is he going to kill me? Oh God, I still don't have a weapon!' Tomoko then began to panic.
'I can't wait for Toriel to come back! I got to leave. I got to get out of here! But Toriel said that the Ruins where dangerous. Then again, considering the way she's been treating me, she probably thinks a cute little puppy would be too "dangerous" for me. And in all honesty I rather take the Ruin's chances then stay in this room with Flowey! I'm pretty sure she'll understand.' The teen then decided. If Flowey was following her, she would need to keep moving. Regardless of what Toriel said.
She quickly walked back to the side of the room with the pillar. Once there, she stood in front of the door Toriel left through sometime ago. Preparing herself for the journey ahead. She was frightened. Having no weapons or means to fight with. But thinking about what Toriel told her, about how the monsters here considered mercy a virtue, and that they can be pacified by simply talking to them, she started to gain some confidence about making it to somewhere safe. Until the implication of that hit her.
'Wait. Talking to humans is hard enough. How am I going to talk monsters out of killing me? Oh God. This could be harder then I thought.' She thought as she began worry.
Nonetheless, she steeled her nerves, gathered her determination, and walked through the door. Somewhat ready to face whatever the underground will throw at her...
Till next time. Whenever that will be...