Nowhere to Go but Foward

Alanna woke with the room drenched in twilight. The covers which Toriel had carefully tucked around her were now tangled about her legs. Alanna fought the covers off and carefully padded out of the room. Her leg still gave her some trouble, but it was incredible how quickly Toriel had helped heal her. The house was silent, a fire still gently crackling in the fireplace. Alanna wondered briefly if the fire was dangerous, but seeming to sense her presence it grew a bit brighter, she could feel the heat from where she stood.

A large pie, much bigger than Alanna could ever eat, was sitting in the kitchen. The air held its sweet scent. Alanna turned away from the pie heading back into the other wing of the house. Toriel's door was cracked the smallest bit open. She could see her breathing slowly, tucked into her own bed. Alanna crept past heading back towards the bathroom, but paused when she saw a large mirror at the end of the hall.

She crept towards it almost afraid of what she would see. It was Alanna. The first thing people would notice about her was the huge and untamed mane of red hair. Because of the excitement the previous day her hair was matted and clumped together. Her pale skin was interrupted by a galaxy of freckles, and her golden eyes rimmed with dark lashes still looked exhausted. The bags under her eyes were a pronounced purple and there were a few small cuts that decorated her face. The most noticeable being across her right cheek.

Alanna reached up and touched the spot, not realizing that she even had cuts on her face. The cut was sore but nothing compared to the rest of her body. The cuts on her arms and her stomach were rather touchy. They didn't seem infected but they certainly weren't gone. Neither was the pain in her leg. Her hair was a lost cause without a brush.

She stepped away from the mirror and headed back into the living room, feeling restless. The fire greeted her with increased warmth and she tucked herself back into the large soft chair. The fire crackled, and Alanna wondered briefly if it was attempting to speak to her.

It was possible…she did fall down a hole into a mountain where magic and monsters were real. At this point Alanna felt as if she had rolled a crit 1 in this strange fantasy quest she had been thrust into.

The strange twilight in the house caught Alanna by surprise. She couldn't quite understand where the light came from in the Underground, but whatever light there was had been muted. It felt like it was in the middle of the night. Alanna wondered if she had been noticed missing yet. She had a few days of vacation before needing to go back to work, and her parents rarely contacted her. At least Toriel found her, she would have most certainly died in one way or another.

Very slowly the darkness began to lift. Alanna curled further into herself and let her mind drift. She wondered how the small orphan child Frisk had survived the fall.

"Alanna?" Toriel's voice broke her from the slight doze that she had been drifting in and out of.

"Good morning," Alanna said turning to see Toriel standing in front of her looking slightly worried. Alanna wondered if she was always so worried. "Sorry I stole your seat." She said sliding out of the chair. Her leg ached horribly but she found she could bear it. Toriel seemed to be the slightest bit relieved that she stood so quickly.

"I attempted to fix your clothing," Toriel said holding out a small bundle. "Your pants were almost beyond saving. But I think I patched them sufficiently."

"Oh thank god!" Alanna gasped taking her clothes back. "No offense," she said quickly, "it's just I really missed having a bra and panties. I'm not one to go commando." She felt that there was no salvaging the situation but her mouth kept running. A bad habit of hers. "And I usually don't wear dresses so I keep tripping on it…I mean….thank you."

"You are quite welcome, child." Toriel beamed.

"Toriel, how long has it been since Frisk left here?" The smile fell away from Toriel's face. It was strange to see the instant worry and sadness.

"A few months. The child stayed with me for about a month before they left." She answered after a moment.

"You worry about them a lot don't you?"

Toriel watched Alanna for a moment, and then her face broke. Large tears rolling down her face. "Every day," she admitted, "the Monsters beyond the Ruins….they….no." There was a sudden anger. "Asgore will kill the child. They are most likely dead. I have tried so many times to save you humans, but there is no stopping your kind."

"Have you tried to contact them?"

Toriel's face scrunched up angrily. "That…. annoying dog took my phone! I no longer have Frisk's number. I tried to get them to stop…"

"Yeah, we're a determined lot." Alanna said reaching and lightly touching her shoulder. "Once we set our mind to something it's hard to dissuade us."

"I assume you will leave too."

Alanna looked to Toriel and found her heart aching for her. Alanna did not make friends easily. She needed people, but only those already close to her. All the time she had spent in Ebott and she only had a few acquaintances. She had been so lonely, and she felt drawn to Toriel in a way that was beyond her. She wanted to help her. Alanna wasn't sure why.

"I can go look for Frisk," Alanna said softly, "or I can stay here for a while until I'm fully healed. But if I'm going to look for Frisk, sooner is probably better."

Toriel watched her a shocked expression on her face. There was a strange moment of breathlessness. "You would do this for me?"

"It's the least I can do."

"It could mean your death." Her pink eyes bore into Alanna.

"Yeah…."

"Are you not afraid of dying?"

Alanna paused. She was unsure of how to express her thoughts. "It's not that I'm fearless when it comes to death….but…I was facing it earlier when I fell down here. I'll face it again even if I'm suddenly put back on the Surface. I'll have to get out eventually, and it seems the only way out is forward."

"You do not even know how to fight."

"I thought you preferred to act."

"Alanna," Toriel said her voice dead serious, "if you are to do this I will teach you to fight. Follow me outside."

"Um….dress?" She asked touching the fabric.

"Your dress will work. We do not want to dirty your clothes too early." Toriel said already heading outside. Alanna sighed and placed her clothes onto the chair.

Alanna followed Toriel, wondering what exactly she had in mind. Toriel had advocated acting instead of fighting.

The light had picked back up outside, and Alanna glanced back to the house. The yard was so tidy and the house so natural looking within its cavern that Alanna felt a surge of determination to help Toriel.

Game Saved. Another two note run.

"Alanna," Toriel began turning towards the small red-head.

"Toriel," Alanna replied gritting her teeth in preparation. She knew that in order to fight it would make her soul glow again.

"Brace yourself."