Pre Chapter Notes: Back on track after the rocky situation surrounding the last chapter. This chapter is mostly fluff and character development but there are a few important things in here.
Not much else to say in that regard, so without further ado, let's jump in.
Chapter 4: Promise
A number of things ran through the minds of the two humans as to what they might find at the end of their trek through the Ruins. A great archway leading to a towering spire overlooking the city below. A shimmering magical palace lingering on the edge of a dream. A glorious fountain promising vitality to all who would drink of Its crystalline waters. And yes, perhaps one final puzzle to challenge their wit and prove them worthy.
Instead they were met with the sight of a rather large tree. Its bark was black as pitch and its limbs barren. A thick pile of the same crimson leaves they'd seen throughout the Ruins blanketed its half exposed roots. To Lily, it looked like it might have once been an impressive specimen but had long sense fallen prey to the subpar environment in which it was forced to grow. Yet, in spite of its misfortune, it still seemed to live on even now, and she found herself admiring it all the same.
In the distance, beyond the tree's thick bole came the sound of a voice: a soft, comforting sound that Frisk quickly recognized
"Oh dear, that took longer than I thought it would. I should probably call and check on him." The voice spoke as it drew nearer. A few moments later the phone in Frisks pocket began to ring. The caller must have heard it to, as by the second tone, before the boy even had a chance to answer, a gasp sounded from behind the tree.
A second later saw Toriel emerge from behind it. She quickly pocketed the phone and rushed over to the small child. Frisk could sense the worry she exuded, even if he could not see her expressions. Lily, on the other hand, noticed both and quite clearly at that. The compassionate caretaker's fuzzy hands gripped Frisk's shoulders gently, a tremble of anxiety betraying the calm of her voice.
"How did you get here, my child! Are you hurt?" She asked softly, hurriedly checking him over for any injuries.
Frisk shook his head. "It's okay. I'm fine, see?"
Toriel's nerves calmed when she realized he was telling the truth.
"Hmm, not a scratch. Impressive!" She said with relief, and a bit of surprise. "But good heavens, you walked all the way here?"
"Sorry…" Frisk lowered his head softly. "I know you said to wait, but…"
His sentence trailed off, but Toriel merely smiled. "There, there little one. I am not angry. But I am curious as to how you managed to reach this place. I thought it would prove quite difficult for one without sight to pass through the Ruins unharmed."
"Lily helped me." Frisk told her, and the spectral girl beamed with pride. "We got through them together!"
"Oh, your little friend?" Toriel asked. She looked around in another vain attempt to locate Frisk's companion. "She is better now?"
Frisk proceeded to explain the Monster Candy and how it had healed both of them as well as their little field trip through the Ruins. Toriel wasn't quite sure what to make of the information. In most cases the motherly monster would have written off the story as the classic case of a child with an imaginary friend. But the fact that this 'imaginary' friend was capable of guiding a blind human through the Ruins' myriad puzzles and traps was not something to overlook.
She hid her uncertainty behind a motherly grin and gently smoothed Frisk's hair. By this point, she could tell when a child was lying, or making up stories for attention. This little boy was not.
"Then I am glad she is well. And I thank her from the bottom of my heart." She spoke the words honestly. "I admit, it was irresponsible of me to try to surprise you like this."
"Surprise?" Lily said eagerly, and Frisk perked up at the mention of the word.
"Err…" Toriel paused awkwardly, having clearly said something she shouldn't. Yet, her features softened a moment later. "Well, I suppose I cannot hide it any longer. Come, small one… and your friend is also welcome.
If she'd been standing on the ground, Lily would have been bouncing on her heels. Even though the monster known as Toriel couldn't see her, at least she was trying. And yet… there was something about the woman she couldn't explain. Her motions, her manner of speech, the gentle way she took the young human's hand… It made her feel nostalgic somehow. What she didn't know was that Frisk had begun to feel the same way about the Ruins' caprine caretaker
Toriel led them onward, around the leafless tree and toward a cozy looking house at the end of the courtyard. Yellow light flickered upon the windows from within, inviting to behold. When they stepped inside, that was when both Frisk and Lily noticed the smell. A warm, rich scent caressed their nostrils: a blend between sweet spice, and mellow smoothness that made Frisk's stomach rumble.
"Do you smell that?" Toriel grinned conspiratorially. "Surprise! It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie!
"Wow…" Lily sighed at the aroma. "It smells so good!"
Frisk nodded, taking in the delicious aroma.
"I thought we would celebrate your arrival." Toriel explained. "I want you to have a nice time living here, so I decided to hold off on the snail pie for tonight."
Wait, snail pie? Toriel didn't seem to notice Frisk's bewildered expression as she moved further into the room. He stepped inside, slowly taking in the various smells and sounds that filled the cozy home. Lily seemed just as mesmerized as he was, as she drifted into the foyer alongside him. She said nothing as she glanced about in wonder, the nostalgic sense growing stronger all the while. Frisk couldn't know what she was seeing, but watching his one constant beacon of sight affected by this place in such a powerful way was telling. Somehow, the ever-present aroma of butterscotch and cinnamon seemed to grow even stronger. Was this her doing?
"Come along, my child. I have another surprise for you." Toriel's voice was enough to draw both of them from their thoughts, and they moved in her direction. "Or, should I say 'my children'? How old is your friend, small one?"
Frisk looked up at Lily who shrugged. He turned his eyes back to Toriel.
"Same as me, I think." Frisk guessed. "Ten, maybe eleven?"
"Ah, splendid." Toriel said approvingly. "Please follow me."
She led them through one of the hallways of the cozy house and into the right wing. Lanterns glittered pleasantly from sconces lining the walls, casting an even glow throughout the area that was neither too bright nor too dim. Toriel led Frisk by the hand to the first of three doors, spaced evenly along the wall, while Lily drifted at his side.
"This is it." She said, her arm sweeping in front of the door in a grand gesture. "A room of your own. I do hope you won't mind sharing."
Frisk turned a questioning glance toward Lily. She gave a wordless smile and a shake of the head. Frisk repeated the gesture to Toriel. The gentle monster beamed approvingly and rubbed Frisk's head with her fluffy paw. It was warm, just like her voice. It made him feel safe.
She offered her other hand to the empty air, and it took Lily a moment to realize that she must have been offering it to her. Tears that she couldn't explain began to well in the spectral girl's eyes. She rested a trembling hand within Toriel's. It was soft to the touch, even if it felt like her hand might pass through at any moment. Lily didn't know if Toriel could feel her touch, but it was good enough just to be included.
Toriel's face turned thoughtful for a moment, and she sniffed the air. "Is something burning…? Um, please make yourselves at home."
Lily smelled nothing out of the ordinary, and neither had Frisk. Perhaps she had simply imagined it and panicked… or monsters had a much stronger sense of smell than humans. She turned from them with a nod of her head and took a step toward the kitchen. Then she stopped. Frisk gripped her arm and hugged it close to his small frame.
"Thank you…" He said softly.
Toriel smiled down at the boy and waited patiently until he was ready to let go. She spoke no words of response. She didn't need to. When Frisk finally let her go, she resumed her path toward the kitchen area on the other side of the house. The two children watched her go, until her body and footsteps disappeared as one behind a corner. Again, it was Lily who spoke first.
"Let's check out our room!" A simple phrase that shattered the somber atmosphere in an instant.
She guided Frisk's hand to the doorknob and the portal swung open. The two children stepped gingerly into the room Toriel had been kind enough to give them. Red wallpaper lined all four walls, while the floor was dominated by a large embroidered rug. There was a bed tucked in the corner with a couple of large stuffed animals, but neither child felt quite ready to sleep. Lily led Frisk instead to a box at the foot of the bed. It was filled with toys of various kinds. Frisk pulled them out one by one, and Lily described them to him.
"That one's a doll. It looks like a ballerina." She said. Frisk pulled out another. "A cowboy action figure. I think it made noise once but the batteries are dead." Another. "Wait, that's not a toy… it looks more like a calculator." A fourth. "That's a stuffed lion."
"A lion?!" Frisk's voice picked up a couple octaves in his excitement.
Lily chuckled slightly. "Yup. I guess you like lions, huh?"
"Yeah…" Frisk said, running his fingers over the cute stuffed creature's mane. It was a little faded, and one of its sewn on claws was missing but it was in otherwise good shape. "Lions are great. They're so strong and noble. They only fight with other animals if there isn't enough food or they need to protect their families. Everyone respects them, and knows not to hurt them or the ones they love. I've always wished I could be like that: strong, but caring… enough to protect everyone without having to hurt anyone."
Lily gave a soft sigh, and knelt down to look Frisk in the eye. A smile spread across her lips as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I think you're super strong Frisk. You're so nice to everyone and everything. I mean you even apologized to a rock! I wish I could do that." Pulling him into a hug Lily rested her head on his shoulder.
"You also protected me." The soft whisper tickled his neck a moment before she nuzzled into his shirt. "You don't realize how happy that made me…"
Frisk smiled contently before hugging back as a few tears welled within his eyes. "Thanks Lily… It means a lot to hear that. I will always do what I can to protect you."
After some time, Lily finally pulled herself away to look at his face. She gave a faint smile of her own. "We'll protect each other. Promise?" Hope filled her voice as she raised a hand in front of Frisk, pinky finger extended.
His fingers conformed into a mirror of her own. Their hands met, their fingers locked, and an oath was sealed. "Promise."
A surge of joyous determination, and sense of belonging flooded through the boy's SOUL like a river. Then, as before a hum of warm magic soon followed. Another golden star. It sat right in the middle of the toys and stuffed animals, a mark in this single moment. Its glow was comforting: further proof of the conviction they both shared.
He turned his attention to the rest of the room, his grin glowing in unison with the star. "What else is there Lily?"
"Let's see... There's a dresser. A desk and bookshelf. And two lamps. One is next to the bed the other on the desk. I like it. I think the room is perfect!" Her form bobbed up and down in the air, a telling sign of her excitement.
Before Frisk could reply in earnest the two were interrupted by a knock on the doorframe. They both turned their attention towards the sound and noticed Toriel standing there with a smile. "Pardon me, children. The pie is ready. Shall we?"
Matching grins spread across the children's faces, and they were at the caretaker's side, quick as a shot. Frisk followed Lily's gaze to Toriel's furry hand and placed his much smaller one within, reveling in the familiar warmth. Looking up towards Toriel, he pointed to where Lily floated at his side. Even without words she seemed to understand and offered her other hand to the invisible girl. Lily blinked for a moment before tentatively accepting.
Frisk smiled and gave Toriel a nod and a little thumbs up to show they were ready. Smiling at him Toriel led them through the house and towards the kitchen. The smell of butterscotch and cinnamon assailed them, causing both young mouths to water.
"It smells so good!" Lily's gaze immediately honed in on the table where the pie sat in the center, sectioned with several cuts into a few equal pieces. She drew her hand from Toriel's – an easy feat as her spectral form simply phased right through – and practically dragged Frisk toward the table.
Toriel watched the display with a lifted brow. Frisk's hand left hers and his arm rose limply. There was no muscle tension in it at all as the lad was seemingly pulled toward the table by some invisible force. This was no game of make believe… she definitely knew someone was there now. She was simply being polite before but perhaps she should take this 'Lily' a bit more seriously. After all, the boy wouldn't have made it through the Ruins without her aid.
Lifting the spatula she drew a slice of pie from the tin with the practiced hand of a master baker and slid the sweet confectionery onto Frisk's plate.
"Enjoy my children." Toriel said in her motherly tone as she sat next to them with her own piece.
Frisk picked up the fork next to his plate and cut the tip from the pie before popping it into his mouth. He let out a hum of appreciation as the morsel practically melted in his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring the mélange of spicy and creamy flavors before swallowing. Just as with the candy, the bite of pie dissolved into magic the moment it left his taste buds. Its form was gone, but the warmth and taste remained.
Lily watched Frisk as he ate, glad that he seemed to be enjoying it. Still, she couldn't help feeling a little jealous. It looked and smelled incredible… and from Frisk's reaction, the taste was equally favorable. Her hand drifted toward the pie, but her eyes fell in disappointment when her fingers passed right through without touching. She sighed, spectral form settling into the spare chair on Frisks other side.
"How is it?"
"This is the best pie ever!" He announced happily before turning to Lily. His smile faltered a bit at the sight of her own downcast expression. Placing his fork down he grew thoughtful for a moment.
"Hey Lily. I've got an idea." He waited for her to look at him before continuing. "Remember the candy from earlier? Maybe if you entered my body again, you might be able to taste the pie?"
She stared at him for a moment. Of course… she somewhat remembered the brief taste of the watermelon. She hadn't thought much of it because of her condition but…
"T…That might work… Oh Frisk, you're the best!" She quickly rose from her seat and drifted toward him.
It was a little nerve-wracking. The last time they'd done this had been on accident… would they be able to do it again? Lily rung her hands in front her, unsure exactly how to go about it. Frisk took her hands in his and brought them to his chest over his heart and SOUL, replicating what they'd done before as well as memory allowed. His heartbeat thumped rhythmically against Lily's hand and she focused on it, allowing the sound to calm her spirit. Seconds passed without change… until at last there was a response.
Lily's form shimmered before dissipating once more into particles of light – this time without nearly giving Frisk a heart attack.
Toriel watched on a combination of curiosity and uncertainty as the blind child interacted with a being she could not see. She nearly fell out of her chair at what happened next. A warm breeze wafted through the room. The flames rippled within the hearth, set into a dance from a force unseen. The caprine monster stared, wide eyed as wisps of silver light surrounded her child – small fragments of magic that reached beyond the perceptive barriers between the blind and the sighted.
"Child…?" She asked. "What was that?"
"That's Lily." Frisk explained, placing a hand over his SOUL. "She's in here now."
It worked… the transition came easier than either one of them expected, and seemed more stable this time as far as either could tell. Continuing their experiment, the boy cut another bite of pie and put it to his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring the morsel with the same care as the first. It was amazing really… he didn't seem at all affected by what just transpired. But then, why should he be with everything else that has happened?
"Well? Anything?" He asked when he swallowed the bite.
"You were right, I can taste it! It's even better than I thought! It's-" Her celebratory cheers suddenly silenced. Frisk felt an odd pang course through his SOUL.
"Lily?" He asked.
"I… I'm…" Her voice stammers in Frisk's mind. "This flavor…"
Lily's voice began to tremble. Frisk thought about saying something but he didn't want to worry Toriel. Maybe if she could talk to him in his head, he could do the same.
"Lily? Are you okay?" he asked.
He could feel her trembling within his SOUL, but she remained silent for a long moment. He clasped his hands together under the table, away from Toriel's sight and imagined himself holding hers.
"Why is this so familiar…?" A response. "I don't understand…"
Her mind was filled with a sense of sadness and nostalgia so powerful that it set her whole being into a spiral. Why…? Why did she suddenly feel this way? Such a simple thing as the taste of butterscotch-cinnamon pie shouldn't be enough to evoke such a powerful emotional torrent, should it? It was just food… a sweet treat, pleasing to the taste buds but nothing more, right? And yet it did. That taste… the whispered echo of a memory she couldn't reach; a past she couldn't recall.
A single sob forced itself from her currently non-existing throat. A single sob was all she allowed. The sound seemed to set something off within her, and she immediately reigned in her emotions. She held back the tears, shuddering with the effort, before at last her spirit began to relax. Deep, audible breathing resounded within Frisk's mind as she steeled herself against the tide of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Sorry… sorry, Frisk. I'm okay now." She said shakily.
"What happened? It sounded like you were about to cry." Frisk asked her, hastily wiping his own eyes before Toriel had a chance to notice.
"Haha… yeah. That was close." She laughed. What was close? "I'm okay now, really. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Is everything alright, my child?" Toriel asked from across the table. Frisk winced. Did she notice anyway? "Is the pie not to your friend's liking?"
"No way!" Lily protested. "It's delicious. Really…"
Frisk gave a mental sigh of relief before shaking his head and reassuring the her with a small grin. "She said it's delicious. Thank you, Miss Toriel."
Toriel returned the smile with one of her own. "I am so glad to hear that. Then, let us waste no more time."
When the three had finished their servings of pie (Frisk had seconds, much to Lily's delight), Toriel gathered up the rest of the pie to put away, while the young human took up the empty plates and cutlery. With Lily's guidance, he followed her into the kitchen and placed them carefully into the sink.
"So helpful!" Toriel beamed, rubbing his hair with her fuzzy paw.
Once the dishes were done and the pie safely put away, Frisk and Lily set about exploring the rest of Toriel's cozy home. A comfortable sitting chair rested in front of the warm fireplace. The two children were delighted to discover that it glowed not from wood, but instead from magic, and didn't seem to burn no matter how close they got, though Frisk seemed reluctant to get anywhere near arm's reach of the flames. She seemed to have a decent collection of books, both educational and fictional lining the shelves. Lily seemed particularly interested in an encyclopedia of various flowers, but decided she'd never put it down if she opened it right now.
The two eventually decided to make a game of it. Lily would lead Frisk to an object and he would try to guess what it was. He actually did surprisingly well, only getting a few wrong answers. Eventually she led him to a large mirror at the end of the hallway. The boy's fingers ran over the glass, and he scrunched up his face in thought.
"Is it a window?" He asked.
"Nope!"
"Hmm… a picture frame?" He tried again.
Lily shook her head.
"Okay, I give up. What is it?" He asked.
The girl looked at his reflection on the clear surface and smiled. "It's you."
Eventually the two of them began to wind down. Frisk in particular started to feel the weight of his exhaustion wearing on him. He'd been having so much fun that he didn't even realize how tired he was until now. It was hard to tell time in the Underground even for those who could see, but he knew it had to have been late. The sun had set some time before the storm that led to his fateful fall after all.
Toriel, who had finished her chores by now seemed to notice this. "It's been quite a day for you, has it not, small ones? You two should get some rest."
Frisk tried to stifle a yawn but was to no avail. Lily had also begun to feel the weight of the day's activities. It seemed even as a spirit she was still beholden to the normal rules when it came to exhaustion. Or maybe she was simply picking up on cues from Frisk and responding accordingly. Either way she agreed that a soft bed would feel really good right now.
Toriel led them back to their room, and waited patiently as Frisk climbed into bed. It was more comfortable than anything he'd ever experienced on the surface. He didn't know If magic was involved or if monsters simply made more comfortable beds but right now he didn't care. The bed was easily big enough for both children, but Lily wasn't sure how easy it would be to sleep in it with her ethereal body. In the end, she simply decided to enter Frisks SOUL again and mooch off his comfort. He let her… having her there was soothing in a way he couldn't explain.
Once she was sure he was settled in, Toriel approached the bedside and drew the blanket over his small body.
"Goodnight, my children." She said softly. "Sweet dreams."
Frisk turned his unseeing eyes to the scent of cinnamon and fire magic and smiled sleepily.
"Goodnight… mom."
Toriel gave a small gasp, her paws reaching up to cover her mouth. It took her a moment to lower them, as a few tears began to well up within her large dark eyes. "Did… did you just call me 'mom'?"
Frisk shifted uncomfortably under the blankets, feeling as if he'd made some kind of mistake. Against his SOUL, he could feel Lily's unease alongside his own. "I'm sorry. I won't say-"
"No no no. It is fine." Toriel cut the small human off and smiled, smoothing down his hair with her paw. "If that would make you happy, you may call me 'mother' whenever you like, my child."
"I, um…" Lily began nervously. "I wanna call her mom too. She's so nice… and I…" She hesitated for a moment. "I don't know… It feels right."
Frisk could feel her emotions warming his SOUL much like the blanket over his body. She'd had such a powerful reaction to the pie earlier, he could imagine how she felt. What's more, he had to agree.
Toriel really did feel like a mother.
"If it's okay… I- Lily wants to call you mom too… Is it alright?" He asked her, fingers working at a loose thread on the blanket.
Toriel simply smiled patiently before leaning forward to place a soft, furry kiss on his forehead. "Of course, dear children. I will do everything I can to make you both happy here." She tucked him in before running a gentle paw over his hand. "Sleep well, both of you. I shall see you in the morning, alright? Sweet dreams."
Toriel rose to her feet, made her way to the lamp in the corner and turned it off before heading for the door. Her footfalls carried her further down the hall to her own room. The house grew silent as its occupants settled in for the night. The soft glow of the star still shined at the foot of the bed almost like a nightlight. Toriel did not seem to notice it, or if she did she chose not to ask about it. Either way, its aura carried with it a niggling thought in Frisk's mind that even the need for sleep couldn't shake.
"Hey Lily? You still awake?" He whispered to the darkness.
"Yeah. Why? What's up?" Came her voice within his head.
"I was wondering what those things are. It's weird. I've… I've made three of them now. I've noticed they appear any time I feel strong will to keep going. I don't even know how it happens, or why, or even what they do. But for some reason they make me feel safe… like nothing bad can happen as long as one is near."
"That's a good thing right? It means whatever magic it is, it can't be bad, right?" Her conviction pulsed through his SOUL. The gentle warmth was relaxing, but it wasn't quite enough to ease his mind.
"Is it really magic? I mean, I guess there's nothing else it could be, really." Frisk mused. "It just feels like I should know what they are. I know that's impossible. I was never able to do this on the surface, and I don't know of anyone else who could use magic either. But, well… On the other hand I never knew monsters existed either, until now. They were just a myth… and the myths aren't as nice as Toriel, Napstablook, or the others." Shrugging his shoulders he nestled deep into the covers. "Speaking of myths. That's another thing…"
"You mean me?" Lily guessed.
Frisk nodded. "I don't want to sound mean but… you're a ghost right? But you look like a human kid like me."
She sighed thoughtfully. This was something that had been on her mind for awhile. "Yeah... It's weird. I must have been alive at some point. But Toriel, Flowey, the other monsters… none of them could see me. You and Napstablook are the only ones. Blooky's a ghost… So maybe ghosts can see other ghosts? He looked a lot different than me though… and he seemed more solid too. Before he faded off, anyway."
"Do you remember anything?" Frisk asked. "Anything from when you were alive."
"Not really." She replied. "I just 'know' some things. Colors and shapes, what I like and don't like… things like that. But I can't remember anything about myself at all. I know it has to be there somewhere but I just can't 'find' it."
Then there was the thing with the pie… she still couldn't explain that.
Frisk shook his head he closed his eyes. Lily was there in his mind's eye, looking lost and confused. He imagined himself hugging her gently, wishing that there was something more he could do to help. The girl must have felt his intent because in the next moment he felt a happy tickle spread through his mind.
"Let's not worry about it tonight. We're both tired from the long day. You especially. You were really hurt earlier. Remember?" He reminded her.
Lily scoffed in response. "Yeah? And you almost drowned. Then you would've been a ghost like me." She joked, though the humor fell flat even on her own ears.
"Well then I would have been able to do more things with you. I don't think I'd be blind either." He took it in stride, offering an awkward shrug accompanied by a yawn. "Is that how it works?"
"How should I know?" She giggled gently. Good, that seemed to help. She snuggled herself up against his SOUL, letting its warm, red glow ease her troubled mind. "Go to sleep Frisk. We'll see each other in the morning okay?"
"Yeah, you're right…" He said sleepily. "Goodnight, Lily."
"Goodnight, Frisk."
The delicious smell of food gently wafted through the house, rousing Lily back into the waking world. Through Frisks nose, she could smell the savory aroma coming from the direction of the kitchen. The boy remained asleep, from what she could tell but while she could attest to the bed's comfort, she'd personally had enough of it herself. Besides, the smell alone was enough to make her want to get out of bed and investigate.
Would it work even though Frisk was still asleep? There was only one way to find out.
Slowly, the spirit pushed herself against the edges of Frisk's SOUL and body, being extra cautious in case she needed to pull back for any reason. Sure enough she felt herself emerge, little by little from the unconscious body of her friend. When it was done, she found herself hovering to the side of her small companion, his face buried in the pillow and blankets gathered lightly in his hands from beneath. She stifled a giggle. At least she didn't seem to need his help to get out.
Turning herself upright, she stretched groggily before heading for the exit to their room. One good thing about her spectral form was that doors posed no obstacle. She slipped easily through the closed portal and followed the smell to the kitchen where she found Toriel, humming a soft tune while she cooked the morning's meal. The scent was enough to part the remaining fog within her mind, and wake her fully. Looking over the goat mother's shoulder she spied the source of the pleasant scent: eggs, scrambled until they were soft and fluffy, and bacon which looked to have an almost perfect balance of succulence and crisp. She decided to go wake Frisk.
Returning to their room, she noticed he hadn't moved at all. She pursed her lips and gave an exasperated drone before gently poking him in the side to rouse him. "Come on, Frisk. Time to wake up! Mom is making breakfast!"
"Ugh…" Frisk groaned. It was hard to tell if his eyes were open or not.
"Seriously? I kind of need your help to eat you know." Lily chided, poking him a few more times. "I am not missing breakfast because you're too lazy to roll out of bed."
"Ehh… I'm up… just give me- W-whaaaAAHH!" He immediately shot up, sending the blankets flying when she started tickling his earlobe.
"Give you nothing." She said decisively. "Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey."
"Did you seriously just-" He paused, finally noticing the tell-tale scent. "Hey, that really is bacon and eggs."
"Well yeah, that's what I said." Lily replied, drawing a look from Frisk.
In all honesty, he was a little surprised that the scent hadn't woken him. Smell had always been the strongest of the four senses at his disposal. Even his hearing couldn't compare to the power of his nose. It was sometimes easy to take that bit of mercy for granted, he guessed. That or the previous day's ordeals had simply taken more out of him than he'd thought.
But now he was awake. And so was his stomach.
Lily practically dragged Frisk out of the room, and led the still sleepy boy to the dining area where Toriel was busy putting down a couple of plates for their breakfast. Frisk decided he'd rather let the girl in than risk another attack on his earlobe. The three then sat down to eat and Lily quickly demanded that he try the bacon first. Frisk took a mouthful of eggs instead to get even for the way she woke him. In his mind, the spectral girl gave a small pout at that bit of insolence but got over it the moment the rich taste reached her. Satisfied, he decided to indulge her initial request. The bacon was positively mouthwatering, and both children gave a harmonious moan of appreciation at the flavor.
It was just like the classic breakfast fare known upon the surface, except for the fact that, like the candy and pie before it, each bite dissolved into magic upon swallowing. Frisk felt Lily's curiosity mirror his own and decided to ask Toriel about it.
"Monsters like us are normally unable to consume physical matter because of our magical bodies." Toriel explained, seeming all too pleased with the opportunity to educate them. "Most food is made from ingredients that grow beneath the mountain. The magic within them is enough that they can be used normally. For anything else, we take samples of physical items and use a conversion process to create a magical equivalent, like this fine breakfast we have."
"So it's basically the same as food on the surface? Or at least close to it." Frisk summarized astutely.
"I imagine so." Toriel confirmed. "I cannot tell you much about the process itself, but I believe the nutritional value is similar."
"So why does it make us feel full?" Lily asked. Frisk relayed the question.
"You've noticed that it disperses upon swallowing, yes?" They nodded. "That allows the magic to distribute nutrients directly to where they are needed. Human food must go through a process called 'digestion' to achieve the same result with solid matter. You feel 'full' because your body is getting everything it needs to function, even if nothing actually settles in your stomach."
"Oh, I think I get it." Lily said.
Frisk agreed. It was pretty much the same as food on the surface, except the way nutrients were distributed was a little different. He thought about asking what that meant for going to the bathroom but decided against it. Not something to discuss during breakfast. Once they finished, Toriel gathered their plates and turned toward the kitchen.
"Psst, ask her if we can go out and explore the Ruins today." Lily said.
"Huh? Oh yeah. I want to visit those spiders again." Frisk said.
"Hmm? Did you say something, my child?" Toriel turned back.
"Oh, on the way here, me and Lily found a few spiders selling donuts." Frisk explained. "We didn't have enough money to buy anything then, so we thought we could try again today."
"Those spiders?" Toriel said, and her expression turned. "Those poor dears… they've been separated from their family for a long time. I think they're using that sale as a way to raise money so they can reunite with them."
"Wow, I didn't know that." Frisk lowered his eyes. "Now I feel bad that we couldn't buy anything."
Toriel raised a claw to her chin in thought before rummaging through her pocket for something. Withdrawing it, she approached Frisk and dropped a number of coins into his hand. The jingle of monster currency sang in his ears, and he looked up at her, uncertainly.
"Are you sure?" He asked. He certainly didn't want to come across as trying to get money from her.
"Take that, and buy a few treats from those little ones." Toriel dismissed, shaking her head. "I only ask that you wait to eat them until you return home. Share some with a poor old lady, won't you?"
"Okay!" Frisk said, smiling brightly.
"Woohoo!" Lily celebrated. "Let's go, Frisk!"
Toriel gave a gentle smile, as Frisk headed for the door. The boy navigated through the house with a precision that no blind child should be capable of. This was no doubt due to Lily's help. The door closed behind the children, leaving the caprine woman to her thoughts in the quiet home. She turned away from the threshold to gather the dishes and set about tending to the day's chores. Settling the plates and cutlery into the sink to wash, she thought about how the boy, Frisk, had done the same just last night. He already felt like part of the household… something that had been missing from it for so long.
'Perhaps… this time will be different.'
Toriel drifted over to the stove top and began to absently wipe it down. He was such a small thing too… looked barely strong enough to carry that little stick of his. She frowned, thinking back to the close call from before. Perhaps she should have noticed his deficiency much sooner. If she had, perhaps it could have been avoided. And yet, he was not scared to brave the rest of the Ruins on his own, despite what had happened. Even with help, it could not have been a simple matter to make his way through all the puzzles and monsters of the Ruins without her guidance.
Which brought yet another thought to the motherly monster's mind: the one known as Lily. Though Toriel could not see her, she was by now convinced that this person existed. Perhaps she should be worried about this strange friend that accompanied the little boy but somehow it felt wrong to do so. The way he described her was that of a child not unlike himself… and Toriel could never bring herself to mistrust a little one. She was a mother, after all.
The caretaker looked up from her thoughts and noticed that her surroundings had changed. The kitchen and dining area had been replaced with a bedroom. The walls were painted in a deep, calming blue and there were few furnishings to speak of. A lone cactus to the right, a large bed, a bookshelf and set of clothes drawers, and a writing desk. A small pot of golden flowers rested upon the bookshelf, and looked in need of watering.
'Why… did I come in here?'
She stepped lightly into the quiet room, glancing around the familiar surroundings. A furry hand ran along the rim of the small chair she'd jokingly nicknamed 'Chairiel' before her eyes were drawn to the raised shelf above the desk. A number of items sat upon it, covered in a thin layer of dust. She reached up and took one down, taking some time to regard it.
A figurine of a caped human in a proud pose. The tomboyish girl who'd owned it had called it a 'Superhero', a brave and extraordinary individual who fought for others. She replaced it and pulled down another, a cookbook left by the kind boy who had taught her so much of surface cuisine. The third was a little hand mirror, owned once by the cute little girl who was always fussing about her appearance, and always took her time to look her best.
So many trinkets and so many memories tied to each one of them, and yet…
Her gaze traveled further… to one more item on the shelf, set apart from the others. She carefully replaced the rest of the mementos before reaching for it and pulling it down. It was a simple box made of lacquered wood and copper hinges. However, It was not the box itself that drew her attention but what was inside.
She lifted the lid and drew it out, placing the container carefully onto the writing desk before looking over the treasure from within. It was a small, simple bracelet made from a single strip of braided leather. While it was easily the most nondescript piece of the collection, for Toriel, it held the greatest emotional weight. The caprine monster ran a finger over the small flat section in the center baring the faintest vestiges of an engraving. A name was once written there, but it had faded long ago, erased over the ages from the leather as well as her memories.
Toriel drew the fragile accessory close, and her heart began to ache. She could recite the names of every child that had come into her care. She could vividly recall the innocent smile of the son she had lost so long ago. She could identify every monster in the Ruins by sight, and probably half of the Underground as a whole.
But no matter how she searched the depths of her mind, she could remember neither name nor face of the first human to ever come into her care. Of her second child… her beloved daughter.
Toriel buried her face into her hands.
'I am a terrible mother… I cannot even remember the name of my precious little girl.' She sobbed quietly. 'I've lost so many children I'd swore to protect. Will I have to watch it all again? I do not think my heart could bare it.'
She held the bracelet in her hands as tears began to flow down her face through the white fur. This might have continued, had a noise from the foyer not alerted her of the children's return.
"Mom! We're back! And we got donuts!" It was the cheery voice of Frisk, her latest charge. Lily must have been with him as well.
Toriel quickly wiped her eyes dry before placing the bracelet and its box back on the shelf. She hastily straightened herself up, and moved toward the hallway to greet her children. It would not due to let them see her in such a state.
'I will protect them this time… both of them. I swear it.' She vowed as she stepped into the hallway. 'That horrible man will not claim another SOUL.'
Frisk and Lily made quick work of getting to the same corridor that led to the spiders, the jingle of gold within Frisk's pocket, a herald of their intent. The webs seemed to have been rearranged since they visited yesterday. They'd now been woven into neat little patterns of dancing spiders, likely in an attempt to draw more customers. Kneeling before one of the webs, Frisk pulled the money from his pocket and began to count it out.
"Let's see. We have about 27G. That's enough for 3 doughnuts with some money left over." He confirmed with an eager grin.
"I guess mom gave us exact gold. The other six are what we got from the Froggit and Mr. Wiggle." Lily reasoned, hovering next to Frisks head, while staring down at the coins
"You're probably right. Okay." He turned his attention forward, and with Lily's guidance, placed the gold next to the web. "We'd like 3 spider doughnuts, please."
A few small spiders crawled out from the web, lifting one coin after another with their tiny limbs and ferrying them inside. A few moments later more of the busy arachniods popped out, working together to deliver three wheel shaped pastries into the open. Lily directed Frisk's hand to the treats, gathering them up into the simple paper bag provided. The spiders chittered their thanks to the boy before scurrying back to the safety of their homes.
"They were very happy with our purchase. I'm glad we could help them." Lily grinned before helping Frisk to his feet.
They made their way back to the through the Ruins, stopping to talk with a few of the monsters in the long hallway before returning home. By now, news had spread of the kind monster child in the striped shirt. None of the Ruins' residents had seen anything like him, nor the invisible friend that always seemed to accompany him. Curiosity was, therefore, the order of the day as the children made their way back home. It occurred to neither Frisk nor Lily that not a single one of them save Toriel, and perhaps Flowey seemed to recognize him as human.
Eventually they reached the doorway of Toriel's cozy house.
"Mom! We're back! And we got doughnuts!" Frisk called out when they returned.
"Oh! That was certainly fast! I'm happy to see you made it back so easily. No trouble with anyone out there I trust?" Toriel stepped into the foyer from the hallway to the right, her long face curled upward in a soft smile.
The boy dismissed her concerns with a shake of the head. "Nope. Everyone is really friendly. The spiders were happy too!"
He placed the bag of baked treats into Toriel's outstretched palm before following his goat mother into the living room with Lily at his side. The two children took a seat on the floor in front of the fireplace and waited patiently while she delivered the doughnuts to the kitchen to store for later. Moments later she returned, taking a seat in the comfortable red recliner nearby.
"I want you to know how glad I am to have you here, my children." She said wistfully, looking at Frisk with a fondness that seemed to go deeper than might have been expected for one she'd known only a short while. "It has been so long since I've had someone else in this home."
"I'm happy too. I don't remember anything so it's really nice to have a mom..." Lily says softly besides Frisk.
Frisk thought about that for a moment. With no memories, there's no way of knowing what her parents were like. He supposed that was another thing they had in common.
"Lily and I are both really happy to be here. I guess neither of us really know what it's like to have parents." Frisk delivered Lily's message along with his own, wrapping his arm over the spectral girl's shoulders. Lily herself wasn't deaf to the double meaning of his words, but decided not to ask about them.
Toriel smiled, before leaning forward to ruffle Frisks hair, causing a happy laugh at the attention. Her eyes then moved to the empty space to his side, studying the place she knew Lily must have been. From the position of his arm it seemed that the invisible girl was a little taller than the small human before her. So she reached toward the still air and gently ran her hand along the space where the second human's head should have been. Her judgment was spot on. Furry fingers glided against the imperceptible girl's hair as if they were actually touching. Lily couldn't help but smile widely in both joy and astonishment at the rightness of it… how it was almost like she could see her.
Once done Toriel leaned back into her chair. The three of them settled into a pleasant silence that soothed their minds. After a while the woman reached over onto her end table to grab a book. It was well worn, and many pages possessed dog-eared creases from the many long years of use. Donning a pair of reading glasses, she blinked a couple of times to adjust to the change of sight.
Frisk's ears picked up the tell-tale sounds of page-flipping, and he knew without prompt what she was doing. He drew closer, dragging Lily along with him. "Hey, Mom? Will you read your book to us?"
"Of course, my child. It is titled '72 uses for snails'." She chuckled at Frisks quizzical expression. "Snails are amazing creatures. Delicious too. I can't wait to show you my famous snail pie."
"Bleh!" Lily stuck her tongue out.
Frisk got up from the floor and made his way over to Toriel's chair. He struggled blindly to pull himself into it. The goat woman laughed a little and lifted the boy up, placing him snugly on her lap. He smiled and made himself comfortable before his gaze fell on Lily and he shuffled to the side, giving her room to squeeze in alongside him. The goat mother seemed to notice what Frisk was doing and waited patiently until she was sure both children were settled in.
"Comfortable?" She asked. Both children nodded. "Very well. Now then… do either of you know which taxonomic class snails belong to?"
Lily gave the the woman a puzzled look and shook her head.
"I think they're… gastropods?" Frisk answered after a bit of thinking.
"That's correct!" Toriel said with the enthusiasm of a proud teacher. "Well done, dear."
"Wait… you knew that?" Lily gaped at the blind boy at her side.
"Haha… I guess so." He replied, folding his hands sheepishly.
Toriel flipped through a few of the pages. "Here's an interesting fact. Did you know that...Snails. Talk. Very. Slowly?"
Lily looked at the page and frowned. "It doesn't say that!" Frisk cocked his head at the woman and she gave an impish chuckle.
"I'm joking. Snails can't talk." She said and turned the pages some more. "Oh, but how about this one. Did you know that snails… sometimes flip their digestive systems as they mature? Interesting."
Lily's face scrunched up and she stuck out her tongue again, taking advantage of the fact that Toriel couldn't see. Snails really weren't her thing.
Frisk however listened intently. "I didn't know that. That's actually kind of cool."
"Cool?!" Lily protested, drawing a chuckle from the boy. "That's gross!"
The three of them continued like this for most of the day. After a while they decided to take a break to enjoy their donuts before moving onto another subject. Frisk and Lily were more than happy to just listen to her read to them (and relieved, in Lily's case when they moved on from the snails). After dinner, Toriel retired to the kitchen to clean up, leaving the children to their own devices. Frisk took the opportunity to grab a book of his own, flipping through the pages and picturing the images in his mind as Lily read the words. The day seemed to pass by in an instant, and the two were only made aware of the true passage of time when Toriel looked at the raised hands of the wall-hanging clock.
"Oh dear. I believe it is time for bed my children. Come." She ushered them into the bedroom, tucking them in just as she did the night before, and bid them goodnight.
Authors' Notes: Not a whole lot to say about this one. A fluffy, 'feely' chapter to contrast the more 'adventure' driven mood of the last one. However, as was stated above, there are a some pretty key plot things in here for the observant to find.
Monster food has always been rather interesting. They're able to get things that you'd think would be a little hard to come by living underground.
We get to know Toriel a little more here and gain a little insight on her psyche. For those familiar with TV Tropes, "Stepford Smiler" definitely applies here.
Next time… things are gonna heat up a little.