Chara and Flowey proceeded past the tree. Almost all the leaves having fallen from it. The last while had been a bit tense. But they'd finally arrived at the home in the ruins. The duo stopping at the little staircase leading to the door.
"Okay-" Flowey sighed. "well, we're here." He glanced it over. "It's probably best if I head out now."
"You wanna leave?" She asked. "W-well uh, that's okay...I guess."
He noticed her dejected look. "It's not...it's not because I'm upset or anything. I just-" He thought. "I don't know that Toriel would be happy to see me. I don't think she likes me."
"I mean, I'm sure she wouldn't mind?" Chara suggested, adding. "She never minded me having friends over before...or at least Asriels friends."
"W-well, I uh-" Flowey hesitated, considering something. "well, I guess, maybe I could come in for a moment?" He asked. "Just to make sure she's here, and stuff."
She pat the Flower. It briefly made him think back to her pet comment from earlier. He was loath to endorse the head-pat, but at least she seemed happy with the idea of company. He examined the doorway. Wagering it was likely because of how Toriel had been acting. In case she responded poorly, or something.
Regardless, the girl proceeded up the steps. With the Flower on her arm. They could smell the scent of charcoal and cinnamon. Pushing open the door, Chara wandered inside. The interior of the home was, a bit of a disaster in all honesty. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.
Her initial focus going to a strange staircase dead ahead of her, that descended down somewhere. A basement? She couldn't recall a basement, but her memory was being spotty, so that wasn't surprising.
To the right was a hallway, which was poorly lit. And to the left, was a better lit room. Where the crackling of fire filled the air. Moving into it, she smiled some. It was immediately familiar. A bit of warmth returning, comforting her.
There was a table pushed up against the back left corner. With a chair pushed in, and two more left on the side. With one having fallen over at some point. Instinctively, she put the chair back up. Noticing that it was dusty, and not the dust from the traps, this kind more...tame in origin, she wagered.
In contrast, there was a large brown chair beside the fireplace, that looked far more worn down and incredibly used. A blanket on the ground, that seemed like it was meant to be folded on top. She went over and began doing precisely that.
"What are you doing?" Flowey asked.
"It's...supposed to be on the back." She told him, finishing, climbing up and placing it on the back of the chair, hanging over some. "Better."
Notably, while interacting with it, she sniffed the air. Making a face. It was hard to tell between the smell of the fireplace, and the cinnamon in the air, but she could smell liquor. Sniffing the side of the chair, she noted that some of the scent was there as well. She recalled how Toriel always told them to stay away from such things. Did she...start drinking?
"Lots of books." Flowey noted.
"Hmm?" She glanced to where he pointed.
There was a small bookshelf in the opposite corner to the table and chairs. Stepping over to it, she ran her fingers across the various tomes. Pausing at one, she pulled it out. A dark book with fancy decoration, dubbed "Underfell."
Skimming it, she vaguely recalled a story named Undertale, that was read to her and Asriel once. Maybe it was a sequel? Retelling? She didn't know, so she placed it back.
The duo glanced, hearing muttering coming from the kitchen. It sounded like irritated chatter. The figure of Toriel coming around the corner, wearing a very relaxed outfit, compared to what Chara was used to. The woman pausing, staring at her in surprise.
"Are you okay?" Chara asked, wondering why she'd looked so upset for a moment.
Toriel briefly looked at Flowey, stared for a moment. Before turning back to Chara, expression softening. The soft smile, forming, seemed strained. Eyes as uncertain as ever.
"Yes, just...frustrated, my child." She walked over to the chair. "Recently I've encountered trouble baking things. However, I think I have it this time."
"Oh, what are you making?" Chara asked, stepping over, as Toriel sat down.
"Something as sweet as you." Toriel remarked, briefly messing with Charas hair. "Beyond that, it's a surprise." She hummed. "Now, I'm more curious...did you both walk all the way here?" She tapped Chara on the nose. "Didn't I ask you wait, my child?"
Flowey noticed that while Charas eyes were closed, the boss monster shot him the nastiest glare. Something inherently unhinged, and wrathful. Gone as soon as the little giggle from the girl ended. Replaced with that deceptive little smile.
"I-I know." Chara sighed. "Flowey said we should wait, that you'd come back. But I was worried about you, and sort of ran off to find you." The girl admitted, adding. "S-sorry."
There was a soft silence. Toriel appeared to consider some things. Placing a hand on her wards face.
"Well, that's very sweet of you, Chara. I've was...worried about-" Toriel began to examine Chara. "You've been injured?"
The word was spoken with a distinctly different tone. This one closer to a brick of a statement, slash question. Rather than her formerly composed and soft voice.
"Yeah." Chara replied, noticing the woman glare at Flowey. "I almost fell into a bunch of spikes, but Flowey pulled me out before that happened." She noted, getting a look of surprise from Toriel. "He helped me a lot today. Oh, and some nice spiders gave us donuts."
"Are they back then?" The woman sounded annoyed, before noticing the smiling child and smiling herself. "W-well, that was very kind of them."
"Not to be mean. But..they're still creepy." Chara noted.
"Heh. I think so too, my child." Toriel smirked.
"Flowey doesn't think so, but, I do." Chara noted.
"Well Flowey is a lot like a spider-" Toriel remarked. "Small, easily squishable." He gulped. "Tell you what...the oven will be going for awhile-" She noted. "Why don't...you tell me all about how you got here?"
"Okay...uhm, I'll be right back." The child motioned.
"Very well?" The woman watched as Chara sprinted back into the hall, hearing a sound like a vase being messed with. "You alright?"
"Y-yeah, just, just a sec." Chara said back.
Flowey remarked. "Wait, seriously?"
"It'll be easier than just being on my arm." The girl said back.
"What about the dead flower in there indicates that's a good idea?" Flowey asked.
Toriel watched as one of the dead flowers she had around the house was chucked out the still open front door. Minus the vase. She had an idea of what was about to happen, and found it amusing in some respects.
After a moment, Chara wandered back into the living room. With the vase from the hallway. Complete with a sunflower in it, looking like he was experiencing a mixture of dread, and embarrassment.
"Goodness, what a lovely flower. Really compliments the vase." Toriel remarked.
"I thought so too." Chara replied, with a far more innocent smile.
"Always nice to have a captive audience." The monster suggested, adding. "You can place it on the table, for now, if you'd like."
Flowey gave her a look, while Chara set the vase on the table. Patting him on the head again, prompting a groan. Before she turned and headed back to Toriel. Taking a moment to climb up onto the chair with her.
"You wanted to know about how we got here right?" The child inquired.
"W-well, yes." Toriel replied, shifting some. "You know I will have to get up, Chara."
"Hmm, yeah. But it's comfy here." The girl replied, laying back. "It's goat to be the best seat in the house."
"You're a dork." Her guardian said, unable to not smile. The memories playing in the back of her mind again. "Now...please start from the beginning."
The story was relayed in all its intensity, and moments there-with-in. A no-holds-bar example of honest journalism. Save for, all the parts that Chara emitted to ensure that nobody got mad at anyone. And the parts she removed about her ability to decide to not die. Essentially blending the time before her last death, and this new one together, into something semi cohesive.
Beginning with the trouble with the Froggit. Which she noted they spared, only for it to come back and bully them later. She explained that they fought it, and that eventually it stopped fighting them.
She noted how Flowey helped her escape the spike room, and various other areas. Briefly noting that she had fallen into one of the pits, and he helped get her back on her feet using candy. Which she admitted to taking, apologizing and getting a reassuring smile in exchange.
Then she got to the topic of the ghost, admitting to fighting it. As it wouldn't let them pass. Suggesting that, they were able to beat it though. And it too, left. Flowey knew what she meant, of course, but Toriel largely didn't.
The Flower checking for her response, which was far calmer and tamer than he'd anticipated. He wondered if she...believed what was happening. Or...maybe she had just gone off the deep end, and lost her ability to care? He didn't know anymore.
When the general bit of story came to an end, Chara had cuddled up with her. Looking utterly exhausted after the near constant stream of running around, fighting, and getting injured. True, the magical food fixed her physical wounds, but it didn't seem to do much for her, overall ability to remain awake.
"Sounds like quite the adventure." Toriel said, adding. "I'm...sorry I left you alone my child."
"It's okay." Chara replied, adding. "You were busy, and had stuff to do." The woman frowned some. "Hey...what's Underfell?"
"Underfell?" Toriel asked. "The book over there?" The girl nodded. "An old story, you don't remember it?"
"No...I thought, you had one called Undertale?" Chara asked back.
"No, my child. But uh, something you shouldn't be reading that one." Toriel noted.
"Why not?" She inquired.
"It's quite a grim story, my dear." Her guardian replied. "Lots of...theming in it...that, well...I suppose it does have a happy ending." She admitted, considering. "All the same, perhaps...I have something more appropriate."
Toriel shifted like she was going to rise from her seat. Chara briefly hopping down. Quickly grasping the dark tome.
"I can handle it," Chara assured her, holding up the book. "Right Flowey?"
The Flower shifted, regaining attention on himself for the first time in a while. His immediate discomfort was evident. Further, he really knew very little about this book, or what it was even about.
"Uhm." He hummed. "Maybe?"
He noticed the smile of the monster woman didn't match her near constant death glare when she looked at him. Though, this time, the look was slightly more amused than before. As though he had made some error, but not one worth harming him. He wondered what the story was about to get that look?
"Very well, however, if you ever become concerned or afraid...just let me know, and we'll stop reading it." Toriel offered, taking the offered book.
"Deal." Her ward said, hopping back up, and snuggling up with her.
Sighing some, Toriel rolled her eyes at the display. At the smell of the baking pie. The crackling of the fire. The feeling of warmth about her little hearth in this moment. She allowed her eyes to close, drinking it in. It hurt, but she'd stick with the dream a little longer. Just...a little bit longer.
Opening the first page, she read. "Our story begins...with a child, a very special child." She glanced at Chara. "One who had seen the sky, and descended from on high." She turned the first page, containing an image of an angelic being. "And their name was-"