Author's Note: If you're reading this, OMG thank you so much! ^o^ I know it's not much, but it means a lot to me that you're giving this dream a chance. :3 I hope you continue to enjoy. ^w^

Chapter Two: Heartache

Dark. So dark. Dank and cold and smelling of stale food and wine. I shivered in the rags I dared to call clothing, too scared to cry. All I could do was pray. I prayed for my knight-in-shining-armor to come rescue me. I prayed that he would take me away to a better life than what I had come to know. I prayed that he would love me with all his heart.

But nobody came…

I awoke with a gasp, drench in cold sweat. I lay on my back, hands clenching the blanket and my heart pounding in my throat. I was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. That I was under Mount Ebott, and was now living with a monster who was more "human" than some humans I knew.

Remembering that, I started to calm down. As I took deep breaths I noticed the smell of something sweet. The lamp in the room had only two settings, "on" and "dimmer", and there was just barely enough light to see. I could see a slice of pie and a fork sitting on a plate on the floor. When I left the bed to pick it up, the smell of cinnamon and butterscotch filled my nose, and I figured Toriel must have left it for me while I slept. When I looked at the top of the dresser I found my clothes there, cleaned and neatly folded. On top of them there was a toothbrush, with a little note saying to brush my teeth once I was done eating the pie.

I wondered what time it was, and how long I'd been asleep. When I opened the door everything was quiet, and I couldn't hear Toriel moving about. The lights in the hallway were dim, too, so it must have been late.

I quietly left my room, pie and fork in hand. I didn't know if Toriel had a rule against eating in bed but I wasn't about to chance it. I headed for what seemed to be the living area, which had a bookcase against the wall and chair perfectly sized for Toriel by the fireplace. A fire was still burning as I sat at the dining table, though I didn't see anything that might have been fueling it. I ate the delicious pie, then inspected the fire. It was pleasantly warm, and I could even put my hand in it. It had to have been magically made.

I took the empty plate and used fork to the kitchen and washed them. Then brushed my teeth, as instructed. There was "toothpaste" to use, instead of tooth powder, which proved to be a novel and pleasantly minty experience. There was even something called "mouthwash", a small amount of which I also used. That was far more minty and hurt a little, but by the time I spat it into the sink my mouth felt cleaner than it had in a long time. I went back to bed, and no more nightmares plagued me.

The next morning my new life with Toriel began. I learned that she had a love of puns and wordplay, so I enjoyed trying to think of things to make her laugh. I also learned that she had always wanted to be a teacher, and she said she would continue my education for as long as I lived here. I was excited to see what she had to teach me.

When we weren't at home doing chores we walked through the Ruins to tend the bed of flowers that had broken my fall. I learned from one of her books that the Ruins were the capital city of the monsters, the home they made after being trapped. It was simply called "Home", because the king was lousy at naming things. At least, assuming it was still the capital. I had some doubts about that, but Toriel was strangely reticent on the subject.

There weren't as many monsters living here as it had seemed, at first. They mostly stayed in the areas still lit by magic crystals set into the ceiling. The majority of the Ruins were left in the dark. Toriel forbade me from venturing in those places, since I couldn't use magic to light my way like she could. It only made me more curious, but I obeyed her in this case. The risk of getting lost or hurt was too great (and, to be honest, the stygian blackness scared me.) The basement of the house was also strictly off-limits.

Sometimes I would be left on my own, and I could explore as long as I kept a promise to stay in the safe areas. There was an especially impressive spider web that I liked to visit. It was more like a cathedral of webs, and it was absolutely beautiful! It was amazing that such small creatures could create something so massive. I would even buy more donuts from the bake sale when I could. The spiders seemed very appreciative, though it could be a little hard to tell. But seeing the webs made me miss my sketchbook. It was the sort of interesting thing I liked to draw and make notes on.

One day, while Toriel was giving me a math lesson, I started doodling with the chalk and slate she had given me for the purpose. I already knew the formulas and was rather bored. I was trying to recapture the webs from memory but the chalk wasn't fine enough. I was getting a little frustrated with it when Toriel cleared her throat. When I looked up she had a familiar look on her face, just like when my old tutors had caught me daydreaming. I apologized, but I was still scolded (Toriel could be very stern when she wanted to be.) Then she noticed what I was trying to do.

She looked amazed as she asked what I was drawing, so I told her about the spiders and their magnificent home. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "While I can understand why you were driven to distraction, that is no excuse to ignore your lesson. Let us continue." Reluctantly, I erased the drawing I'd made and tried to focus.

The next day she gave me a journal and a small set of colored pencils. The whole thing was packed into a neat case I could clip to my belt, and it even had a small tool to sharpen the pencils. It reminded my of when I received my very first journal, and in my excitement, I blurted out the same thing I had back then.

"Thank you, Mother!"

We both stood there in shocked silence, me with my hand over my mouth and Toriel somehow blushing though her fur. Just as I wondered if I'd made a terrible blunder, Toriel spoke.

"Would that make you happy? To call me… 'Mother?'"

I hesitated, because it felt so presumptuous to call someone I barely knew "Mother". But at the same time… it simply felt right. She was more of a mother to me than my own had been. Gentle and stern and kind and smart, she was all the things I'd ever wanted in a mother. So I nodded, saying "As long as you don't mind."

Toriel was beaming. "If it will make you happy, call me whatever you like!" She laughed a little, which made me laugh. As we laughed together it made me so happy I couldn't help but throw my arms around her in a hug. She was very warm as she hugged me back.

But as happy as we were, I did notice some peculiarities in Mother's behavior. She never wanted to talk about why there were so few monsters in such a dilapidated city, for instance, or why the supposed capital of monsterkind's kingdom was in such a poor state. What had happened to the king? What happened to everyone else? Mount Ebott was a massive mountain, and this was all there was to the Underground?

Why was she all alone?

As much as I was growing to love her, as much as she clearly cared for me, this place was starting to feel like a cage. A loving, suffocating cage.

Frisk was proving to be something of a handful. Not in the sense that they misbehaved or were a troublemaker, far from it, but their curiosity and sheer intelligence were difficult to stay ahead of. It was testing my abilities as a teacher, to be sure.

They were most interested in monsterkind's history. What our culture was like on the surface and whether it had changed while we lived underground. If there was more than just the Ruins down here. If there were more monsters somewhere. I did say there were more, and said they were very dangerous, but that proved to be insufficient. I could not curb their curiosity. I hoped that giving them a journal and drawing implements would buy me some time, but I was unsure of how much.

I was feeling the strain. Even talking to my pun-loving friend on the other side of the door could not lift my spirits. His incredibly funny jokes could not make me laugh as they usually had. It was obvious, even to him, that something was amiss.

"hey, uh, you okay in there? what's up?" I did not want to burden him with my troubles, but I had no one else to turn to.

"I… have a favor to ask of you, if you do not mind."

I heard him sigh through the door. "i dunno… i don't really like making promises."

"Will you at least listen to my request?"

"… fine. listening, i can do."

"If… If a human ever comes through this door… Could you please, please promise me something? Watch over them, and protect them, will you not?"

My friend was silent. I knew I was asking a great deal of him, especially since we never even exchanged our names. We never felt the need to. But as the silence stretched on I wondered if I had done the right thing. If all I had done was alienate the first friend I had had in ages. When he finally answered me, it came as a surprise.

"okay, i'll do it. i'll keep an eyesocket on the squirt for ya." I could not thank him enough, but my relief was short-lived. The very next day was the one I had been dreading.

"Why do you live here in the Ruins?" I was sitting in my chair by the fireplace, and Frisk was sitting on the floor next to me. They had their chin settled on their crossed arms and were looking up at me from the arm of the chair. I closed the book of snail facts I had been reading to them and tried to think of the best way to answer.

"Because someone has to be here to take care of those flowers." A paltry answer, and I knew it, but I could not tell them the truth.

Frisk persisted. "But I've seen how the other monsters avoid you when we walk through the Ruins together. They're all scared of you. And you're all alone in this house. You said I was the first human to come here in a long time, so where are the others? Why aren't they here with you?" Something of my fear must have shown on my face, because Frisk's eyes opened. They did that whenever they were serious about something. The sharp, amber-colored gaze pinned me to the chair. "Does it have something to do with why you're keeping me here?"

Their tone was not accusatory, nor was it combative. But their eyes would not leave mine, and I knew they would not accept any attempts to skirt around the subject any longer. I looked into the face that was so serious, marveling how that very same face could smile so sweetly as they surprised me with a donut. Or could pout so adorably while they concentrated on something. Or could deliver devastatingly funny puns with a sly grin…

I could not stand it. I could not allow this child meet the same fate as all the others! I was NOT going to fail, this time! I was NOT going to lose my dear little Frisk!

"… I have something to do. Stay here."

I hurried out of my chair, leaving Frisk to gape at my abruptness. Even as I went down to the basement they were following me, calling for me. Still calling me their "mother." Downstairs, they caught up to me. I spoke without turning around.

"You wish to know where the rest of the Underground is, do you not? Ahead of us lies the end of the Ruins, a one-way exit none may pass through again. I am going to destroy it. No one will ever be able to leave again. Now be a good child and go to your room." I hurried onward, but Frisk caught up to me again.

"Why are you doing this?" they asked. "Why can't we leave? What's so horrible about the Underground that it would make you do this?!"

I stopped again. "Every human that falls down here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave. They die. You naïve child… if you leave the Ruins… Asgore will kill you. I am only protecting you, do you understand?" I looked over my shoulder, looking them in the eye. "…go to your room. Do not try to stop me. This is your final warning."

I finally made it to the door, with Frisk not far behind. "You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. There is only one solution to this." I turned to face them at last. "Prove yourself… Prove to me you are strong enough to survive out there."

I started the FIGHT.

Frisk was taken aback, at first. They tried to speak, but clearly couldn't think of anything to say. I launched my first attack. Frisk did their best to dodge, but one of my fireballs still brushed them. I tried not to let my alarm show. They made no move to attack, so I launched more fire magic at them in a sweep of my hands. Still, they dodged. Still, they were hit. Still, they refused to fight.

It was difficult to act aloof. "What are you doing?" Another round and they still did nothing. "Attack or run away!" No matter how much magic I threw at them, they refused to lift a finger against me. "What are you proving this way? Fight me or leave!" In my heart of hearts, I was glad they were at least doing better at dodging my attacks, but they still chose mercy. I could feel my resolve wavering.

"I know you want to see the rest of the Underground, but… Please, go upstairs now. I am not mad, I promise." I was still using my magic, but it all flew well clear of Frisk. Their health was too low, and the risk of killing them too high. "I will take good care of you here. I know we do not have much, but we can still have a good life together."

Frisk did not move an inch. Even with fire flowing around them, they refused to back down. "Why are you making this so difficult? Please, just go upstairs."

Frisk's response was soft, but firm. "No. I'm sorry, but no."

My will to fight crumbled completely. "Ha ha… Pathetic, is it not? I cannot save even a single child." I had to sigh. "No, I understand. You would just be unhappy trapped down here. The Ruins are very small once you get used to them. It would not be right for you to grow up in a place like this. My expectations… My loneliness… My fear… For you, my child, I will put them aside."

I ended the FIGHT. "If you truly wish to leave the Ruins, I will not stop you. However, when you leave…" My next words were difficult to say, but they had to be said. "Please, do not come back. I hope you understand." I hugged them, and they held me tight in return.

"I'm sorry, Mother," said Frisk. "I'm sorry to do this to you. But if someone's killing humans, I can't just let that be. If they're the reason you've cooped yourself up in this dead city, this Asgore person has some explaining to do. And…" They took a deep breath. "I've already been caged once. I can't live like that again."

I almost did not let them go. I was ashamed that I even slightly reminded Frisk of their life on the surface. I felt even worse for fighting them. But I could not keep them here any longer. "I am sorry, as well, my dear Frisk. So very sorry. Goodbye..." I left them at the door. I paused to look back, then tore myself away. Even as I fled down the hallway I could hear the door grinding open, then closing in the distance. They were gone…

By the time I reached the foot of the stairs I could no longer stand. I collapsed onto the stairs and wept. I prayed for Frisk's safety. I prayed that my friend would keep his promise.

I prayed for this madness over the human souls to finally be over.

*That was… less than ideal. That was the only thought I had as I stepped through the door. I was almost numb with the shock of what had just happened. I didn't think my curiosity would lead to me being exiled from my new home! Or did I? Part of me had known it couldn't have lasted, but that didn't mean I'd wanted it to end so soon. I didn't want to leave, but I meant what I'd said about Asgore explaining themselves. And being caged. Especially the caging. I could have asked her to leave the Ruins with me, but I had a feeling she would have declined. Whatever fate she clearly thought awaited me, I don't think she wanted to witness it.

As I walked forward there was another shaft of light. A familiar face was growing in it, his expression full of mockery. I was in no mood for it.

"You again. What do you want?"

Flowey just smiled with saccharine falsity. "Now, now, is that any way to treat your best friend?"

"No, it's not. But since when have you been my best friend?"

He only laughed. "So it can learn. Clever. Verrrryyy clever." He scoffed. "I bet you think you're real smart, don't you? Even though this world is 'killed or be killed', you played by your own rules this time. You spared the life of a single person."

He smiled. "But I wonder what you'll do when you meet a relentless killer? You'll die and you'll die and you'll die, that's what! Until you tire of trying. What will you do then? Will you kill out of frustration? Or will you give up entirely on this world and let ME inherit the power to control it?" His grin had far too many teeth showing. "I am the prince of this world's future." He shook his… head? "Don't worry, my little monarch. My plan isn't regicide. This is SO much more interesting."

His final laugh echoed again, before he finally disappeared.

I didn't know what he was talking about. What power? Monarch? What did he mean by "inherit"?

Too many questions. And the only way I had to go was forward.

I stepped out into the cold. I was amazed to see snow, and trees. Dark, tall, densely packed trees that should not be growing down here, with a road providing the only break between them. There was just barely enough light to see, somehow.

Looking around, there was a large bush next to the door that had locked itself behind me. Something glinted within it, peaking my curiosity. When I looked through the leaves I found a most strange device, like a crystal ball encased with a metal hood. It was almost like a glass eyeball staring right at me. I tried to move it, but it proved to be rooted to the spot, leaving me no choice but to leave the mystery. I drew a quick sketch of it before moving on.

As I walked down the path the thing I noticed the most was the complete and utter quiet. My footsteps on the snow was the only sound to be heard. I don't how long I had walked for before something broke the monotony and unnerving sameness. It was just a fallen branch, heavy and sturdy-looking, but it lay completely across the path. Stepping on it didn't even make it creak. When it was well behind me the woods shook with a loud, echoing CRACK! It made my heart leap into my throat, and I wheeled around to try and find the source of the noise. In the distance, the branch that didn't so much as protest my weight had been broken in half.

If something, or someone, had broken the branch they hadn't left any footprints behind…

*Never show your fear. Never show your fear… I turned back around, straightened my shoulders and kept walking. Even though it felt like eyes were clinging to my back, I tried to put that out of my mind. It was just a psychological reaction to the adrenaline flowing through my body.

Farther along the path, there was another noise, like someone else was walking behind me in heavy boots, but only for a moment before I was the only one on the path again. Looking back there were indeed more footprints, but they only walked by mine for a few feet before stopping. They didn't peel off into the trees, they simply stopped. Like the person who'd made them had ceased to exist at that very instant.

*Don't show fear, don't show fear… Sweet, merciful heaven I don't like this.

Onward I went. My knees were trying to wobble, but somehow I made it to a bridge crossing a small chasm. There was some manner of structure over it, like a gate, or a barricade, except the bars were too wide. I could slip through them easily. But before I could move forward the footsteps were back, closer than they were before. Someone was walking slowly, deliberately toward me.

I couldn't move.