Chapter Nine
"So, another human has fallen down, you say?" A low and deep voice rumbled throughout the darkness, as the massive figure in the shadows sitting there placed a gauntlet clad fist under his chin thoughtful. His dark red glowing eyes stared down at the ugly black flower under the only ray of light in this room, where his many subjects may prostrate themselves before the throne.
"Y-Yes, my king! They seem to be older than the others, but still small and frail!" The flower was fast-talking when reporting their discovery from the Ruins.
"And what excuse, slave," the king's words increasingly grew… displeased. "Have you for not bringing said human before me…?"
The flower quivered in fright and with nothing but fear in its eyes, stuttered.
"R-R-Regrettably T-T-T-Toriel, s-s-stumbled u-upon the h-human before I—" But the flower quivered even more when the throne's stone arms cracked under the king's massive paws.
"You will follow the human and report its every single movement to me. Hourly. I will know its current whereabouts at all times. Any interests. Secrets. Plans. I will know."
"Y-Y-Y-Yes y-y-your m-majesty! H-Hail to the king!" And the flower with haste burrowed back into the ground to carry out the king's demand.
Though utterly pathetic, even this slave had its uses. Now with it being out of his sight, the king slammed a fist upon the already crumbling arm.
Immediately one of the double doors leading to the throne room opened and the clanking of a lone dark armored figure echoed as one of his royal guards came running.
"What's thy bidding, my king?" The royal guard knelt down and kept its head low under the ray of light.
"Inform the skeleton to guard the entrance to the Ruins until further notice." the king gave his command, while rolling a sizable pebble from the throne's arms between his black armored fingers and claws.
"Then, the so called royal mason will be brought before me, in chains. This pathetic excuse for a throne is nothing but a grave insult to her sovereign!" the king crushed the pebble into crumbs.
"It will be done! My king!" The royal guard replied and began backing away bowing for several steps before turning around and with haste carrying out their given tasks.
It has turned into a routine. Bother the parent. Be thrown back into the cellar. Be let out and endure a long, loud lecture. Then forced to bed.
After the two first times, the child understood it was pointless to bank on the door and beg to be let out. Especially the second time, when sharply told through the door to be quiet.
Though this time it was worse than all the others sitting down here. For the child had accidently bumped into a table and knocked down a bottle with some strong smelling liquid.
Worse was how they even got some of it over their clothes. Making them wrinkle their nose whenever inhaling too deeply and consciously taking tiny breaths to avoid this stench.
At least they could have been allowed to wash it off before being locked down here.
An audible grumble filled the eerie silence and the child held on to their own stomach hungry.
They must have messed up a really big time, for they had never been locked down here for this long…
A pained moan rolled across their dry tongue when accidently shifting too much. This time they had been thrown much harder and carelessly from the top of stairs.
They really messed it up a big time.
The bed softly squeaked when the human stirred from their slumber. The warm blanket pulled closer to their curled up body.
Lying still for a couple of more minutes, the drowsy human eventually rolled around to look over the room.
On first glance nobody seemed to be in here with her. But on the floor next to the bed there was a neat folded pile of her now washed clothes. Including her shoes!
"Chara?" Frisk whispered just in case if the goat-monster was near.
No response.
Tossing the blanket aside with one arm, while the other kept the knife clutched close to her person. Frisk got out of bed and immediately walked over to the closet yawning and stretching her arms high, never letting go of the knife.
With a smile, Frisk opened its two doors.
Too only drop it and close them again disappointed when not finding her demon hiding in there.
I guess Chara hasn't returned yet from her other matters.
She might as well swap out from her borrowed clothes and back into her own again.
Toriel even has used softener! Frisk inhaled deeply the pleasant scent from her sweater. Most surprised that such a thing even existed down here to begin with.
When finished with changing clothes however, she just stared at the knife temporarily lying on the bed. Realizing she would never be able to conceal it on her person due to its large size.
Why had Chara given her a knife of this size? Perhaps she wanted to make Frisk appear intimidating so hostile monsters wouldn't dare approaching her in the first place?
Regardless of the reason, Frisk wasn't comfortable at all with the idea of leaving the knife behind, even if just for a little while. But better than the possible scenario of Toriel finding out and raise questions about it. In particular from where she acquired it.
I am in Toriel's home, after all. I should be safe… Frisk hid Chara's gift under the pillow.
Thinking on which, Frisk hadn't stop pondering on what Chara is doing since falling asleep the previous day. If she now has slept an entire day, that is.
However, just like last time, the human again was increasingly growing more irritated at not having the slightest idea on what the demon is occupied with. Already realized that she is more than dissatisfied with being left in the dark.
Frisk eventually gave up and in frustration just walked out of the room and heading over to the living room. Mayhap stumble upon Toriel instead and see what she is up to.
"Up already, I see?" Toriel greeted her from the armchair with a happy smile. Wearing the same robes but also a pair of reading glasses resting on her snout and a large book in her furry hands (or is it paws?).
The human just nodded while letting out another yawn.
"Well, if you are hungry, there are leftovers from…" but Toriel went quiet and just giggled when the human with hurry walked past her straight towards the kitchen.
Soon, Frisk returned with an already half-eaten slice of pie in hand and a most happy expression while chewing on her latest bite.
"Poor thing! You couldn't have eaten much before falling down." The goat-monster commented when seeing how much she already eaten.
Frisk paused upon hearing this and thought on the nightmare about the starving child.
"Did… I say something?" Toriel looked concerned over her glasses towards her.
Frisk shook her head towards Toriel and shrugged off the thought before sitting down on the floor next to the goat-monster's cloth wrapped feet and the closed fireplace.
"Toriel," Frisk began mouthful but swallowed before continuing. "Is it hands and feet you have, or is it paws?"
"Oh, it's paws, little one." Toriel wiggled all her paws smiling.
"I have been wondering since the first moment I met you." Frisk made a little embarrassed smile.
"Out of all things, that's what has been on your mind?" Toriel looked down at her funny.
"Well… One of many." Frisk shrugged and looked back into the soothing flames.
"Oh, I forgot! This pie is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten!" Frisk praised before taking another huge bite.
"How kind of you! I guess I have to bake now more often during your stay here." Toriel happily replied before returning to reading.
Frisk just stared into the fire, slowly chewing on the bite while regarding Toriel's true intentions.
Still, the goat-monster had been far more than generous to her.
"Toriel. Thank you." Frisk lowered the almost finished slice to her lap.
"For what, little one?" Toriel lowered her book and looked down at her with that motherly smile.
"For taking me in," and gestured down at her now cleaned up clothes. "For washing my clothes. For taking care of me and letting me stay in your home," Frisk gestured around Toriel's home in general. "For everything."
"It was nothing and besides, it's my duty to protect the innocent. Though I want you to know how glad I am to finally have company again that are not… Well, you know." Toriel glanced towards the door leading back into the Ruins.
"Anyway, there are so many old books I want to share. I've also prepared a curriculum for your education! This may come as a surprise to you… but I have always wanted to be a teacher."
What…? Frisk just looked up at her, while finishing her breakfast. More than mildly disturbed that after a day the goat-monster already is planning on educating her?
Though when putting thought into it Frisk admits that Toriel does seem to be the kind of person that would be a great teacher.
"…Actually, perhaps this isn't very surprising. STILL, the point remains and I am glad to have you living here."
"Uh, well… Thanks, I guess?" Frisk replied sheepish, not so into the idea of having to undergo an education.
"So… What are you reading?" Frisk tried to change the subject.
"72 uses for snails."
It was a good thing Frisk already had finished her breakfast. For the human held out her tongue in utter disgust, when remembering that Toriel had mentioned putting snails into a pie.
"Not a fan of snails, I take it?" Toriel giggled.
"No," Frisk shook her head. "They are slimy and disgusting!"
"Oh, I think they are delicious! A perfect ingredient for pies and more." Toriel leaned back licking her lips.
"So how big is the Underground," Frisk desperately changed the topic again before her imagination had to suffer more than it already has. "By our discussion yesterday, you made it sound as it's bigger than just the so called Ruins?"
"Why… yes, the Ruins are just one of many areas…" Toriel replied but her tone shift was notable.
"Is many of these connected to the Ruins? How many areas are there?" Frisk with eagerness continued with follow up questions.
"…Why are you asking?" Toriel looked down at her suspiciously.
Frisk did her best to maintain her innocent visage… But how a dark part of her psyche so wished it was currently holding onto the handle of the knife as precaution.
"So I know where I shouldn't go if I want to avoid the evil king, right? So how would he enter the Ruins?"
"Well… That's actually reasonable thinking, little one." The goat-monster finally seemed to relax. Which made Frisk in turn let out a sigh of relief in her own head.
"The staircase will lead to the only exit. It's closed and will remain so." Toriel gave her a sharp look.
"Then I will avoid it. Thank you, Toriel!" Frisk smiled and warmed her hands against the fire.
Unbeknownst to her, the goat-monster was considering on something that Frisk had mentioned.
"…I have to do something." Toriel suddenly put aside her glasses and book before hastily standing up and hurrying off in the direction of the staircase.
"What is it?" Frisk asked alarmed.
"You stay here. Understood?" Toriel threw her a quick warning glare at the doorway before Frisk heard her rushing down the stairs.
Frisk had a very bad feeling about this and got up on her feet and rushed after Toriel.
But she skidded to a stop next to the stairs when remembering something and had to make a quick detour to the bedroom.
"Chara! I need help!" Frisk cried out while grabbing the knife from under the pillow and resuming with pursuing the goat-monster down the stairs.
Jumping the last couple of steps, soon she was rushing down a long and poorly illuminated tunnel instead.
I just have a bad feeling that Toriel will do something rash— but suddenly the entire tunnel shook violently when hearing further down the tunnel around the corner a loud explosion!
"Is she going to blow up the only exit?!" Frisk caught herself against the wall before sprinting as fast as she could.
Rounding said corner, Frisk spotted further down at the end of the tunnel the goat-monster's back. Her fears confirmed when seeing the raised paws burning with fire and past her a large double stone door with runic marking.
"Please stop!" Frisk yelled as she sprinted up to Toriel.
"You wish to return 'home', do you—" Toriel looked over the shoulder at first, but went silent and slowly turned around when seeing the knife in Frisk's hand.
"So… You have acquired the means to defend yourself…" Toriel stared her down.
Frisk kept glancing nervously at the burning paws which hadn't extinguished.
"This inquiring nature of yours was a most clever deception for gaining the knowledge on how to exit the Ruins as well."
"Please, do not destroy the exit. I must—" But Frisk jumped back when Toriel raised her voice.
"Every human that falls down to here meets the same fate! I have seen it again and again! They come. They leave. They die. Do you not understand that I am only protecting you from him!?"
"You can't just force me to stay down here!" The human protested. The mere thought of being forced against her will earning her ire.
"I can and I will. No innocents will die under my watch again. Now be a good child and go upstairs." Toriel already was turning back around.
"No." Frisk remained.
"Do not try to stop me. This is your final warning." Toriel glanced over the shoulder again.
"It isn't up to you to decide the fate of others." Frisk even dared to take a step forward.
"You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others," Toriel again faced her, but this time her posture entered something akin to a combat stance? "Prove yourself… Prove to me you are strong enough to survive."
And before Frisk could even say anything, she instinctively threw herself down to the floor screaming. Her back feeling the intense heat of the fireball that flew where she had just stood a moment ago! The magical projectile struck the tunnel behind instead and the heat from the explosion alone being unbearable!
"What the hell are you doing?!" Frisk yelled at the crazy goat-monster.
Toriel however was already preparing another magical attack.
She is insane! Frisk this time being aware of the impending attack, only ducked to the side instead and the new fireball rapidly flew by right next to her. This time being in such close proximity its heat was so intense that it nearly burned the skin, before also exploding on the walls behind her.
"I don't want to fig—" But then a third explosion suddenly happened and this one right at her feet that sent her flying through the air and crashing into the nearest wall.
The human just crumbled to the ground and lost the grip to the knife which fell with a metallic clatter next to her.
"This fight is over. Go back upstairs, child." The goat-monster lowered her still burning hands.
The human pushed herself up on shaky arms, the tears already flowing when looking up at the goat-monster towering over her.
"P-Please don't." The trembling human begged.
"Go back upstairs." Toriel took on a stern look.
"Don't hit me!" Frisk begged again and curled up into a fetal position. Holding over her head protectively and trembling violently.
This took Toriel by surprise, the fire vanishing from her paws when her cold expression turned into one of worry.
"S-Sorry I didn't intend to…" Toriel knelt down next to the terror-struck child.
"STAY AWAY!" And Frisk went for the knife and made a wild swing at the monster.
Toriel stumbled backwards with a shocked expression and slowly looked down at the gruesome slash across her abdomen.
"Urgh… Y-You are stronger than I thought." Toriel fell down on one knee with a paw held over her wound.
When looking up again, Toriel went pale when seeing the human standing there but with the now dust— her dust coating the knife pointed towards her. Through the bangs seeing the emotionless red eyes stare directly into hers.
Frisk watched with grim satisfaction when her attacker was now being the one crawling back with fear in her yellow eyes. Now it being the monster being at her mercy!
A precise strike and it would be all over and Frisk raised the blade.
"S-Spare me, please!" Toriel begged with a paw help up.
The hand holding the knife trembled— before the human instead suddenly ran over to the stone doors and with effort push them up.
"W-Wait!" Toriel shouted after her. But when the door was open enough, the human with haste squeezed through and just as quickly shut it again.
Frisk ignored whatever Toriel was yelling through the thick stone door and just kept running down the new but much shorter and utterly decrepit tunnel. Stopping first when entering a small room with something one hardly could call for an open passage at its end.
The human went over to the nearest wall and just collapsed down to the floor. Despite still being high on the adrenaline, she just hugged around her own knees and cried into them. The knife still clutched hard in one hand.
"Greetings."
In fright Frisk looked up but already was pointing the knife at the shadowy entity floating before her.
"You look like a mess." The grinning demon looked her over while lowering to the floor and knelt down in front of her.
Frisk pushed herself up against the wall the closer the demon got to her. Her dust covered hand and knife trembling— until Chara placed her own hand over hers and carefully lowered her arm to the side.
The terrified human just threw herself into Chara's bosom and wailed into her shoulder instead.
"I-I-I d-didn't mean to! I am sorry, so sorry!"
"It's ok. I am here now." Chara stroked the human's head comforting.
It took a long time before Frisk had calmed down somewhat. Now curled up in Chara's lap, while the demon sat against the wall and kept patting and stroking her head this entire time.
"I didn't mean to…" Frisk sobbed.
"I know." Chara replied in a soothing tone.
"Toriel… It all just happened so quickly. Suddenly she was just… attacking me." Frisk was still in disbelief of the goat-monster's choice of action.
"But still, I feel bad for—" But the teary human was silenced by Chara putting a finger over her lips.
"Shh… You were frightened and as you said, Toriel literally attacked you. You aren't the one in the wrong here." Chara tenderly dragged the finger from her lips to wipe the tears.
"She has her healing powers so it isn't like she won't recover." Frisk looked up at Chara for assurance.
"Indeed. She is able to restore herself," Chara assured her. "With the only scar left behind knowing what she tried to force on you."
"Where were you?" Frisk accusingly stared at the shadowy face.
"Occupied with private matters." Chara met her gaze while stroking a claw along Frisk's marked cheek, promptly calming her down.
"You are supposed to guide me. I needed you…" Frisk hid her face in the demon's shoulder again, mentally exhausted from the ordeal.
"You proved to be capable of handling the situation by yourself."
"But she got injured." Frisk mumbled into Chara's sweater-robe.
"The monster almost burned you to ash." The demon reminded her.
"I could have handled it in a better way, I—" but the regretful human went silent when a tender claw was placed under her chin and tilting her head up. Her eyes immediately locked in place by the demonic ones.
All her worries and doubt just like that purged from the mind as she kept staring into the intense red stare of her companion.
"She deserved it, and you know it." Chara reassured her confidently.
"She did almost burn me to ashes…" Frisk agreed with Chara that the goat-monster got what she deserved.
Suddenly Frisk let out a surprised shout when Chara began floating up into the air and lifting her up in the process!
"H-Hey!" Frisk laughed as she clung on to the shadowy demon.
"And there's that radiant smile of yours!"
Frisk's cheeks went aflame by the demon's statement and she bowed her head to cover how flushed she was.
Of course a moment was never dull with the Chara, when seeing her knife suddenly floating up alongside them.
Chara simply shook her head at seeing the goat-monster's dust still on the blade.
"Tsk tsk tsk… Can't have our moment tarnished by bad memories." And Frisk who hadn't thought she could become more flushed, however soon was staring in awe when the knife was engulfed by shadows with an ominous dark red outline. The demon's magic awfully similar to blood both aesthetically and behavior by how it clung on to the blade while flowing downwards. Eventually dripping down to the floor and slowly evaporates into residual smoke before that too dissipated.
"Much better." And Chara through her powers handed it over to Frisk. The blade still 'drenched' with lingering magic, but underneath that it was now as unblemished as when it was gifted to her.
In amazement, the human confidently reached for it while it still reeked with magic.
"Bold." Chara's fanged grin widened while watching Frisk visibly struggle against her powers, regardless how tiny this amount was.
"It hurts…" Frisk with gritted teeth endured it until the demon's magic on both the blade and her hand had vanished altogether.
"Remember that I am a demon," Chara gave her a wide vicious grin and lowered her to the floor. "Still, praises should be given. For not many would be able to endure that."
Frisk didn't know how to feel or respond at hearing that. While yes, she liked hearing that she may possess some form of constitution, she still shook her arm in discomfort. While there might be no visible marks from the demon's magic touching her skin, the flesh underneath was still aching quite some. But the pain was already subsiding.
"So, ready to venture forth into the next area of the Underground?" The demon took a firm hold of her other hand and stared expectantly at her.
"I-I think so…" But the human words reflected the hesitation with taking that first step towards the exit.
It was then Chara gave her a reassuring squeeze, which Frisk returned and with newfound courage dared to take a shaky first step towards the exit.
"Let's see what awaits us next!" The demon's infectious excitement however swiftly instilled more confidence for each next step the human took.
When the pair neared the exit however, the human began to shiver when suddenly a wall of coldness struck her.
But with encouragement from Chara, Frisk pushed on and crossed the threshold.
What the… The human was nothing but flabbergasted for what lay here beyond the Ruins.
A beautiful winter landscape with a thick forest of snow-clad coniferous trees so far one could see. Before them a single but snowy road that lead from the exit and straight into the dark forest.
"Snow and trees?!" Frisk astonished looked back and forth between her shadowy guide and the landscape.
"The Underground is a very special place in more than one way." Chara replied and her tone matched the indifference of the sudden change in environment.
A sudden cold wind came rolling and blasted straight through Frisk's clothes and made her shiver even more. Harshly remind her that they've entered a winter climate.
Despite the cold, Frisk could not but laugh when the demon took on her narrative role.
"Leaving the ruins and that crazy goat-monster behind. And being a step closer in escaping the Underground fills you with determination!"