Acclimating to the dark of the ruins had already begun, the girl knew this by the fact she could now see some in the areas without light. Though, that was being provided. A swirling ball of fire floating ahead of them, generated by Toriel.
They hadn't really talked or said much else. Chara glancing to the shredded cloth that was being used to patch up her arms. It made her wince now and then, but Toriel assured it would help. Hopefully. The two leaving a smaller room with some broken puzzle, moving into the next.
The walk was a slow thing progressing forward. As the woman glanced at her now and then. Looking doubtful, worried, or generally distressed each time. Sometimes reaching for her hand, taking it, and then letting go a few moments later. As though she were merely checking to ensure her ward hadn't faded away or something.
They walked across a bridge, that creaked and moaned as they did. Chara glancing at the still water below it. There was so little light, it just looked like ink. The two turning briefly, to what seemed to be a lever, and a space with stillwater, and no bridge.
They stopped by the level. "My child...the ruins are full of traps." Toriel explained hesitantly. "You-
"Why are there traps now?" Chara looked up at her.
"Because..." Toriel closed her eyes, took a breath and composed herself. "because things have...changed."
"What happened?" The girl inquired. "And are you okay?"
The monster briefly looked irritated, before glancing aside. "I need you to listen. To be careful. So please, adjust yourself to the sight of them."
The fire hovered, before Chara finally reached out and pulled down the lever. Hearing splashing noises, and more groaning sounds. The flame left the lever after only a moment. Toriel moving to the edge of the platform, as a wet and crumbling looking bridge rose and cleared a path to progress.
Stepping over, Toriel reached her her hand. Which Chara took, while they walked across. The girl slipping at one point, as her guardians grip tightened. It did help her to avoid slipping off, but it also hurt some, leading to her wincing and letting out a noise of pain. Toriel helping her to her feet, before letting go.
"Sorry." Toriel apologized quietly.
The area around them had a path leading forward. Blocked by massive spikes, coming from the floor. Shining faintly in the firelight. The girl noting all the dust gathered around them and looked to the ceiling. Pondering if there was a crack somewhere.
Her memory briefly replaying the memory of them. Recalling having triggered them to rise. She wondered if the first lever she hit had put them back up? Maybe it was part of disarming it? Regardless, Chara already discerned the lethality of the traps and wasn't inherently keen on partaking in their designs again.
While she was considering this, Toriel had stepped over to the spikes. Running her hand across one of the dusty ones, before wandering over to a nearby wall. Where two switches were present. She glanced back at the approaching child, frowned, and blocked Chara's line of sight for a second. Before stepping back, to reveal that one of them had dust markings, pointing to it.
"Cha-m-my child...do you see these two levers here?" The Caretaker gestured to them, as the girl nodded. "I...marked one of them. However, that one is a trap, and will only 'pretend' to...disarm the spikes." She explained. "You will need to pull the lever on the right, to lower them."
Chara once more stepped over, considering some things as she did. Grasping the one of the right. Straining some, while pulling it down. The snikt sound echoing in the air, sending a chill down her spine. The barrier blocking their path, retreating into the stone.
Toriel watched this, briefly reaching up, the girl watching, able to see something in the ceiling, barely visible in the darkness. Toriel turned it, creating a clicking noise, the bridge they'd crossed on lowering back down into the water. The woman gesturing while starting out of the room, beckoning her ward to follow.
While following her into the next room, the girl briefly noticed Flowey, watching from alongside some golden flowers on the wall. He gave a slight wave and vanished through a crack. It was oddly relieving to know that he was there and hadn't just bailed on her.
This next room saw the floating orb of flame dance around the edges. Striking at various torches, sparking them to life. It was bright, bright enough that Chara had to blink a few times to re-adjust to it all. Toriel letting out a sigh, letting down her hood once more, before motioning the floating ball of fire away for now.
Getting a good and proper look at her for the first time, it was...peculiar. She was definitely Toriel, if there was any remaining doubt regarding that. However, her fur had gotten longer, and had long strands like medium length hair around them. A far cry from the proper look she once carried. The eye wound, notably, didn't have a scar or anything around the eye. It was as if the eye itself had been injured.
Toriel noticed the look, inquiring. "Yes?"
"N-nothing." Chara said, feeling oddly nervous of the look she'd been given.
The illumination provided sight to a dummy. It was visibly torn, stitched back together with countless different fabrics and materials. In some areas claw marks had been sewn over, and a few sections still held burn marks.
"Chara...do you remember what I told you and Asriel?" Toriel inquired, offering a serious look, while placing her hand on the girl's shoulder.
Asriel? The name...it was familiar to her. But she couldn't quite...place it. However, the stern expression suggested that admitting that was probably not the best idea right this instance.
"What you told us?" Chara tried to recall things she'd been told "Like, to make sure the lights are off or-" The woman's gripped tightened, causing her to let out a noise of pain. "M-mom, that hurts-"
"I need you to remember for me, won't you?" The woman requested, a faintly malicious tone to her words. The same one from the 'you aren't real' bit that left her burnt before.
Searching her mind, she didn't recall a lesson taught to her. But something told to Mychal. Something about how monsters may want to fight him. And being ready for that.
"You were talking about how...uhm, how monsters may want to fight me?" Chara half-asked, as Toriels grip loosened once more, replaced with that guilty expression the girl had seen a lot more of recently. "And that I...uhm..."
Her caretaker let out a light sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you any harm." She said. "I just...it's important, and I really...needed you to remember."
"T-that's okay," Chara replied with a faint smile. "Did I...do something wrong?"
"No, no my child you haven't...I just, can't...tell if..." The woman closed her eyes for a moment. "The Dummy before you is here for training purposes. I need you to attack it."
The child turned to face her and asked. "Why?" She huffed. "E-everything is weird...and you won't...tell me why. S-so, why?"
The momentary defiance earned a dark expression from her guardian. Yet, it wasn't directed at her. No anger in it, just dread in one form or another.
"I've told you; the ruins are...dangerous." Toriel explained. "I know you..." She trailed. "Tell me...have well do you remember the ruins?" She asked. "When was...the last time you recall being here?"
Chara knew a test when she heard one. Her hands going into her pockets, as she paced a little. Taking in the room, thinking on things. Searching for the answer to this question. The most she could figure, was...a memory...faint as it was."
"I think I ate something from here?" Chara suggested, gaining the attention of Toriel. "It was...was it flowers?" She tried to recall. "And then...wait...is this where we were running to?" She asked, causing Toriels hands to shake, and her whole body to shiver. "I think, I was being carried by you?" She asked, before wondering aloud. "There was crying...wait...that was you." The girl concluded. "Why were you crying?"
There was an extended silence in the wake of that question. It was strange, lingering well past the point of being uncomfortable. Chara felt her curiosity peak, rising steadily. She had told Mychal she'd died...was that the memory? Then...who were they running from?
"Chara..." Toriel looked at her again, and knelt down, her exhaustion and sorrow on full display. "I cannot always be there to protect you." She admitted, resting her hand against the girls cheek. "If a monster tries to hurt you, I need-" She paused briefly. "I need to know that you can protect yourself, my child." She scanned her over. "I need you to be safe this time. Do you understand...please?"
A question was plaguing the child. She didn't want to ask it, as for the first time since she woke up, Toriel sounded like her old self. But it screamed inside her head, and she wanted the answer.
"Why would they do that?" She asked.
"Chara," Toriel said softly. "Do this for me, won't you?"
The child could feel the seriousness of the request. She wasn't going to get the answer. At least, not now. She wagered she would just need to continue on, try again later.
"Okay Mom." She replied, as the hand slipped away, and Toriel stood upright once more. "I just...fight it?" She asked, gaining a nod, before stepping towards the Dummy. "I-" She noticed a stick on the ground and picked it up. "I can do that."
The stick wasn't very strong. But it would work. Gripping it in her palm, it felt...familiar. Deja Vu in her movements, a breath released. Before...the world flashed for a moment, everything seeming to fade to black and red. The Tattered Dummy was before her.
She closed her eyes briefly and visualized her options before opening them. Projecting them in her mind once more. As her soul, shining and purple floated, softly above her chest.
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