Kami-sama? Annoying Dog? Are you listening? Frisk thought in a panicked frenzy. The image of Toriel wielding her ex's weapon with fire in her eyes not leaving their mind. I-if you are, y-you know I don't ask for much anymore. I made peace with my station in life before, I can make peace with it now. B-but I need to know, where are you going with this?
"Hello, are- you lost?" Claire asked meekly after a little flutter to the frozen child.
"I-i-i," Frisk muttered.
Claire peered back to where Toriel left then back to a child. Frisk dropped their head into their hands causing the moth to become fretful. "Oh, oh no, you saw everyth-, oh oh nononono," She turned back to the exit. "Vi? Are you still-? No, he can't hear me." The moth turned back to the child and played up a shook smile. "H-hey- I- I know it looks bad, b-but- i-it's going to be ok little one. M-ms. Toriel is strong enough to stop this."
Her unconvincing reassurance did nothing for the child so she decided to try to pat the child's head. When she got close to try she was blindsided by them raising their head to the heavens and roaring. "IF I FIND OUT I'M ACTUALLY IN SPACE I'M GOING TO BE SO MAD DOG!"
"P!" Claire yelled in surprise during the outburst. She flew to the ceiling and huddled close to the corner between the ceiling and the wall.
After a moment of panting, Frisk came back to reality with a pained yelp. They clutched their throat and lowered their head. "O-ow," they murmured. "Probably shouldn't do that again until I get more used to talking."
"Th-that was a lot of emotion just there," Claire commented peeling herself from her hiding place.
Frisk just then noticed their guest and they blushed in embarrassment. They gave a bow. "S-sorry about that. That was supposed to stay in, not out."
Claire fluttered back to the child's eye level. "No, no, it's alright. I-I've felt like that before. I-I guess you're a "child" of Ms. Toriel too?"
Frisk nodded. "My name is Frisk, what's yours?"
"Claire, it's nice to meet you," The whimsun greeted as she shook hands with the child. She laughed lightly. "I-I didn't expect to meet another human so soon, I'm just having a lot of new experiences today."
"I can relate," Frisk replied wearily. A light beeping called the child's attention. They pulled out their phone. "I'm sorry, do you mind of I check this?"
"No go ahead. It might be important," Claire replied.
With the moth watching over their shoulder Frisk read the notification.
1 spider cider was removed from Ed's INV. 490 spaces remain.
"Oh good, Ed's alright after all," Claire commented happily. "I was getting worried."
Frisk gave out a sigh of relief as well. They then found themselves drawn to the large gift box at the end of the room. In an effort to lighten the tension they felt, they decided to switch gears. "So, how did you guys get the spiders to give you free things?" They asked with a mischievous smile.
"I-it wasn't really free, we traded bot flies for them," Claire explained before she fluttered to the box.
"Bot flies?" Frisk asked as they followed suite.
"They're giant bugs that live in the wall cracks. Usually hard to find but really worth it if monsters like us want to leave the Ruins someday," The moth monster explained as she counted the contents in the box. Looking a little overwhelmed the moth looked back to the child. "Do you want a doughnut or a pitcher of cider Frisk?"
"Yeah," Frisk chirped. "Do you mind if I take some with me too?"
"I don't mind," The moth gave the child two pastries and a small pitcher. "There's way too much here for Vi and I to eat."
As Frisk and Claire ate from the box the vent in the next room growled to life. A few moments later a jubilant Ed flew out. He landed like he was stealing home plate in baseball.
"Level 3: Housewares," Ed said with a smile.
"Hey Ed, what were yo- AH!" Frisk interrupted themselves when Ed got up and faced them. Ed's shirt was so soaked in his blood it was sticking to his chest and stomach. "Wh-what happened to you?!"
"The exorcism didn't work too well," Ed replied without a care in the world. "But I'm ready to do it right this time!"
Frisk naturally was skeptical. "Th-that's a lot of blood Ed, a-are you really sure about that?"
"Yeah!" Ed revealed his new weapon from between his waist and his jacket "belt". "She left her weapon in me. That means she's defenseless now. Easy capture, easy purification, easy entry in the pokedex."
"So- you got stabbed by that?" Claire asked waking out of her confusion about what "blood" is.
"Yup, right in the udder," Ed said patting the area over his heart with his free hand, then his eyes widened. "Wait, that sounds bad. Am I alive?"
The child and the monster stared at Ed for a few moments before Claire decided to change the subject. "Do you want more food Ed?"
"Ooh I'm in," Ed replied dropping his philosophical question almost as soon as he brought it up. He jumped over the spikes and joined his friends around the box.
Frisk felt a mixture of awe and fear as they looked over Ed to see if he wasn't just pretending not to be hurt. They didn't see any wound or cut in his shirt as he scarfed down doughnuts like a fiend. The child's eternal respect for monster food development was not misplaced again. They drowned the rest of their trepidation in a swig of spider infused tartness and placed a gentle hand on Ed's arm. "It's good to see you're ok, big guy." They said giving him a warm smile.
Ed didn't say anything instead he placed a hand on Frisk's head and rubbed softly with an equally comforting expression. Frisk looked on edge for a moment, but after realizing what the boy was doing they slowly closed their eyes and gave a hum of delight.
Claire looked at the sight with content.
It didn't last as her feelers picked up something again. Something very powerful, and more importantly, very sinister. The presence was so powerful to her sensibilities it made her freeze in place and squeak in horror. This startled the humans out of their moment.
"What's wrong Claire?" Frisk asked.
"I-it's Ms. Toriel! I-I think she's in danger!"
"Danger?" Frisk inquired.
"Toriel?" Ed wondered aloud at the same time.
-CLANG-
Everyone in the room jumped when a prolonged sound of impacted metal resonated through the room. When it ended the three looked at each other. Ed then lowered himself and Frisk hopped on his back. The boy then leapfrogged over the spikes and hightailed it into the perspective puzzle on all fours like a horse. Claire quickly grabbed 2 doughnuts, closed the box, and wobbly followed close behind.
Ruins – Boss pt. 2
Sparks flew as the two women broke their clash over the deafening roar of Toriel's firewall. The trident-wielder followed up with a full body ram which sent the girl back. The distance was quickly recovered and the girl slashed downwards. Toriel blocked the attack throwing off the witch's hold on the blade. Toriel then bashed the witch in the side of the head with the butt of the trident and rushed forward with the pole against the girl's neck. The girl bounced off and fell backwards into a roll.
? health: 610/700
As the witch skid to a stop, Toriel conjured up a blue flame in her free hand. Palm Blazing With a command and a collapse of her hand over the blue wisp, an enormous mimicry of Toriel's paw was conjured. The projection swiped across the area in front of her sending large columns of blue flames outwards in a circular motion. The giant hand then disappeared in a smoke puff. Unfortunately for her opponent Toriel wasn't finished as she sent out another Ember Wave as soon as the hand passed by.
Forced on the defensive, the girl narrowly dodged a column and swiped at a few embers that were nearby. More embers zoomed in and she was forced to swipe at them as well. This swipe put her in the trajectory of another plume of blue. With a howl the girl lunged out of the way, but ended up caught in a few embers that were hidden in the flume's wake.
? health: 590/700
The girl hissed as the little devils tore small holes into her Yukata down to her flesh. She sent away her blade and moved her nettled arm front and center. She sent a volley of needles hurtling at the caretaker. Unlike the needles of her previous form, these needles were longer and were pale white in color. Toriel's eyes widened as the needles effortlessly cut through her embers. Some needles were burnt up in the last few columns that swept past the monster, but not nearly enough that she could disperse with her trident. She held it up to block anyway but she soon found herself grunting in pain as lower aimed needles found their mark in both her legs.
Toriel's health: 400/440
Toxicity: 45%
Toriel had no time to tend to her impromptu acupuncture as the witch gave what appeared to be a half smirk and opened up an assault of her own. Toriel hightailed it in a counterclockwise circle around the witch, being tailed by a multitude of quills that painted the walls of the room like a prickly top coat. As she spun Toriel's eyes glowed in a pattern of blue and orange. Then after a small rotation Toriel closed the gap in a spiral and responded in kind. Sun Light, Moon Light Her weapon flashed blue and she slashed at the witch horizontally. It struck into the girl's waist and sent her off-balance. Toriel followed up with another slash but the orange weapon phased through her wobbling opponent. She then gritted her teeth and swung the trident downwards against the girl's spine. The blue slash sent the girl down to her knees with a hiss. Toriel wound her trident back for an executioner's strike at the girl's exposed neck. Unaware that the girl had recalled her blade, and she was able to see the last color of the pattern.
? health: 500/700
Toriel's health: 250/440
Toxicity: 55%
The Caretaker cried out in agony as the hackwitch slashed her chest, the orange trident harmlessly passing through her opponents jaw. The witch followed with a downward slash of her own, it connected to the goatwoman's left shoulder. In fear, Toriel threw Bergentrückung to the floor and called out another Helix Volley with her now freed hand. The witch was sent backwards by the ensuring stream, releasing her grip on the blade before she cut through the caster's arm. As the witch smoldered on the floor, Toriel pulled the weapon out and tossed it to the floor in front of her with a growl.
? health: 460/700
Toriel's health: 200/440
Toxicity: 60%
All this time and my hatred for Voidsteel is still founded. Toriel thought as she felt the tell-tale prickly sensation coursing through her body. She then placed a hand to her shoulder and with a silent command her magic started repairing it. However even with her magic, she had to fight the growing blurriness that continued to enter her vision. Questioning why, she placed a hand to her chest. Her magic had already sealed the wound but she didn't even need CHECK to understand why she her HP wasn't going up again. Those needles must be doing something to my soul. Toriel shook her head, and picked up her weapon. Briefly glancing at it she grew cross with the results it was giving her. Dammit Asgore, I said eye telegraphy was a bad idea. It's just a giant tell I said. But no~ you wanted to make everything fair. Well, the demon now understands the only useful weapon attack this thing has you reject monk!
With an angry yell she threw the trident to the floor, it disappeared with a load clash of metal. The sound roused the witch from her contemplation on the floor. She rose from the floor and shot a few quills. The Caretaker dodged them and her eyes glowed crimson as she grit her teeth. That's it! I'm done being civil! Toriel cracked her knuckles and summoned three small wisps of white flame in each hand. The witch wasted no time barreling at the goatwoman with renewed vigor. Toriel glowered and closed her hands over the wisps.
Мовчайте Чуму Трав'янистих земель: Розділяй і володарюй
(Silence the Grasslands plague: Divide and Conquer)
The witch brought down her fury down as light and heat filled the overlook. The light faded with the witch's machete pushing against two crossing sword arms tinged with glowing white and blue pitting in their blades. The hilts of the swords were laced in a golden alloy which reflected the lights, giving the weapons an almost white appearance. Toriel yelled and uncrossed her new summons, the blades erupted into a vibrant blue flame which sent her opponent flying backward. With a howl the witch rolled back onto her feet a few meters back and sent a volley of ivory needles in retaliation.
? health: 410/700
Toriel's health: 200/440
Toxicity: 70%
Toriel slashed downwards, and massive wave of white flame barreled through the projectiles. The witch's eyes widened as her quills burnt and splintered under the heat. She was forced to dodge the wave and with no other real options sent another volley at her now pissed-off opponent. The Caretaker sent another wave through the volley and chided. "You don't get it, do you?"
This time it was Toriel who bridged the distance. The two women began exchanging blows. However the dynamic of the clash was less like a sword fight and more like one desperately trying to avoid being torn to pieces by the other. "Before the war," Toriel began as she hacked and slashed. "I was a child of a Warlord. During the war, I stood shoulder to shoulder with the strongest soldiers Monsterkind had. After the war, I was a Keeper of the Peace then later the second Captain of the Royal Guard." Toriel slammed the witch against the wall and tried to stab at her waist. Her opponent threw away her knife, grabbed the sword, and tried to raise her nettled arm.
"And after all that time in strife do you know what I still hate the most?" The goatwoman asked hypothetically as she sent her other blade into the nettle work. White and indigo smoke poured out of the wound around the burning sword as the witch's screaming echoed through the cavern. "Opportunists," Toriel increased the heat of her blades in an attempt to break the witch's grip. "Cowards like you who are willing to fight and kill people weaker than them, but when something stronger stands in the way they try everything in their power to not fight them directly."
? health: 290/700
Partially-Pinned
Toriel's health 200/440
Toxicity 85%
"Understand this, I'm not doing this because I want to," Toriel continued whether she said it for the witch or herself she didn't know want to dwell on. She forced her right blade into the witch's stomach sending out more white and black mist.
? Health: 150/700
Pinned
Toriel's health: 200/440
Toxicity: 90%
The witch grimaced as she feebly tried to push the blade out. Toriel held that hand in place as she started to open the witch's yukata to expose her chest. Or rather the large black cut above her chest. It was at this point that the witch appeared to understand what the goatwoman was planning. To Toriel's relief the witch's irises dilated and then she lowered her unpinned hand to her side. Almost as if she was accepting her defeat. "That's right. Don't make this harder on yourself," Toriel said still on edge. She placed her paw over the cut and made a small incantation. Her hands glowed a bright white and she felt a pull from deep within the witch's chest. A few moments later a deep vibrant purple light began to glow underneath the witch's cold skin.
Toriel's health: 200/440
Toxicity: 95%
*H-he's still alive?
The glow started migrating to Toriel's palm but an elegant soft voice made the caller lose focus. She looked up in surprise and found the witch looking at the entrance to the room. She did the same and gasped. There stood both her "children" in between Vi and Claire behind the firewall. All four of them were jumping and cheering.
Toriel was so spellbound by this she didn't notice the indigo glow returning to the witch's eyes, nor the smile widening on her face. She didn't even notice the strange indigo aura that started surrounding her.
*I can still end this madness
Toriel's health: 200/440
Toxicity: 100%
SPECIAL ATTACK ACTIVATED: LEY TOXIN TIMEBOMB
The Witch placed her free hand on Toriel's chest.
And the "Goatmom" saw her children's happiness turn to horror.
As dark energy tore out of her body.
Faster than the blink of an eye
...
? Health 150/700
Toriel's health: 0/440
...
...
No!
...
…
I won't lose someone I love again!
…
WARNING
Anomaly Rating increased to 55%
Investigation needed...
…
…
Ed's health 1/20
Toriel's health 19/440
...
The FIGHT continues...