(Undertale belongs completely to Toby Fox and his supportive crew. This is for show, not dough.)

Chapter Three: Mercy

Nameless studied the puzzled goat-monster. They could see a bit of hurt lacing her reddish irises, causing them to feel even more guilt than before.

Toriel smiled weakly, "What do you mean? You can stay here as long as you want, my child. Just as I have told Namely here."

Nameless saw Namely glance at them, seeing something too glint in their lazy eyes. The two were silent (as in more of Namely because Nameless was a mute). Toriel only glanced at the two before staring down at her lap. Nameless's heart wrenched at the sight of their guardian.

"My children... just go to your room," the goat-monster muttered softly. "Nameless, I'm sure Namely wouldn't mind you sleeping with them. It's been a long day anyway. You two need your rest, okay?"

The two children only nodded. As Nameless slid off of their chair, they took a small glance at Toriel as they saw her in a very thoughtful posture. They tilted their head as Namely suddenly urged them on. The feathered human-turned-monster entity simply followed Namely as they went off to the bedroom.

The next time Nameless woke, they noticed that Namely was gone. Sitting up in confusion, the puny child glanced around the room for their new human companion. The slid out of the butterscotch-colored bed and onto the carpet on the floor. They took notice to the bedroom door, which had been left ajar. They flicked a large ear as they sauntered out of the room. Going down the long hallway, they noticed Namely disappear down the stairs in the foyer of the house. They quickly scampered after their friend as they descended down the stairs. There, in the long purple corridor just past the still tan-skinned human child was the whitish goat-monster herself, facing her back to the two children.

Nameless titled their head in confusion, only to nearly jump when Toriel spoke.

"You two wish to know how to return "home", do you not? Ahead of us lies the end of the Ruins. A one-way exit to the rest of the underground..." Toriel maundered.

Nameless felt glued to their spot, eyes widened as they listened to Toriel, their heart beginning to race. Nameless should've explained themself before this happened. Toriel seemed very upset. And the monster-human wasn't happy with themself for letting that happen to someone who had finally showed them love and care in all of their eight years of life.

"... I'm going to destroy it," Toriel mumbled deeply. "No one will ever be able to leave again." Nameless gaped. "Now... be good children and go upstairs."

Nameless reached a forepaw out as the goat-monster suddenly took off down the hallway. Nameless shot after Namely as they too began to go off. Nameless felt their guilt casually gnawing at their heart as they chased after Toriel. Soon, Toriel came to a stop. The two children also halted.

"Every human that falls down here meets the same fate," she continued. "I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave... They die... You naive children... If you two leave to Ruins... They..." Toriel's voice darkened. "Asgore... Will kill both of you. I am only protecting you, do you two understand?" she paused. "... Go to your room." Another pause. Nameless was confused. How did Toriel know they were once human, since she had spoke to Namely and them both, implying only humans were killed, not strange orphan monsters that were found near a hole that humans usually fell through. Toriel spoke once more, "Ah, Nameless... I bet you are wondering why I had mentioned you too. I know that you are a human... Or at least... once were. I had found another human child shortly after finding Namely near the hole to the surface... bleeding to death. They had been on the verge of death... so I quickly acted. And the strangest thing I had yet to realize after their passing... that the Soul they possessed... was only half of what it should be. It was strange. I was clueless to why that was such a thing... but then I pieced two and two together once I found you two days ago... and realized you radiated the same aura from that dying human I had found merely a day ago. And I am not the only one who would know that you were once a shell of your former self... Monsters are magic. You posses none of that magic, not even what a talented human could. Just being in your presence causes me, even other monsters in these Ruins, to feel off. You may have the outer appearance of a monster, but you are still indeed somewhat human. I could see it when you fell asleep in my arms when I had carried you to my home, some monsters even mentioning that you seemed very strange for a monster. Monster souls and human souls are different... each giving off their own feel. One could tell the difference, if a human or monster were to be morphed into the opposite race. And that is why... I mustn't let you leave as well. I am no sure why you wish to leave... but I cannot allow that."

Nameless stared at the white monster in awe. The human-monster would've never known. Strange to how Namely didn't mention this to them either, but the human was very quiet, so Nameless doubted that they would tell them, especially not to be rude. Toriel went off once more, the two children following after their guardian. The goat-monster stopped at a turn in the corridor, still choosing to not face the two children.

"Do not try to stop me," Toriel told them sternly. "This is your final warning." And off she went once again, the two obviously following.

The purple robed monster halted in a small room at two purple double doors. Her back was still facing the two children. Nameless felt their heart knocking harshly on their chest.

"You two want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. There is only one solution to this... Prove yourselves... Prove to me that you two are strong enough to survive," Toriel turned around, face flushed and full of emotion.

Nameless felt a similar tug at their chest as they saw their naked teal-colored half-Soul appear once more. Nameless took notice that Namely's chest was also alight, theirs being red. Toriel now blocked the way to the doors. Nameless wanted to try and reason to the goat-monster, but the battle was already ensuing. The goat-monster cast magical flames from her hand-like forepaws, causing Nameless and Namely to scatter from the searing fires. Another row of flames came at the two as they ducked. Toriel held a blank, yet stern face. Nameless and Namely did nothing in return, only dodging the attacks. More and more flames erupted from Toriel's paws, each being evaded by the two. Nameless had a rougher time since they were losing a majority of their Soul, but Obstinacy urged them on. With each slew of attacks, they seemed less aimed and more sloppy, as if Toriel was beginning to hold back. Yet she continued to attack them. Namely seemed on top of their game, Determination within them. Nameless tried to become in sync with their companion, only to be nipped by the flames with each throw of them. They felt their strength botch every time they touched the flames by accident, noting a faintly regarding look in Toriel's reddish eyes. The taupe-colored human-monster only evaded the best they could, still deciding not to attack back. They couldn't bring themself to, no matter how scared they were of dying. Their Soul glowed brighter with every drop of Obstinacy being pumped through their system, but flickered dimly with each hit. Namely only got hit once or twice, but seemed full capable of continuing. This only drove Nameless onward.

The more they went on, the lazier Toriel's attacks became.

"What are you two doing?" the goat-monster suddenly asked.

Nameless clutched their stiff feathered tail as more flames spewed from Toriel's paws, only to part to either side of them and Namely. This confused them. They only stood there as they reached out for a flame, only for the magical gas to hover away from their touch.

"Attack or run away!" Toriel commanded.

The two stood still.

"What are you two proving this way?"

They continued to stand still, the flames not even touching the two of them.

"Fight me or leave!"

They stood their ground.

"Stop it."

The flames became weaker as they shot at Nameless and Namely.

Toriel was acting aloof.

"Stop looking at me that way..."

Still nothing.

"Go away!"

They didn't fight back. They refused.

"..." she looked to the side.

Her flames became weaker. Nameless and Namely did nothing in response, only standing in place.

"..." Toriel seemed to frown.

They only stared.

Toriel sighed, "I know you two want to leave, but... "

They kept Sparing her.

"So please... go back upstairs."

They Spared her again.

Toriel smiled softly, "I promise I will take good care of you here."

They Spared her again.

"I know we do not have much, but... "

They Spared her once more.

"We can have a good life here."

Spared.

"Why are you two making this so difficult?"

Spared.

"Please... go upstairs." she frowned.

Spared again.

"..." she frowned even more, sadder than before.

The two children still decided to Spare her.

She smiled sadly, letting out a sad laugh.

They Spared her still, intent on not doing anything to harm her.

"Pathetic, is it not? I cannot save even two mere children."

They Spared her.

She frowned sadly, "..."

The two Spared her once more!

"No, I understand. You two must be unhappy being trapped here. The Ruins are very small once you get used to them. It would not be right for you two to grow up in a place like this." Toriel's eyes glazed over.

"My expectations...

My lonliness...

My fear...

For you my children..."

"I will put them aside."

Nameless felt their chest begin to lighten up as their teal half-Soul vanished, the same for Namely from their blue and purple-striped sweater. Toriel's tone changed, the atmosphere clearing.

"If you two truly wish to leave the Ruins... I will not stop you. However, when you two leave... Please do not come back. I hope you understand."

Nameless suddenly gaped as the tall goat-monster turned around, embracing to two children tenderly. Nameless felt their green eyes begin to water as they clung to her robe, signing a single phrase against her where she could feel it through her robe.

"I know you are sorry my child..." Toriel whispered. "You do not need to apologize. I could tell from the start you were not happy in my home, even though you were satisfied with my treatment towards you. I could see it in your eyes... I could feel it from your Soul. Do not cry... it is not you fault, but mine alone."

Nameless only hugged her tighter, in which Toriel copied. After a few good minutes, the goat-monster released her gentle grip on the children. Nameless still held on to her.

"Goodbye, my children," she told them.

Nameless buried their muzzle in her robe, only for Toriel to reach down a gently remove them from her. She held their forepaws in hers, gently shaking her head. She patted them on their black crest, gently stroking a large pointed ear and wiping a small tear from their troubled eyes. She planted a kiss on their forehead as she turned to Namely and caressed their face and smoothed an uneven part in their shortish brown hair. Toriel sighed as she began walking away from the two, only to stop, turning back around to glance at them. Nameless waved halfheartedly at her as she soon fled. Nameless sniffled as sadness washed over them, only for Namely to rest a hand on their shoulder. Nameless nodded. With that, the two children turned to the vast double doors. Nameless slowly approached one door, Namely approached the other.

And they pushed it open.

As they door creaked open, obviously not have been opened in quite some time, the two were greeted with a silent purple corridor. Shutting the doors behind them, they advanced down the passage. The floor lightened in shade as they proceeded, soon coming to a dark opening in between two brick walls. They both glanced at each other before nodding in agreement and pressing on. The next room was very dark, save for a small patch of grass in grayish light. Nameless's heart caught in their throat as they spotted what was planted in the patch of grass. They halted at his presence.

"Clever..." he grinned impishly. "Verrrryyy clever. You two think you're really smart, don't you?" He smiled cheekily. "In this world, it's killed or be killed. So you were able to play by your own rules, huh?" His face morphed into devilish skeletal features. "You spared the life of single person. Hee hee hee... " he smirked impishly once more. "I bet you feel really great... You didn't kill anybody this time. But what will you two do when you meet a relentless killer? You'll die and you'll die and you'll die. Until you tire of trying. What will you do then?" He beamed monstrously. "Will you kill out of frustration? Or will you give up entirely on this world... " His features morphed back into that skeletal-like expression. "... and let ME inherit the power to control it?" He grinned heartlessly, "I am the prince of this world's future. Don't worry, my little monarchs, my plan isn't regicide. This is SO much more interesting." The flower smirked with a deformed face to Nameless, mimicking their dying expression they had as a human when their Soul was ripped apart in two, "Especially what I have in store for YOU , abomination. You're kind donation is quite precious to what I have for this world." Flowey emitted the other, cracked half of the teal heart-shaped Soul in front of him, "Oh, you do remember, right? Hahahaha! Of course you do! You were there! I can't believe you came crawling back, especially in that guise, making monsters LOVE you as if you don't care about what had happened to you prior to your transformation. HOW HILARIOUSLY PATHETIC. You really ARE a moronic being!" He straightened, laughing maniacally at the two. Nameless felt their chest burn at the notion of the demented flower. He absorbed the Soul back into him, returning back to his passive state, and sliding back into the grass with ease.

Nameless tensed, only for Namely to grip their hand firmly, implying not to let him rile them up. Sighing, Nameless allowed Namely to drag them across to room to a purple entrance.

And everything went white.