Chapter 2: The Brave Child

150 years later...

Toriel sighed softly as she exited the ruins, going to her garden that was just outside the door, a watering can and a trowel in her hands. Kneeling down beside the golden flowers, she began pulling out the weeds and watering the flowers.

As she did, she thought back on the years. During the first few years, she had gone back and forth from the Ruins to the Castle, but then finally just stayed in the ruins, planting golden flowers in honor of her children. Asriel had always loved the golden flowers, even if they did make him sneeze occasionally, and Chara had loved them too, often making flower crowns with them.

The goat woman sighed, bowing her head in sadness. Suddenly, something hit the ground beside her and she jumped in alarm, standing up quickly and calling up her fire magic. She saw a bit of color just in front of her and leaned closer to take a look before her eyes widened in horror.

What had dropped beside her was a human, a young boy from the looks of it. He had brown hair and wore an orange flannel shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots. He groaned as he tried to get up, but fell back down and Toriel saw why.

The boy was injured with bruises all over his face and arms. She was surprised he was still alive from the drop, but she moved forward, her motherly instincts taking over as she remembered when Chara first fell, how injured the girl had been, and how afraid she had been too that the monsters would hurt her, but they proved that they meant no harm.

And despite Asgore strongly suggesting that they steer clear of humans, Toriel couldn't ignore someone in pain or injured, be it monster or human. Moving closer, she kneeled down and very gently lifted him up into her arms. The boy whimpered in pain, his eyelids parting to reveal hazel eyes, eyes that were filled with fear and pain as he tried to struggle, but whimpered as everything hurt.

"Shh," Toriel soothed him. "Calm down, my child. I won't hurt you."

She felt him shaking as he looked up at her, eyes filling up with tears. "Shh, shh," the goat woman soothed. "Be still, young one. I'll heal your injuries."

He winced in pain and shivered in fear. Curious as to why her words weren't at least putting him somewhat at ease, she reached a hand forward. It glowed green as she gently checked the boy's stats and his main trait. Her eyes scanned what she found.

David

Age 10

Strongest trait: Bravery

Attack: 1

Defense: 10

LV: 1

Does not wish to fight. Would rather run than fight.

She was a bit worried about his defense being so high, yet his attack being so low. She wondered why as she heard him whimper again in pain and came closer, both her hands glowing green as she placed them on his shoulders. "Shh, calm down, little one," she said soothingly. "You'll feel better soon."

She watched as his hazel eyes closed and he seemed to pass out. Deducing that the pain made him tired, Toriel sat beside him to watch over him, wondering what happened that the boy had fallen in the Underground. He seemed to be a pacifist, if what she read on him was right.

"Well, I won't know until he wakes up," she said to herself as she settled with a book to read.


A few hours later...

The boy groaned and woke up, still in some pain. He heard movement and turned to find a large goat monster beside him. Letting out a scream of terror, the boy shot up from the bed and ran as fast as he could go. "Wait, my child!" He heard a voice say, but he didn't look back as he kept running, looking for a way out.

But the Ruins were a rather large place and the boy got lost, coming to a dead end and trying to find a way out, but couldn't. He fell to his knees as tears fell from his eyes. Hearing footsteps, he huddled into a corner, trying to appear small and hope that he wouldn't be found.

Toriel was worried as she searched for the boy and finally found him at the end of one of the hallways. "Oh, there you are, my child," she said in relief.

The boy whimpered fearfully as he tried to move back, but the wall he was pressed against didn't give. Toriel moved closer, but stopped a few feet from him, kneeling down on the floor, hoping she looked less frightening to the child. "Do not fear, my child. I won't hurt you," she said soothingly, her calm voice reaching the boy.

He looked at her, fear in his eyes. She smiled gently. "Are you feeling better?" She asked, deciding to carry on a conversation with him. "Those bruises look like they're healing well."

The boy looked at his arms and noticed the bruises were less visible now and his face didn't hurt so much. He looked confused and looked at her, seeing her smile. "I healed you a bit last night before you fell asleep," she said. "I can heal the rest of your injuries, if you let me."

He looked unsure, but seemed to be relaxing a little. "Why did you help me?" He asked. "And...I've never met a goat that can talk, let alone wear clothes."

He then gasped as it hit him. "You're a monster!" He exclaimed in horror, again trying to merge with the wall.

Toriel sighed, seeing the boy was more terrified now. "Yes, I am," she said, deciding to be truthful. "But I will not hurt you. I'm a peaceful monster. If I wasn't, then surely I wouldn't have helped you, would I have?"

The gentle question made the boy think. She had healed him, or so she claimed, but he remembered how she had picked him up and taken him in here, laying him on a bed to rest and he had woken up. "Why haven't you hurt me?" He asked. "You're a monster. Monsters hurt people."

Toriel's heart broke at hearing that, making her realize the surface world really was paranoid and told false stories. Though she imagined there were some bad monsters in the world, the monsters of the Underground were peaceful. "I don't like hurting others," she said truthfully. "I'm a healer."

This was true as she had used her powers to heal some of the monsters who had been sick or hurt. The boy looked at her curiously and after a moment, he moved a little bit from the corner. "You...You don't look mean," he said hesitantly. "And...you're not wearing dirty clothes."

The goat woman chuckled at that. "You were told monsters wear dirty clothes?" She asked.

Noting she sounded amused, he looked a little sheepish. "Well, we were told that monsters are smelly and stink because they don't take baths or wash their clothes," he admitted.

Toriel laughed outright at the silliness of that description. "That has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard," she admitted, a few more giggles escaping her before she looked at the boy with a smile. "I can assure you, we monsters wear clean clothes and take baths and wash our clothes." She paused. "Though do I smell bad?"

He shook his head. "No, you smell like flowers," he admitted.

She smiled. "No doubt from working in my garden," she said. "Now then, what is your name, my child?"

Though she knew his name, she was hoping he trusted her enough to tell her.

He looked a bit more relaxed. "David," he said before wincing as some of his bruises were beginning to hurt a bit now. "Can you...really heal me?"

"I can," she said with a nod. "Do you trust me?"

He nodded and she approached, her hands glowing green as she placed them on his shoulders and the boy felt instant relief as the pain began to fade away. "What happened that you got these bruises, David?" She asked gently.

He looked away. "My parents abused me," he said softly. He then looked scared. "Please don't send me back to them," he pleaded.

"Shh, I won't, little one," she soothed.

He calmed down a little. "Why are you being so nice to me?" He asked.

Toriel smiled. "Because as a mother, I can't stand to see a child hurt," she said. "You're safe here with me."

David looked curious. "You're a mom?" He asked.

She paused in healing him before looking sad. "I was," she said softly. "My children died a long time ago."

He looked sad. "I'm sorry," he said before moving closer and hugging her. She returned the hug, tears in her eyes as she felt some of the pain from Chara and Asriel's deaths leave her. She then stood up, lifting the boy into her arms.

"David, if you wish, you may stay here with me," she said. "I'll take you in as my son."

He looked at her in surprise as he had been about to say that he'd gladly be her son. "You mean it?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes, my little one," she said.

David hugged Toriel, feeling safe in her arms as a few tears escaped him. The goat woman gently wiped away his tears, which sealed it for the boy. He would stay.


Well, looks like the first child has fallen and been taken in, but will he be the only one? Stay tuned to find out! :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418