Fear
The next day started normally. Toriel was cleaning the dishes from the previous night and the child was finishing the anti-nightmare pie in the living room.
They are finally back to their old mood, she thought smiling as she stowed the last plate away. Perhaps I should put a nightlight in their room to prevent further nightmares? I will suggest that to them in the evening.
Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen she turned to the shelf's with the ingredients.
So lets see what do I need from the grocery store? Sprinkles are out, sugar too and what is with the snails?
There was a loud thud coming from the living room stopping her survey of the supplies.
Did they jump from a chair again? She put the pen aside.
No I prohibited that and they never break a rule. Concerned she turned her back on the shopping list and walked into the other room.
"Child, are you alright?" No answer the child was nowhere to be seen and the plate with the pie was gone as well. She rounded the table.
There they were twitching on the ground the plate besides them surrounded by crumbs and sprinkles.
"CHILD!"
Sweating heavily, twitching, they fought for every breath. Not hesitating she kneeled down pressing her hand on their chest letting her magic flow into the shaken body.
She waited, but nothing happened. Widening her eyes in fear she repeated the procedure.
Again nothing except that they start to turn blue.
"No no no why doesn't it help? It should work," she mumbled as the third wave of energy flowed into them.
After the fourth try the twitching died down only the mouth and the chest were still moving.
They are dying. This realization swept her mind blank like a fresh sheet of paper. In panic her gaze darted around the room searching for help.
What I am to do? What I am to do?
The back of one of her books captured her attention. If magic didn't help then perhaps…
She grabbed the book and browsed through it. That is it!
Rushing back into the kitchen she returned with a small jar, smashing it to the ground as it didn't open on the first try. Hoping for the best she grabbed a handful of its contents.
"Please child breathe," she pleaded holding her hand under their nose.
Chest barley moving their nostrils widened as the penetrating smell of the 'Dark smelly cave snail' (another brainchild of the king) intruded their body.
Stimulated by the pheromones muscles started to twitch, smaller ones in the face, bigger ones in the limbs but most important it forced the midriff to contract fully sucking in a depth breath of fresh air.
Removing the snails, waiting, applying the snails again. It felt like ages but then after the ninth or nineteenth pause they started to breath again on their own accord spitting out sprinkles and crumbs before they break out into tears.
Pulling the sobbing child into a comforting hug trying to hush it she reiterated in a soothing voice, "It is ok. It is over. It is ok," barley holding back her own tears of relief.
It took her roughly an hour to calm them, now they were sleeping after she administered another one of the medicines described in '72 uses for snails'.
Right now she needed to 'talk' to someone, leaving the ruins she entered the caves. She remembered now, the sweating and heavy breathing, she had seen it before.
Flowers start to stroke her legs as she entered the painful familiar cave. Stopping at the still burned spot in the center she lets her gaze wander around unconsciously avoiding to look at the slope.
She waited a minute then started to speak, "I know you are here show yourself."
Silence, then a disembodied voice answered in a surprised tone, "Golly! Her majesty honors me with a visit but why me of all people I ask?"
Clenching her fists suppressing the fury burning in her chest she replied, "Cut that game of yours and tell me what you did to Frisk."
"The new child? Nothing after you nearly killed poor old me," it came innocently from the side.
Trying to locate 'it' she replied trying to be calm nearly shouting at the end, "Don't try to fool me terrible creature, I saw your poison nearly kill them at this very point were I stand and today I saw them suffer from it again in my own house. So explain me THAT!"
One of the flowers to her left suddenly turned around and blurted out in concern, "Oh my gosh are they alright?"
Starring 'it' down she answered, "Yes they are but not thanks to you," a fireball flared up in her right hand as she repeated her question stressing each word, "What. did. you. do?"
Flinching on the sight they pretended again, "I did nothing I swear," seeing her hand rising and the fire lighten up they hurried to add in a self-defending tone, "Ok ok I poisoned them once after they fell down but I did nothing after you took them in. I had no reason to. My only intention was to let them die fast and without pain not let them suffer getting haunted down like a wild animal."
She stopped her hand. The flower sounded sincere did it really just tried to 'help' the child?
I should ask Frisk about her encounter with this thing when I'm back home.
Lowering the hand with the fireball she demanded, "If you are really concerned about them then explain me why my magic was unable to cleanse their entire body from your poison."
Seemingly relieved not getting reduced to ashes the flower explained, "Because human body's are more dense and complex than monster body's your magic simple trickles away or gets diverted before it can reach every spot."
The fireball shrunk to nothing leaving her trembling hand as realization struck her, "But but that would mean..."
Letting its leafs hanging down it confirmed, "Sadly yes there is nothing we could do to stop the poison."
She wasn't able to speak seeing Frisk in front of her mind's eye shaken by the poison, breathless, dying in agony while she was holding her unable to do anything.
The vision was so real that she almost missed the next sentence from the flower, "But there is someone else who could be able to help... Theoretical."
Holding on to that straw she asked with a tin voice, "Who?"
You were awake still tired out by the attack but unable to simply fall back to sleep again after the numbing part of the medicine had worn out.
Moving in a more comfortable position you can still taste it on your tongue. It smelled awful and didn't taste much better but your throat was much better now.
Remembering you wince under the blanket covering you from toes to head hoping that you didn't anger Toriel to much when you threw up on the first spoon.
You knew that something bothered her after the incident you caused in the morning, she was still nice administering the medicine, cleaning up your mess, helping you change to the wide-short nightdress and tucking you in but at the same time there was this scary look in her eyes.
Like this one time when she was showing you a new part of the ruins and a froggit mistook you for a fly slicing your arm with its tongue before it saw Toriel, first she treated the cut advised you to block your ears and close your eyes then she went with the same look like today over to the froggit to 'talk' with it, after she was done and led you away you got a last glimpse at the froggit pressing itself to the ground shivering in deadly terror.
A harsh lecture would be no problem you know how to deal with that but Toriel leaving you here troubled you deeply.
Anxious to don't annoy her further you stayed in bed like she told you even when your whole body urged to move and stretch its muscles you would just roll around.
Rolling around again you heard something scratching over wood, you stop and start to listen.
A familiar female voice sounds in the darkness over the blanket, "My Child I am back. Are you awake?"
You don't respond.
The voice sounds again still soft but with an annoyed edge, "Child I saw you moving stop playing around and look at me when I'm talking to you."
More scratching over wood you don't dare to move.
"I'll count to three," the voice threatened smooth like silk, " and if you know what is good for you then remove this blanket before I'm done."
"One," you are out of bed and at the door before the first number is finished but not fast enough as something yanks your right ankle back flinging you to the ground.
Ignoring the throbbing pain on your forehead you turn on your back trying to shield you with your arms as Flowey's head appeared before you in the darkness.
Asking now with its own voice and typical wide smile, "Howdy my friend. How did you knew it was me and not this naive old lady?"
Ankle still hold by a vine preventing you from escaping you stammered, "The do-or d-idn't ope-n."
It's face twitched annoyed that it didn't think about that detail but smiled again in the next second and spoke happily, "Oh you are so clever to see through my little surprise but drop this for the moment because I'm sure you ask yourself why your old pal Flowey is visiting you right?"
Fear started to crawl up your back, tearing at the vine you try to free yourself.
Ignoring your futile attempts they explained full of joy, "It is simple we are friends and friends share secrets," it lowered its voice, "Secrets like our friendly chat when we first meet."
It moves a bit closer, "I really appreciate that you didn't tell the naive lady about that because bad things happen to people with a loose tongue."
The head melted reforming itself the evil smile stretched to a soft snout the maniacally starring eyes softened to a caring expression and the petals moved up on both sides falling back down again as two white floppy ears.
It looked like Toriel it had the same considering smile as Toriel and it spoke in the same soft tone, "And we don't want that to happen or do we my dear child?", it horrified you deeper than the death dream.
Seeing you shaking in pure horror the head displayed a worried look, "Oh my dear child did something scare you?," the concerned voice got highlighted by a mocking undertone worried snout widened to evil smile, "Do you want a nice bedtime story or a sweeet anti-nightmare pie? Not that they could protect you though."
It creeped a bit closer drowning every last rational thought of yours in cold fear with this simple movement as you try again to escape to the door accomplishing nothing more than painfully overstretching your leg.
Fake snout grinning even more it moved again towering now over you enjoying the sight of your hands scratching in blind panic over the wooden floor.
Filling your field of vision more and more with each passing second it bends down to your face enveloping you with the scent of earth and weed as it advises you with the same voice Toriel uses when she tries to help you along with a difficult lesson, "So remember don't blow your friends secrets and all will be good. Understood?"
At this moment you would've done anything to escape this nightmare so Flowey didn't need to wait long for you shaken by silent sobs to nod your agreement like a mad bobble-head.
Retracting from your face the head melted back to its normal appearance still grinning. "Splendid I knew I could count on you buddy," the pressure on your ankle vanishes.
Not waiting for another attack you bolt to the door fumbling around for the knob.
"If I were you I would think twice about this or do you want to annoy Toriel even further?", door already ajar you stop dead in your tracks on this low spoken question.
Seeing you hesitating they continued, "I saw them in the caves this morning and oh boy they were really mad about the mess you caused. And if they're angry than they're unpredictable."
Barely audible you disagree, "Torriel woulldn't-", just for the Flower to cut you off with a flood of mocking questions.
"Wouldn't scold you?"
Remembering Toriel 'talking' to the froggit your grip on the door tightens.
"Wouldn't be angry that you left the bed without permission?"
Toriel was never angry with me… no that wasn't true she was angry when she wanted you to ask how to exit the ruins. Recalling her towering over you speaking every word like a judgment without the slightest trace of compassion or another feeling gives you a good example what could happen if you leave the room and force her to punish you.
"Do you really think that she is such a nice person as you imagine her to be?"
She never hurt me. This thought comforts you a bit although it is stained by the knowledge of what you accidentally overheard and saw when she 'talked' to other 'monsters'.
"And how do you explain to yourself that every other child vanished?"
The memory of the strange nightmare comes back leaving you shivering as you remember the awful familiar voice calling for the girl before she fell, the voice you heard a nearly perfect imitation of just a minute ago.
Eyes fixed on your trembling back it points your options out, "So you can be a bad child disappoint the naive lady trample on her feelings and press her to 'teach' you to obey like a good child," its voice changes back to Toriel's, "Or actually be a good child turn around and go back to bed."
Standing there shaken by blind fear you want nothing more than to flee but the gruesome pictures in your mind keep you frozen you can't risk it. You can't risk to anger Toriel, your hand moves back from the door.
Cold like a glacier the otherwise soft and consoling voice demands, "Now," breaking every last resistance inside of you.
Tears strolling down you turn around and walk back head lowered to avoid looking at the flower. Picking up the blanket you lay down on the bed defeated hopeless awaiting whatever might happen next.
Switching to its own voice it congratulates you, "I knew you would make the right decision buddy. See ya around!"
As it moves away you can follow its path listening to the scratching over the floor, it vanishes right below your bed.
It took her longer then expected to get back, moving soft-footed through the house to not wake the child she stored her purchases away.
Making sure Frisk was definitively not around she locked the kitchen door and placed the captured snails on the worktop.
After checking the door again she climbed on another worktop before fumbling a while over the highest shelf until her hand got a hold on the desired item. Getting back down she started to cut the snails into pieces using the only knife of the entire house.
Taking her time she prepared multiple small vials filled with a mix of snail slime and herbs labeling each one "spiritus medicina".
Walking over to the other part of the house, after the preparations where done, she stopped irritated in front of the child's bedroom.
The door is ajar did I forget to close it or did they open it to have a nightlight?
Opening the door completely she entered the room, "My Child I am back. Are you awake?"
No response.
Stepping closer she could see them laying perfectly still dead center on the mattress gaze following every of her movements it didn't seem that they slept well as she could literally smell the fear oozing out of them in cold sweat.
Knowing that scared humans were prone to be frightened by fast movements or loud sounds she kept her distance and tried to maintain her normal soft motherly voice besides the dreadful information she got from the flower, "Rise and shine little one. Dinner is ready. Please come when you're ready," she hesitated for a moment then added, "Ok?"
They nodded, fast.
Giving them some space she left the room.
It didn't took them long to follow her.
Suppressing an alarmed gasp her eyes widened as they entered the living room, it wasn't the bruise on their forehead or the exhausted look on their face neither the fact that they seemed frightened by another nightmare it was the plushie in their arms that scared her the most.
Besides she never declared it as a rule or prohibited it there was no occasion in the past when they would've left their room with a toy, until now.
Trying to cover up her anxiety she did her best to keep the facade of normality intact as she lifted them into a chair and served the vegetable soup.
While they were busy eating she tried to find a way to approach the tricky subject of telling a child that it is terrible ill but her mind couldn't focus on it as the white plushie demanded her attention like a fusee in the night signaled for help.
The sound of the spoon being placed back on the plate interrupted her circling thoughts, they were done eating.
Still not knowing what to say she remained silent and placed them back down on the floor so that they could prepare themself for the night before she went to the kitchen to do the dishes.
After the chore was done she had concocted a story that was to vague to scare them unnecessary but should be true enough to explain everything.
Grabbing one of the vials from the worktop she left the kitchen to say goodnight to Frisk. To her surprise she didn't need to walk very far as they were sitting in her comfy armchair one of the books in their lap the plushie besides them.
Seeing her entering they showed the book to her and asked in a small voice, "Bedtime story?"
Stopping she took some time to think about her words before she lifted her left index finger and replied, "Ok one story but on one condition," she gave the small vial to them, "This will help you with your throat. Please drink it."
Hesitating for a moment after they opened it and smelled the harsh odor they drank it in one go grimacing afterwards.
Sitting down besides them taking the book she elaborated further, "I'm sure it is nothing dangerous perhaps just a cold but to be sure we will be visiting a doctor tomorrow."
Apart form a small nod there was no response to this announcement so she started to read another story to them.
It was the same as last time they would start to yawn at the middle and fight to stay awake at the end.
Making sure that the plushie wasn't left behind she picked them up and took them to their room.
Divergent from the last time they didn't fall asleep on the way as she could feel their hand fasten its grip on her dress with every step.
As she switched the light on they spoke again, "Can't sleep."
Trying to soothe them she assured as she stepped closer to the bed, "Don't worry little one as soon as you lay down sleep will come on its own."
That didn't seem to comfort them as they continued, "I don't want to sleep."
"Don't be silly little one you need to sleep to get better and we will need to walk quite a distance tomorrow." She placed them down onto the bed.
Letting go of the plushie they grabbed her dress with the other hand as well.
Irritated she tried to step back.
"Please," their voice was wobbly, "please don't go"
She stopped.
It wouldn't take much to free herself the small step alone pulled half of her dress form their grip one more and she would be free but one detail stopped her.
They objected.
In all the time they were down here they never argued or objected on a demand or broke a rule if they did it now it meant that they had reached a limit. There was not much she could do now.
She could insist that they had to sleep now or wait until they slept and then leave but what would happen if they woke up and realized that she left? Looking into their eyes she knew that they would comply if she insisted and wouldn't put up a fuss when she left later but it would probably break something in them. There was only one solution to this childish fear.
She moved again.
You tried not to cry as Toriel straightened her dress with one hand pulling the folds out of your weak grip.
Tears blurred your vision as she covered you with the blanket.
It wasn't the nightmares that terrified you they were just bad dreams powerless in the real world they could not hurt you. But the flower could and it promised to 'See ya around' before it vanished right under the bed you were now laying on.
Stretching out one hand you get hold of the plushie embracing it for comfort. Closing your eyes you prepared yourself for being left alone in the darkness as Toriel killed the light.
Waiting for the sound of the shutting door sealing you in with your fears you heard something scratching over wood.
Cramping your hands into the plushie your body stiffened in fear as something pulled you out of the bed dragging pillow and blanket with you up into the air.
Letting out a terrified sob you waited for it to proclaim its intentions or glee about your agitated state of mind.
Whatever was holding you moved causing you to curl up into a ball to protect yourself from a sudden attack or throw to the ground.
The movements changed it was still moving but now it rocked you from left to right and produced low hushing sounds. "...shhh-shhh..."
Still cautious you opened your eyes awaiting to see Flowey's evil smile.
Squinting against the bright corridor lamps you could see the chest emblem of Toriel's dress in front of your face going up and down a bit with each of her steps. What is she doing?
Shifting your weight onto her left arm you heard her opening another door.
Twisting your head you got a small overview of the room as Toriel walked into it. The soft light of a desk lamp placed on a small writing table illuminated a bookcase next to a small cabinet and some plants.
Toriel turning you around in her arms and putting you down onto a soft surface interrupted your survey of the surroundings.
Bending down again she pushed you a bit further to one side of the large bed and pulled two bigger versions of your pillow and blanket from under you to the other side.
Unsure about the meaning of this you let your gaze wander around.
Where am I? Trying to reconstruct Toriel's way you pictured a vague layout of the house in your mind added the small distance she carried you and the fact that the interior of this room was unknown to you.
Her steps were muffled the entire way meaning we didn't left the carpet in the corridor so this must be the room after my room before the bathroom.
It has a bed and a cabinet so it is a bedroom.
The bed is big so it is the bedroom of a big person.
Toriel is the only big person here so…
Is this Toriel's bedroom?
Toriel now wearing a nightdress nudging your shoulder to get your attention was more than enough to confirm your assumption.
"Child?"
Still holding on to the plushie you turned your head to her.
"In my opinion you are way to upset to let you sleep alone tonight, " rearranging the pillow and the blanket to tuck you in she continued, "so I will keep you company until you are better."
It sounded more like an uncertain question but for you it was more than enough as it assured you that Toriel was neither upset about your clinging nor would she leave you alone.
Holding back tears of relief you nod.
Seemingly relieved as well by your answer she dimmed the desk lamp checking constantly your expression to find the right setting before she went to bed.
The soft light and having Toriel within arm's reach calmed you enough to let you fall asleep faster than Toriel could cover herself with the blanket.