Chapter Four
Crystal Fire
Frisk yawned and stretched. Flowey looked up at them. "Awake? Good."
"Did she come in here?" Frisk inquired.
The flower gave her a short nod. "Yes. She did. But she only dropped off a slice of pie."
Frisk smiled. "Pie? Oh! That's so nice of her." The young human clambered to their feet, made the bed, and picked up the pie. The pie was wrapped in something soft but thick to keep away insects or weather. It carefully went onto the dresser.
"I think there are some coats in there," Flowey pointed out. "You'll need it. Snowdin is really cold."
"Oh. Okay. That's a good idea." Frisk opened the wardrobe and pawed through its contents. There were plenty of cozy clothes. However, there were only a few coats. "Um… which one should I take?"
"The one at the end," Flowey advised. "And, um, tell her you got a bit chilly if she asks. You'll warm up soon enough."
"Okay." Frisk gently pulled out the coat and put it on. It was fuzzy on the inside and warm. No fur popped out of the top, bottom, or sleeves. The red and black striped coat looked almost exactly like a sweater- save for the zipper in the front. Frisk about closed the doors to the wardrobe when something swung and hit the recently disturbed clothes. A small bag with a long strap was inside it. With a brilliant smile, Frisk unzipped the coat and put on the bag so that it was hidden under their new coat. The slice of pie went into the bag as well as some candy. The coat was zipped up, the doors closed, and Flowey plucked from dresser.
Frisk happily walked out of the room and into the living room. Toriel looked up. She had just set down some food on the table. "Oh! Awake already, I see? Good!" she purred and smiled. "Do you want some breakfast? You look a bit hungry."
"Yes, Ma'am! Thank you!" Frisk purred and sat down in one of the chairs next to Toriel. It was just about their size. Toriel's chair was much larger. The chair beside that was larger than that. Flowey was set down beside Frisk on the table.
Toriel glared at the flower before turning to Frisk. "Did you have a nice nap?"
Frisk nodded. "Yes. Thank you so much!"
Toriel chuckled. "Oh, you are so welcome, my child. You know, I just wanted to tell you how glad I am to have you here. There are so many old books I want to share. I want to show my favorite bug-hunting spot. I've also prepared a curriculum for your education! This may come as a surprise to you… but I've always wanted to be a teacher. …actually, perhaps that isn't too surprising. STILL." She pursed her lips and smiled again. "I am glad to have you living here."
Frisk smiled, though they could hardly keep it. Here Frisk was conspiring with Flowey to leave when Toriel had done so much! "That is so nice of you. You have such a lovely house." Frisk went on to eat their breakfast. The taste surprised them and almost made them gag on it.
"Is something wrong?" Toriel inquired.
Frisk shook their head. "Oh no! I've just never had food like this before. What is it?" It didn't taste very good. It was like a mix between egg and dirt.
"Oh, it's just some eggs," Toriel informed them. "I didn't have enough seasoning to make a proper breakfast. I'll be getting some more this afternoon. So, I just used monster dust instead."
Flowey's eyes went round in horror. He hid his face before Toriel could look at them. Frisk looked at the food and nodded. Whatever monster dust was, it didn't taste that good. Still, they finished off their breakfast without further complaint.
"You cleaned your plate! Hungry, were you?" Toriel chuckled once they'd finished their breakfast. She gathered up the plates and stood up. "You can go play outside if you would like, Chara-" Toriel cut herself off. Her smile vanished immediately.
"Chara?" Frisk inquired.
"Go outside and play." Toriel stalked into her kitchen. Chara watched her go with a sad look in their gaze.
Frisk jumped to their feet and picked up Flowey. "Why did she just call me that?" Frisk breathed as they walked.
"She… it's nothing," Flowey denied. "It's probably another kid or whatever. Now come on! Now's our chance! We can get out of here!"
Frisk stopped before the door that lead outside. "What?"
"We can leave," Flowey insisted. "Now, while she's distracted!"
Frisk shook their head. "But she's been so nice to me! She can't really be mean… can she…?"
Flowey shook his head. "You don't understand. Six children, Frisk. They have collected six human souls. Every time a human falls down here, I see the same thing again and again. They come. They leave. They die. Don't you understand? I'm only trying to help you! If you don't get out of the Ruins as fast as possible, she, Toriel, will kill you."
"But Flowey…" Frisk turned to the door again. Faintly, they could hear muffled sobs. "Oh no!"
Frisk turned and nearly ran into kitchen when Flowey hissed, "Stop!"
"I have to help her, Flowey. She's sad," Frisk denied.
"Frisk, please trust me. You have to leave. Don't you want to go home?"
Frisk hesitated. "Home?"
Flowey nodded. "Yes. Home. You want to go back to the surface, right? To your family?"
Frisk nodded. "Yes. I… I want to go back to my sister…"
"You can't do that here, Frisk," Flowey pointed out in a gentle voice. "Leave her be. She's just going to lash out at you. She was terse with you just then when you did nothing wrong. Imagine how she'll act if you start asking her about the kid o-or if you do something that humans do that she thinks is bad! You saw the look on her face when she looked at me back when you first fell. Have I done anything wrong?"
Frisk shook their head. "No. But… but she's just… lonely. Maybe we could go outside together."
Flowey shook his head. "No, Frisk. She'll never agree to that. Come on. This is your chance."
The young human sighed and nodded. "A-alright." Frisk stare at the blur of shapes that was the doorway. They couldn't move. They couldn't force themselves to move forward. So, they moved back. Frisk opened the door to Toriel's house and found the shimmering golden light. A feeling of warmth, of determination, flowed through them. But it was not enough. It was as if the magical light did not agree to their leave, either. Still, Frisk closed the door and made their way to the stairs and carefully stepped down each one. A chilled draft wafted through the corridor that they landed in. Frisk continued forward without another word.
Frisk and Flowey turned a corner in the small corridor leading out of the Ruins to see a door. A large, furry hand was set on their shoulder. Frisk jumped and spun around. Toriel, features grim and eyes narrowed, stood before them. "You wish to return 'home', do you not? Ahead of us, right there, lies the end of the Ruins. A one-way exit to the rest of the underground. I am going to destroy it." Toriel walked past them to stand between them and the door. Toriel turned so that they faced them. "No one will ever be able to leave again." Her maroon eyes grew wet. Toriel growled and hid her pain under a snarl. "Do not try and stop me. This is your final warning. Go to your room!"
Frisk stood up straight. "No. I-I won't. I–"
"Humph," Toriel interrupted them with a huff. "You want to leave so badly? You are just like all the others. No. No I won't let you leave. The others out there, they're going to kill you. If they ever catch sight of you, they will murder you! Don't you understand?!"
"B-but–"
"No! I'm not letting you leave!" Every one of Toriel's teeth were bared now. "All I want is for you to be happy, young one. All I want is to never see you suffer. Don't you see? If you leave, they will make you suffer! I just want to give you a painless end!"
Frisk's soul appeared before their chest.
"Toriel- Attack 80, Defense 80. HP 1600. Gatekeeper of the Ruins. She just wants what's best for you." For once, the soft voice that spoke to Frisk made them feel sick. All Toriel wanted to keep them happy.
Frisk shut their eyes and set Flowey down in the corner. "Toriel, I am not going to fight."
"Just as I expected." Toriel growled. "You would never make it out there with that attitude." Fire blazed a brilliant blue-white within her hands. Quite suddenly, the room was warm and it was light. Frisk yelped in fright as they barely dodged each attack. Fire was everywhere. How were they going to dodge all of this?
"I'm not fighting you!" Frisk repeated. "Please!"
"No! You will!" Toriel hissed. "Prove to me that you won't die!"
Frisk attempted to dodge again and again. However, fire got too close. Their soul, their chest, began to heart. Burns caused fissures and cracks to appear on their soul. "Please! Stop!"
"I won't let another be murdered!"
"You don't have to, Toriel! Please! You don't have to let me die!"
"If I let you out you will!" Toriel snarled. Frisk dodged the next barrage of fire, but just barely.
Shaky on their feet, the blind child stared into Toriel's molten gaze. Tears glimmered on the young human's cheeks. "Please. I don't want to die."
Toriel whined and barked, "You will if you leave!"
Frisk tensed and threw their arms in front of themselves. However, the fire brushed harmlessly past. Frisk looked up. Toriel's fire avoided her. The ground and walls were singed and charred. Yet Frisk was still alive. "I… I don't want you to kill me. I don't want to leave."
Toriel's voice was choked. "How can you say that when you tried to sneak out? You- you liar! You're trying to slip your way out, aren't you?" Toriel snarled and threw another fireball at Frisk. Although her muscles tensed under the force she put behind her spell, the fire did not feel hot. The fire rushed past Frisk and hit the wall opposite.
Frisk took a few tentative steps forward. "You don't have to let another one die."
Toriel slumped to her knees. Tears dripped down her snout and onto the floor as she bowed her head. Her face was buried in her hands, now. "I just want you to be happy… I just want my children…" she whimpered. "I just want my husband… I just want my family again…"
Frisk bit their tongue and looked at Flowey. The flower was slumped forward as if wilted. The young human turned back to Toriel. They put their hand on Toriel's shoulder. The old mother raised her great head to look Frisk in the eyes. At this short distance, Frisk could make out the colors of her eyes more distinctly than her snowy fur. "You don't have to fight."
Toriel gasped and bared her teeth in a grimace. "Then why are you trying so hard to leave?"
"I don't want to," Frisk stated and shook their head. "You are so sad and alone. I just… I want you to be happy. I… I have a home at the surface. I don't have much, but we could be happy. We all could be happy!"
For a few long moments, Toriel didn't move. Eventually, the old mother shut her eyes. "I… I…" Then, her snarl came back and her eyes flashed open. Frisk took a few steps back. "You dirty cheater!"
"Wh-what?"
"You're trying to trick me!" Toriel hissed and stood up. "You think that you can offer me something you know I cannot take? You think that I will let you go with my blessing because I'd be too guilty to do otherwise?"
Frisk shook their head. "N-no! No! It's nothing like that. I don't want to hurt you!"
Toriel stepped aside and shoved the doors open. "Go die, then. Just get out of my sight before you do."
Frisk gasped, "Wh-what? No! No, you–"
"LEAVE!" Toriel snarled and raised her hands. Again, they were alight in flame.
Frisk yelped, picked up Flowey, and raced out of the room. The door slammed shut behind them. There was a thunk and eventually, muffled sobs could be heard clearly though the door. Frisk, holding Flowey close to their chest, raced through the small space of a tunnel. It eventually gave way to a cavern of natural rock instead of brick. Sunlight filtered through the ceiling and into a circle of grass. A stone doorway was at the end.
Frisk staggered to a stop and sat down on top of the little circle of grass. A little golden sparkle danced before them. Frisk's fingers brushed the little light. Although their wounds vanished and heat flowed through them, no emotion was stirred from the action. Chara raised their hand to touch Frisk's. They could nearly feel the spirit's touch as if they were a physical human. Frisk set their hand back on their lap.
Flowey sighed. "I… know this is tough. But we have to keep going."
Frisk sniffled and nodded. "I know. I know. Just… give me a second."
"I'm sorry," Flowey mumbled and bowed his head.
Frisk sat down in a more comfortable position and crossed their legs. "Flowey? Do you know anything about Chara? Or Toriel?"
The tattered golden flower looked up at them. "Yes. Toriel had two children. One of them was a human child named Chara. You… you look a lot like them."
"Then why did she try to kill me?"
"Because she's scared of the other monsters, Frisk. Chara died a painful death of sickness. The monsters have become more… sadistic and fierce as time has gone on. Hopelessness and despair have twisted this world into a savage place. I guess she thought that if she killed you now, you wouldn't face the suffering that the monsters outside would give you. Just like they gave to the others." Flowey sighed and shook his head. "Truthfully, she's a very kind woman. But you needed to get out of there for that reason. She's kind, but pain has twisted her morals."
"What if I give them hope?" Frisk inquired.
"Give them hope?" Flowey echoed.
"Yeah. Why is everyone in despair?"
"We're trapped down here," Flowey informed them. "The barrier keeps all monsters trapped underground. Anything can come in, but nothing can come out. We've been here for so long that most of the people here don't know what sunlight feels like. Those that have felt it have long since forgotten it. So, most people just think that this is what life is. It's kill or be killed."
"I'll have to prove them wrong." Frisk got up, Flowey in their arms. "I'm going to show everyone what kindness can do. I don't care how long it takes, I will make sure that no one else has to die." The feeling that the light gave them coursed through their veins. This time, though, the light didn't cause it. It was their own thoughts, their own desires that caused it. It was their own determination. "Come on. It's pretty chilly outside." Frisk zipped down their jacket, held Flowey's boot close to their chest, and zipped it up again. Flowey's head popped up next to their head. Frisk pressed their jacket just under Flowey's boot with their left hand and opened the door with their right one. A chilly blast of snow-flecked air crashed into them as they walked outside.
