Chapter 10

Frisk couldn't help but stare at her reflection. There were no mirrors in Ebott Forest – there was no point when everyone hid who they were behind a mask – but with the sun hitting the window just right, she could catch a glimpse of who she was. Brown skin, golden eyes, chocolate hair, and a nasty scar on her forehead she could fortunately hide behind her bangs. She ran her finger along the scar. Although the wound had since healed, the reminder of what had nearly happened to her would always be there.

"It isn't that bad, you know," Mask said as it always did when Frisk stared at the scar for too long. Mask never thought there was anything wrong with the scar. Frisk wished she could share the same belief about it.

"Scars aren't pretty," Frisk argued.

"You are the prettiest person I know," Mask argued back.

"I'm the only one here who has a face. This isn't really a fair competition."

"Look, I am trying to be nice to you, ma'am," Mask stated, pretending to sound exasperated.

Giggling, Frisk brushed her hair over the scar and picked up her mask. After she put the mask on her face, she patted down the skirt of her new dress. It was a deep, rich purple velvet with black buttons from her neck to her waist, long sleeves, and a matching shawl to wear over it. Toriel made it for her. Along with the new dress, Frisk also wore black leggings and shiny new black flats.

Looking back, Frisk felt foolish for distrusting Toriel. As she later learned, Toriel knew the moment she found Frisk that the child was from the outside – after all, Frisk was not the first human to enter the forest through that bed of golden flowers. Then when Frisk took a nap that first day in Toriel's care, the mask was not on Frisk's face. Although Toriel could feel the desire to take Frisk's face burning in her soul, her love for Chara and Lily and what became of them gave Toriel the strength to resist long enough to put the mask on Frisk. If only Mask had been aware of all that had happened instead of testing how far it could be distant from Frisk as it tried to remember who it was.

Frisk stepped out of the bedroom and walked down the hall towards the kitchen. She could hear Toriel making the final preparations for Frisk's journey. After what had nearly happened to Frisk, Toriel could see that Frisk living in Ebott Forest, let alone the Ruined Woods, and hiding who she was for the rest of her life was not ideal. It would be far safer for Frisk to leave Ebott Forest. However, journeying through the forest had risks of its own.

"There you are," Toriel greeted as Frisk stepped into the kitchen. "Why, do you not look beautiful in your new dress!"

With a small laugh, Frisk held up her skirt and twirled around. Toriel also laughed. Frisk's smile grew behind her mask.

The airy atmosphere came to a halt as Toriel picked up the sack. With a deep sigh, she somberly handed it to Frisk. Once the sack was safely in Frisk's hands, Toriel ran her fingers through Frisk's hair.

"Once you leave, you must never come back," Toriel told her. "Are you sure you wish to proceed with this desire to leave Ruined Woods?"

Swallowing, Frisk nodded.

"I see." Toriel dropped her hand and laced her fingers together. "As much as I wish you could remain here and I would protect you from anyone who would dare try to hurt you, I know that is not a promise I can make. I failed Chara my son, and I failed Lily the child I tried to save from a similar fate."

"What happened to Lily?" Frisk asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

After a deep and heavy sigh, Toriel answered, "He . . . King Asgore found her."

Something about the way Toriel said that sent chills running down Frisk's spine.

"You must be wary of him," Toriel continued. "He has found and ended the lives of all those who came to Ebott Forest. I . . . do not wish to imagine what he would possibly do to you if he knew you were here."

Then, reaching towards her hair, Toriel began to untie the faded ribbon. When it was loose, she reached down and tied it in Frisk's hair. Upon finishing, Toriel ran her hand down Frisk's hair one final time.

"So that you will always remember me," Toriel said, her words sounding choked as if she were about to cry.

At this, Frisk dropped the sack and threw her arms around Toriel. Against her wishes, tears began to flow from her eyes. Toriel held Frisk close and rubbed circles on her back.

"Now, now," Toriel began after they had held each other for more than a minute, "we must not delay much longer. My friend and his brother shall be here soon to escort you through Snowdin Lane. Do you really want their first impression of you to be that you kept them waiting?"

Frisk smiled through her tears. She instinctively reached for her eyes to wipe the tears away and brushed her fingers against the mask. Running her fingers down the mask instead, Frisk made sure it was properly fastened on her head.

"The brothers know not what you are," Toriel warned again. "They must not know. I trust them to get you safely through Snowdin Lane, but I know not what they would do if they knew what you hid behind your mask."

"I understand," Frisk said, nodding.

"Very good." Toriel took Frisk's hand in her own and picked up the sack. Again handing it to Frisk, she said, "Let's go."

As they walked past the backdoor and to where Ruined Woods ended and Snowdin Lane began, Mask, who had been quiet up until this point, spoke.

"Chara."

Frisk wanted to ask what Mask meant, but with Toriel there, she dared not speak to an entity only she could see. However, she did turn her head just enough to look at Mask. The action served as her question, for Mask continued.

"My . . . my real name is Chara. I . . . Frisk, I am Chara."

End of Book One