Chapter 3: Warmth

Toriel's voice echoed to my ears as I closed the door behind me.

"Do you smell that?" I nodded, I was already salivating, "Surprise! It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie." It wasn't really a surprise but it didn't make it any less awesome. A pie made by a goat! "I thought we might celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here." I slumped slightly at that remark, but if Toriel noticed she didn't show it. I wasn't going to live here, was I? I had to fight her to leave... and I barely knew how to dodge... "I will hold off on snail pie, for now." I opened my mouth, I really wanted to try escargot, but Toriel was too excited to listen, practically vibrating in place, "Come, I have another surprise for you." I followed her down the hallway.

"What do snails taste like?" I finally got to ask.

"Oh, they are very creamy! They taste good with garlic and parsley butter. I did think humans were not used to eating them..."

"No, I haven't had one, I tried making a soup with them for my friend once but the store didn't sell any-" I said conversationally, but she stopped abruptly at a door and I walked into her, "-oomph."

"This is it, your very own room!" She announced happily, patting my head gently and having her paw stick in the doughnut-leaf mess on my head. She was actually a head taller than me, now that we were standing still for once. I looked away from the room door and up at her, her eyes were practically sparkling. I looked at the door again. This is the room the six other humans stayed in before they were killed, right? I thought, my eye twitching at the fact that this sticky gunk was pulling at my hair and goat fur was probably added to the mess.

"T-?"

"I think something is... burning? Please make yourself at home! There's a sink in the kitchen if you need to use it!" Toriel rushed off. I followed after her, wishing I had eaten the doughnut sooner. Or had some kinda backpack. I found Toriel with large baking gloves taking out the pie from the oven and drool dripped down from my mouth to my dismay. Wiping away saliva quickly, I turned on the sink and attempted to scrub the sticky mess out.

"Do you need help?" Toriel asked, practically hovering around me.

"I'm good... thanks." I replied, taking some dishwashing soap and using it in my hair. Soap was soap, right? Chunks of leaves, doughnut and... spiders fell off of my head. The poor things were flailing about as they were washed down the drain. Toriel left me to my own devices and I spent a good hour getting all that gunk out with cold water. I looked up, and, finding no towel nearby, simply squeezed out the water from my hair. I stood up straight and rolled my shoulders, cracking my back. I shook out my hair like a wet dog and then stared at the pie.

"It has to cool young one!" Toriel called from another room, as if reading my mind. I grumbled and headed into the living room. "Oh, I have a towel if you need one." She said from her reading chair, holding up the cloth for me to see. "Here, let me dry your hair."

"Just toss it here, goat bro." I muttered, raising up my hands with a lazy smile. Toriel stood up and gently put the towel over the sides of my head, rubbing my head with her fingerpawtips through the towel. I dealt with it, seriously this goat took me in and let me use her sink and gave me my own room for free. And she used to be a queen. How lucky can Frisk get for a first meeting? Well, besides Flowey, but Flowey was kinda omnipotent so he didn't count.

She took the towel away from my now-somewhat messed up hair. "There, that's better. And you called me... goat bro?" She looked confused.

"I'm just bein'... topnotch, dawg." I said, giddy giggles going through me at my improvisation. Her confused look turned my inside-joke comedy mode off, "Nevermind, Toriel, sorry. I think I'm going a little weird in the head."

"Perhaps some sleep will help?" She suggested gently. I looked inwardly to see my tiredness levels were being kept at bay by that warm feeling I felt from the star before... Was this determination stuff some kind of drug?

"I'll try." I said, heading back towards the room. I opened the door to find a splendidly red room filled with... children's clothes and toys. I closed the door behind me and looked through the toy bin out of curiosity. I found a paddle with a ball stuck onto it, some building blocks, some figurines of monsters, and other stuff, but no pens or paper. I sighed before lying on what was apparently me bed and taking out my regular phone, my touchscreen one. I tried to turn it on, but it didn't work... must've died. I settled into daydreams as I watched the red ceiling, wondering what I was going to do next but finding myself too mentally tired to...

... I woke up from a blank dream to find the room's lights had turned off. A gentle smell wafted through the room and I looked to see a slice of pie on the ground. My first groggy thought was, If you just leave it on the floor the dog or the cats will eat it before the memories of yesterday all came rushing back to me.

"... Am I stuck inside a dream?" I asked in a hopeful tone, but nobody responded. Sighing, I kicked off my sheets and made my way to the pie. It would be impossible to carry out of the ruins without ruining it, plus I was curious as to how it really tasted. I took the fork on the side and ate the crust first. The still warm dough melted in my mouth like ice cream, and I quickly wolfed down the rest of the pie at a speed that would certainly worry Toriel if she saw me. The filling almost made me cry; the butterscotch and the cinnamon tasted like white-chocolate covered cinnamon rolls.

"I need to make Toriel my cooking slave." I muttered, lying on the floor and contemplating what life was after being exposed such to a flavor. I was kidding, of course. I couldn't kidnap her without a tranquilizer gun.

The question of what I should do next came to me again. Should I stay? I closed my eyes and frowned. Toriel should have things for me to tinker with... papers and pens for me to draw and write on... I could make stuff out of leaves, I think. She is very kind, and the monsters in the ruins are kind fun to play with and scare... But my friends and family are worried about me, most likely... I miss them. My cats and my sketchbooks too... A surge of homesickness surged through me, confirming my thoughts, But what if there's no way home? What was the point of trying to escape? Maybe I would meet other cool people... but what if I died and didn't revive again? It was dangerous out there... I sighed, poking at my plate and licking the crumbs off my finger, But... there's an increased possibility I can get home... Think, Kai... the core. If theories about Gaster are right, maybe it's capable of interdimensional travel. Or Sans, since he breaks the fourth wall all the time he would know what's going on. It's that or trying to find Flowey... I need to get out of here before Toriel becomes more attached to me... She's tough but lonely. I decided. I stood up with conviction and made my way to the door. Okay, you can do this Kai, you got this.

I marched up to her reading room and, at the warm sight of her peacefully reading a book with such a sparkle in her eyes and the firelight flickering across her fur, my resolve deflated.

"Up already, I see?" She said with a smile, and I couldn't do it. I couldn't just have her do all these things for me and then just leave like she was a tool. I had to give something back. She seemed a bit awkward at my silence. "Um, I just want you to know how glad I am to have somebody here. There are so many books I wish to share... Bug-hunting spots to find... if there's something you wish to educate yourself about, I will gladly gather the materials to teach you. It may come as a surprise, but I've always wanted to become a teacher. Well, maybe that isn't too surprising; still, I am happy to have you living here." Her every happy rambling world was continuing to make me guilty. I pressed my lips together. "Oh, did you want something...?"

"Um...!" I grit my teeth, shifting form foot to foot as my hands unconsciously folded behind my back formally.

"What is it?" She asked in such a gentle voice. No, she should be angry with me, I couldn't defend myself like this!

"Toriel?" I asked in a shaky voice, much opposite than the firm voice I had imagined, I was at the edge of tears, I felt like I truly was using her unless I did this, "What is one of your favorite things?"

"Why? Is something wrong?" Toriel looked worried.

"I wanna draw you a picture... do you have any paper and pencils?" I asked meekly, increasing her confusion.

"I do have some crayons and paper..." She closed her book, stood up and walked down the hallway. I followed her. She handed me a stack of old somewhat yellowed paper and broken crayons. "I can get new ones if you'd like." I took them.

"I'm fine with these." I went straight into my room and nudged the light switch with my shoulder. There wasn't a desk, so I lied on the floor and stared blankly at the sheet of paper. After some contemplation, I lightly pressed the crayon to the paper, becoming lost in a world of thought as I simply focused on how best to get my message. I hummed 'His Theme' as I did so.

With the power of 'Determination' flowing through my veins, I didn't really find any need to eat or sleep. I drew for a long time; by my internal clock it would probably be a good four or five hours. My crayons were mostly used up by the time I was done, and I laid out the pictures before me.

They can't replace company, but maybe they could light the way. That was my hope when I finished the drawings. I was also a little annoyed that some of the lines and colors didn't look right... but crayons weren't what I used to drawing with. The eyes were freggin lopsided in a few places.

I carefully piled my hard work together and felt relatively at peace. I hadn't drawn so much for someone who wasn't my writing partner before. I walked out and headed towards the living room. I wasn't burning with resolve like before, just felt a numb acceptance of consequence.

"Toriel?" I called, and she looked up from her book, surprised.

"Yes, young one? Oh, this book is interesting; it is about 72 uses for snails. Did you want to hear one?"

"I need to leave, ma'am." I said softly, hiding the pictures behind my back.

A slightly frown formed on her face. "You are welcome to traverse the ruins if you are careful, young one..."

"I need to exit the ruins." I said, watching her carefully.

"... I need to do something. Wait here." Toriel stood up and quickly rushed out of the room. I sighed and set my drawings on the table nearby, sealing my fate. She could not see the drawings and I in the same room. I quickly ran after her, down the stairs, into a purple-bricked corridor.

"You wanted to exit the ruins, did you not?" She stood in the way and did not look at me. Perhaps she was psyching herself up to hurt me in order to protect me. I felt a displacement as I felt like Frisk and myself at the same time, and I had to remind myself that whatever she throws at me was very real, and it would hurt. I gritted my teeth and continued forward, hands clenching at my sides. If I ran away now... Toriel might really trap us both in here. Infinite time before an event did not exist in real life, right...? "Ahead lies the exit to the ruins to the rest of the underground. I am going to destroy it." She looked back at me with kind, sad eyes, "Go back upstairs."

I met her gaze and did nothing else but wait until she broke away from my eyes. I had to... break her resolve. Even if I was weak. I followed her.

"Every human that comes down here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. They come, they leave. They die." She said, her voice starting to lose her warm tone, "Young one, if you leave the ruins, they... Asgore will kill you."

I know, Toriel... But Asgore isn't the one I truly have to worry about, is it? I thought, but kept those words to myself. No need to have her think I was crazy. It was so weird being a player and being in Frisk's shoes at the same time. I took deep breaths to calm myself, stretching out my arms as I walked and listened politely to Toriel warn and threaten me.

"I am only protecting you, you understand?"

"... I understand, Toriel, I'm sorry I got so close to you." I said softly, and she flinched at my words. I meant them. I should've broke the game and treated her harshly. I should've just refused her hand. This would be so much easier if I did... For both of us. I kind of understood what Flowey was getting at when he said that kindness only hurt people.

"... Go to your room." She said sternly, walking faster. I broke into a jog behind her, she wasn't escaping me this time. "Do not try to stop me." Her voice was colder, "This is your final warning." I followed as quietly as I could anyway, my heart rate accelerating.

We stopped at purple double doors.

"You really want to leave so badly? Hmph... You are just like the others, no matter how big you are. There is only one solution to this. Prove yourself..." She turned to me, her previously motherly eyes settled in a queenly glare that sent pinpricks through my heart, "Prove that you are strong enough to survive."

I controlled my breathing and settled into a ready akido stance, my body tilted to the side, my back foot horizontal and my front foot horizontal, my hands tucked against my chest. Not the strongest stance, but I was only a white belt. Despite the obvious power difference, a challenging glare settled on my face as well. Uh... I obviously didn't want to kill her.

She waved her hands, and I screamed as a bunch of fireballs flew towards me, running away from them. They bounced unpredictably off the walls in random directions, and I yelped as a one hit my shoulder. I looked up to Toriel, "I-I don't want to fight you! Stop this!" I pleaded, my false bravado crumbling. She said nothing, only paused to see if I would attack. I made no move to do so, standing there and lightly touching my smoking black sweater. She pointed her fingers out towards me, and fireballs crisscrossed in every which way direction. My adrenaline went into overdrive as I sidestepped and slipped and growled at the fireballs that hit me, feeling Frisk's power make it so I couldn't strain any muscles as I jumped to greater heights than I ever had and made my ankles twist in almost spraining ways at sudden changes in direction. "Stop this please! I don't want to fight, Toriel!" I pleaded again, my sweater now more of a tank top and my pants sporting giant holes. My shoes sizzled against the hot ground as fire magic residue built up into this room. Toriel paused again, obviously giving me an opening to attack her, and I spoke again, "Please, Toriel... My drawings aren't worth anything if you're not there to see them." Tears prickled at the edges of my vision as she looked away from my face, her hands still extended, but if I cried now I wouldn't be able to see the fireballs, I would die, I could already feel myself feeling really tired... Toriel casted another attack, but it was more of orbs of glowing light that surrounded us and slowly shrank, casting the purple room in an orange light. She waited for me to attack. She was leaving herself wide open. I stood and walked up to her, and she stepped back. I paused and smiled a bit, "I-I didn't even bring a-any freggin weapons, haha..." Toriel had to spread her hands apart to avoid hitting me with the fireballs as I walked closer. I wasn't doing so well, I could feel myself nodding off, kinda like I did in math class.

"What are you doing?" She asked, looking almost startled that I was simply standing there. I took a chance and completely faced away from her, admiring the little orbs of light as I shook with adrenaline pulsing through me.

"Y-Y-your fire is pr-pretty. Like fireflies. ...Ahaha, g-get it, fireflies..."

"Attack or run away!" Toriel snapped, and I looked at her, forcing myself to walk closer to the fiery goat. "What are you proving this way?!"

I stopped a foot away and said in a voice clearer than I felt it should, "I... don't want to fight you."

"Fight me or leave!" She ordered, backing off as her fists erupted into flame. Like a firebubble blower, the number of orbs floating around us increased. I would really have a hard time running away even if I tried... I simply stood there, watching Toriel drive herself crazy with guilt. I pressed my lips together, I hated seeing her unhappy... but I needed to go home. There wasn't enough opportunity for me here.

"Stop it!" She barked at me, which was funny because I wasn't technically doing anything except cautiously watch the fireballs and fight the darkness creeping at the edges of my vision. I looked up at her, my weakness apparent in my slow blinks. I seriously felt like I was going to faint. She would never let me leave if I did. "Don't look at me in that way..." She said softly.

"You've beating me up like a dummy, Toriel... " I said with a grin, before laughing to cover up my soul-wrenching fear, "Hehe, stop this. I really don't want to die..." Goats are stubborn.

"Just go away then!" She said, her orbs increasing in size. I shook my head, frowning and crossing my arms. Two can play at the stubborn game, even if I had maybe 3 or maybe only one hitpoint-no, don't think about that, focus.

A silence except for flickering flames and cracking superheated stone, the heat increasing until we were both sweating. It felt like we were in an oven.

"I know you wish to leave but... I need to protect you. Please, we can have a good life here." Her flames flickered out of her hands as she smiled at me with broken hopefulness.

"I don't belong here, Toriel." I said softly, "I have a family already. I have an entire world apart from yours. Please... just let me try to get back to it."

"... Pathetic, is it not... I cannot save even a single young human." Toriel said with a sad smile. It quickly faded from her face. "I am just... trapping you here, then. There is no possibility you will be happy with me...?"

"I'm an artist, Toriel, I want to change the world, not hide from it." I said with certainty, before blushing at my cheesy choice of words, "Uh..."

"My expectations... My loneliness... My fear... For you, my child, I will set them aside." She said, the orbs around us fading into a sudden near-darkness since all glowing purple moss was burned away. I felt so important that she was throwing away so much for me... She faced me with hands folded in front of her, a sad glow in her eyes vaguely spotted within the darkness. "If you truly wish to leave the ruins, I will not stop you. But if you do leave, please do not come back." My eyes widened as I realized this was a true goodbye. "I hope you understand." Warm, furry arms embraced me, and green healing light covered my body, healing my wounds and clothes and illuminating the room. I hugged back and let tears fall out of my eyes and onto her shoulder. This entity was kind to me, so I was sad to see her go, no matter if she was real or not... It was as simple as that.

"Bye, Tori." I mumbled into her apron. It smelled like pie crust and her specific, sweet goat smell. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

"Goodbye, my child." She said, letting me go. She walked away, leaving me feeling colder than ever. I looked to the purple doors and forced myself to walk towards them. As I touched the doors, I remembered something.

"Tori-" My voice stuck in my throat as I found I was alone. Ah... well... She'll find the pictures... Shoot, I forgot to sign them... Oh well, here I go.

I opened the door and a wintery wind beckoned me into the cold world beyond.

A/N: PenNinja1300 Thanks for the praise!