"So don't be frightened, dear friend, if a sadness confronts you larger than any you have ever known, casting its shadow over all you do. You must think that something is happening within you, and remember that life has not forgotten you; it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall."

― Rainer Maria Rilke

Toriel kept a journal of sorts for a long time, with the occasional torn pages and ink bloats here and there. Most of the Underground writing supplies were in her house or at the Librarby, the other areas having little need or use for manuscripts.

20XX, Day 1, Month Unknown.

Chara agreed to stay in the house for a week, and I do not know whether I should be happy or scared. She nearly broke my heart again when she wanted to meet ASGORE in his current state, but I cannot keep her too long from fulfilling her destiny.

My Angel is back, the so-called Fallen Angel we wished for in our bittersweet prayers. She even offered to accompany her on her journey, which I never considered doing for any other child before. I suppose I did not dare to move out from here after so long, not ready to confront the subjects I left all those years.

Chara still loves chocolate, and that reassures me. She has not changed that much since her sudden demise, albeit being strangely more cheerful than necessary. She probably has issues of her own, and I would love to help her as a Mother, but I ...

Toriel decided not to further write that day, having heard Chara call for her for a walk. She was living a strange dream, which she hoped would last for the remainder of the week. She delivered an entry the next day, having noticed strange occurrences during her walk.

20XX, Day 2, Month 7 (Probably)

Chara and I noticed shadowy Froggits by the Monster Candy Room, they seemed normal except for their darkened pupils and skin. Some also hopped close and tried to attack Chara, but I protected her so she does not need to FIGHT. I also felt a child brushing my fur while Chara held me close, a child about her height who smelled just like her.

When I asked her about it, she blushed again. It must be the dead child she was talking about then. I would not press the matter any further to anger her, all I needed was to know my child was happy. She missed that human-like I miss my past life with ASGORE, but I fear I cannot forgive him that easily.

I heard my child whispering to someone in her room, unsure whether she sees things or that child of hers was real. I left her a slice of pie and went down to the living room, picking a book while trying to decide whether I should go with her and an unusual guest who sat next to me.

Another missing person made their entrance, his name was Dr. Aster.

Toriel stopped writing this particular entry to think of that strange monster, who seemed to know more than he is letting out. She felt uneasy in the company of a quiet, eerie skeleton man who used to be their Royal Scientist. She feared he has done something to her daughter, perhaps he was the one to induce that self-talking into her.

20XX, Day 3, Month 7

I left Chara to sleep that day, as she cuddled her pillow, muttering a name I know nothing about. She was my only sunshine through the grim days I had in the past, and having someone home made me feel safer.

The monster named Aster was nowhere to be found, he moved in and out whenever he pleased, and I tried not to mind him too much. He was as much for conversation as the training dummy, speaking only to greet me as his Queen, or asking for two slices of pie.

There was also that despicable flower did appear far away from where I met the children, and their presence cannot be boding well. They plopped out as soon I spotted them, complaining about how shadowy monsters were squatting their favorite playground.

They also spoke of a man who "speaks in hands" and bathes in the sun, as the looming shadows feared the being. Perhaps that was the cause of this corruption.

Checking on the Underground's far east garden, it had the stench of blood and dirt along with the usual scent of flowers. The air suffocated my nostrils, and my heart throbbed with uneasiness when I set a paw on the once-hallowed ground. Monsters were dying between flowerbeds, in the many dark spots the cave had. I tried to remain in the light to be saved, as I evaded whips and defended myself when necessary.

I had not seen any strange person in the sun, and staying too long could make me go insane again. I left the garden, after raising another stone door with difficulty and enchanting it with a Delta Rune. I fear some unknown threat came to our world, and will eventually rob me of my child and home.

Toriel put the pen away, hearing little footsteps approaching and someone knocking on her door.

"Knock Knock"

"Who's there?"

She recalled a friend of hers, doing the same door antics.

"Chara"

"Chara who?"

"Really, mom? ... someone with Chara-cter?"

Toriel opened the door and hugged her grumpy daughter, who gripped the purple robe and smiled at how warm her mother was. The Queen of monsters enjoyed the semblance of family she retrieved, only going back to her journal the following day.

20XX, Day 4, Month 7

Chara went to grab some Vegetoids for me, volunteering to have them drop carrots for my snail soup. Aster sat in the living room, reading a strange book only he could actually understand.

"Dr. Aster"

He did not respond the first few times, then looked at me with bright pupils and knelt again.

"I am sorry, my Queen, is something the matter?"

I hesitated to open the subject, but I ask him about the strange shadows in the Ruins and his odd readings. I would save Chara's case for later when I get to know that person a little better. For now, it only smirked at me, perhaps that was their regular smiling face.

"I know little about this, Queen Toriel. My research has only gotten to the point of assumptions, one of which says that those are negative emotions"

I did not ask him further about this matter and finished preparing my soup while Chara comes back from her veggie hunt. She was incredibly late, then only came back bruised more than she should ever be.

"Mom, Even Vegetoids are getting ... darker."

She showed samples of the bullets thrown at her, while I healed her bumps and bruises. A shame we cannot flavor that soup, but the increasing monsters of "corrupt" monsters had me worried. There is also that uneasiness in the Ruins that only grows stronger, making me question the presence of Chara and Dr. Aster.

Chara watched her mother giving her weird glances, poking her more than she ever did before. The girl looked at Aster, who shrugged before going out on an errand of his own. Toriel evaded her child's questions and locked her in her room for the rest of the day, crying a lot before falling asleep.

20XX, Day 5, Month 7

Many things have been on my mind since Chara and I stopped speaking to each other. I also had a strange nightmare the night before, as a child of Chara's age stabbed me. They were both ecstatic and in pain, giving them a horrible expression. When I finally rose from that terrible experience, colors started to get dim, and there was less sunlight coming out this way.

I checked on Chara's room, they were there but decided not to answer me. I should apologize later to them, my mind was busy distinguishing right from wrong. My heart wanted me to believe Chara was here, but all the nightmares, the shadows, and her unusual behavior were too suspicious.

I could not get to Dr. Aster again, he had been out for the whole day, only showing up at night with more troubling news: Angry Whimsuns and Migosps ravaging places they did not like, including that spider store down the corner.

I cannot bear to take down all of them, but I will do what is necessary to cleanse the evil from this place.

20XX, Day 6, Month 7

The corruption took most of the Ruins by surprise, and those who haven't been affected took refuge in my house. I ordered Chara not to fight, I had no idea what will happen if they did. I heard them earlier, talking in their sleep, pleading someone named "Frisky" not to kill me. When I opened the room to check on them, someone was weighing on the mattress, someone I could not see.

Chara was gripping an invisible fabric, held by similarly non-existent hands and trembling in fear. She cried in her sleep, her invisible companion appeared to "wake up" as well, scrambling on the small bed before fading into nothingness. Chara woke up as soon as the warmth of her friend subsided, looking at me with fearful eyes, afraid I saw or heard anything strange.

My Angel tried to flee me again, but I held them tight until they gave up fighting the embrace. Her tears made my robe wet, and her apologies cracked my SOUL in multiple spots. She said she was sorry, sorry for existing, sorry for killing herself, sorry for taking Asriel's life ... For that, I could forgive her, for it was never her fault in the first place.

Then I heard more apologies, those I could not fully understand. She said she was sorry for playing god with her DETERMINATION; she was sorry she made the children I loved go on a rampage; she is sorry she made her Lover do the same; she is sorry for being so weak and reckless at the same time.

I was not sure what to do or think about that, so I went to FIGHT off the monsters that came to turn their fellows into dust.

20XX, Day 7, Month 7

I am not sure what to do anymore.

Chara is holding hands with the one they love, a child I finally remembered. They were so innocent before coming down here, as much I can recall from memories flooding me. We were in the basement, and I ended up doing what I always did.

I don't what them to go, so I picked a FIGHT with them.

Dr. Aster sat there, watching my eyes turn red and my fur dyed black. My mind went blank, my paw was gushing blood and fire and I barely kept myself from hitting the faint hearts before me.

When I woke up, the boy held my daughter tight. The children were both covered in blood, and I was just like the last time I met Chara down here. They gave me a few healing items they got on the way, making me more able to use my magic. After healing them, I could no longer channel magic in my paw ... and I felt so powerless.

The boy held me in a hug or at least tried to. Chara did the same to help, both embracing me from both sides. For a minute, all my worries were washed away by a torrent of love. The bloodied, charred paw was slowly recovering too, making me able to hug back both.

"We are sorry for what we did, I am sorry for what I did."

That was Dr. Aster's voice, echoing in the hallway. Nobody else talked that night either, as all the Ruins' monsters were nearly wiped out. Save for a few individuals, those who were not corrupt died fighting them. The area itself saw the light again, but it was just ... quiet, too quiet.

After talking to the survivors and offering them to live in my home, I nervously packed my first bag in many years. I could no longer stand being powerless, I could no longer see children going to certain death.

Frisk was gone again, back to being a ghost perhaps. Chara was waiting for me near the door to Snowdin, playing with her thumbs as she looked at the hallway.

"Chara, it is time I come with you."

She jumped off and ran towards me, excited to have me accompany her. Perhaps I should have done that before, perhaps I could have saved children that way. For now, I'll make sure my daughter survives.