Silence then scraping a short huff followed by silence before the coin showed around by a lavender finger scraped again over the wooden table. What is with her? No clue. I don't know. Perhaps she ate something bad? No she didn't eat something since the little human left. Then perhaps a flu? Couldn't be she isn't sniffing. Signal after signal vibrated through the strings of the large web as the spiders tried to deduct their boss's strange behaviour. A bad message? No just the usual pastries orders. Then perhaps-
Five black eyes glaring upwards Muffet shooed the spiders with a resolute impulse back to work. Geez this old telltales I'm perfectly fine!, before her gaze returned to the small copper coin on the round table before her. Okay perhaps not exactly fine I mean who in their right mind would accept this as payment for lots of cupcakes a way back to Snowdin and the pleasure to cuddle with all my little friends!? Laying motionless on the table the dirtied coin didn't answer but reminded her once more how deranged the little human had locked foiling her distract-yourself-with-anger plan almost immediately. I hope they're alright, worriedly scraping the coin again over the table she absently twisted one of the spider silk strings hanging from the ceiling around one of her other five hands, Perhaps I should inquiry another update from the spiders in Snowdin...-
A faint impulse echoed through the web interrupting Muffet's thoughts as someone approached her lair. A customer! Jumping onto that welcomed distraction she took some steps sideways standing now so that the table with all its tasty pastries would be the first thing the customer would notice. Then seeing the veil at the entrance move Muffet put on a bright smile already greeting the unknown monster with her singsong mode of speaking, "Oh hello there deary how may I hel-~," stopping mid-sentence as shocked recognition stole the words from her lips.
"Ah I see you remember me." Humourless smile on white furred snout the tall goat monster entered the lair purple eyes slowly scanning the room from left to right before stopping by Muffet.
"Yes~," a short shiver shook Muffet as she remembered their first encounter voice going flat on the images of blazing fire filling her old shop in a matter of seconds burning webs and spiders alike to ashes feeling her stomach twist on the memorisation of burning chitin filling her nose. Pulling herself back together Muffet forced the smile back on her face asking short spoken, "Is there something I may help you with?~ Pastries?~ Tea?~ The way out~," anxious to see the unwelcome guest go rather further then later.
Purple eyes scanning her shop a second time Muffet could clearly see how the causally reserved face of the goat monster fell as she didn't find what she was looking for. Coming closer to the table the face of the tall monster in the white sleeved purple dress changed further revealing to Muffet's attentive gaze a deep rooted despair mixed with the kind of acceptance that was normally displayed at an open grave. Stopping at the table they spoke again words underlined with steel, "What did you do to her?," soft tone partly changing to hissing expressing the unspoken accusation.
Sensible of her opponents instable mood although for some reason unable to reach her mind with magic Muffet decided that for a change the truth would be the best approach to this. "Nothing~ She ate some muffins and then went back to Snowdin~"
"Oh is this so?" Four words a simple rhetoric question normally without meaning but not this time. This time the question was spoken cold as ice as the goat monster's voice had lost all emotions only hatred gaze and tensing body giving away that she might not belief Muffet. Continuing due to tensing jaw musculature in a slightly pressed tone partly exposing sharp fangs the white furred monster asked, "Then tell me how it comes that I can smell human blood in here?"
Blood!? There was no blood-, a short image flashed through Muffet's mind showing the small human with name Frisk flinching as her little pinky fingers pulled something out of her pocket before giving it to her. Five black eyes moved as one looking down onto the table with its pastries focusing the small copper coin laying forgotten on its edge widening in sudden insight. The coin wasn't dirtied it was stained stained with dried human blood. Looking back up Muffet's gaze was met with pure hatred as raging wrath had greatly surpassed the goat monster's despair creasing her face and clenching her fists. Fear fastening her heartbeat four hands raising conciliatory Muffet tried to reason, "Wait I can explain!~"
But her opponents face was just darkening on this words cold burning fury filling the goat monster's voice, "Of course you can", a white furred fist opened up bearing a small spark within, "but I'm not in the mood for any more lies." Then the spark flared up into a small orb of fire excelling all other light in the room with its blazing shine.
Blowing black coats sparkling light reflecting from deadly arms animalistic nails clicking in fast succession on plastic floor. The royal guard was on the way rushing through the sometimes lit sometimes dark corridors assembling just a small part of the so called 'Core' complex. Fierce steps and white furred hands clenching around sharp weapons plainly proclaiming their intent.
Leading the squad Dogamy was with Dogaressa the first one to reach the silvery veil covering the entrance of Miss Muffet's bakehouse. Dogaressa had already suspected the six armed monster to hide something but first the small string of spider silk stuck in her coat had given them the final clue as it was reeking of human odour. Aware of each other's presence both canines paced through the veil Dogaressa going left and Dogamy going right the guard squad forming a semicircle behind the two of them as they advanced into the sale.
Two other entries... pastries filled tables on the walls... large spider web above..., sweeping through the room Dogamy's attentive brown eyes noted detail for detail searching for the guard's human prey while assessing the situation attention focusing quickly onto the two monsters at the centre of the room. Seeing Muffet was expected seeing Toriel not so much. Seems like we interrupted something, regarding the six armed lavender monster wearing a red frilly blouse and the tall goat monster in the white sleeved purple dress holding a fireball with silence Dogamy waited for them to react.
Turning slowly around Toriel was the first one to react hateful gaze mixing with annoyance on the sight of the hooded canines in the black coats neither fireball nor stance pointing out that she was surprised at all to meet the guards so suddenly. Switching a quick glance with Dogaressa Dogamy saw the same irritation about the goat monsters relatively calmness in her eyes both of them silently agreeing that this didn't feel right.
"Oh hello there dear sirs and madame~," lower two arms fumbling around nervously miss Muffet greeted the guards with a bright smile while mentioning her goods with the other four arms, "How may I help you today?~"
Tapping the ground with the bottom of his two-handed axe to underline his authority Dogamy demanded, "In the name of the king we ask you to surrender the human at once."
"Human?~," face displaying a look of pure confusion miss Muffet replied innocently, "I'm sorry to tell you this but there are no humans here~ Could I interest you in a batch of doughnuts instead?~" While Toriel's expression besides a moment of slight irritation on miss Muffet's statement darkened even more.
What is the meaning of this? Narrowing his eyes Dogamy attempted to see through the game miss Muffet was obviously playing. She ought to know that we have already picked up the human's scent in here doesn't she? Exchanging another quick glance with Dogaressa reading the same irritation in her eyes Dogamy decided to try the 'good guards' approach first. There is something we don't see here. Changing to a more polite tone Dogamy tried to assure Miss Muffet about the one point a businesswoman like her could be concerned of, "Miss if you are fearing about the bounty let me assure you that you will receive it in full no matter if you deliver the body yourself to the castle or pass it on to a royal guardsmen."
"Kindly thank you for that information sir...~," continuing her charade stretching six arms in an excusing manner Miss Muffet replied apologetically, "But as I said there are no humans around here~"
Seemingly ignoring the lavender coloured monster behind her the expression of irritation stayed this time a bit longer in Toriel's face as miss Muffet repeated her assertion. Then lowering the fiery orb its shine diminishing the tall goat monster spoke up the first time since the guards had entered asking with unsettling calmness, "What do you want from the human?"
"We will capture the human and deliver them to the royal scientist", seeing Toriel's face darkening and remembering the promise to his wife Dogamy added, "the human will not be harmed as long as they don't resist."
Still unsettling calm Toriel stated coldly the missing part in his statement, "You mean you kill her either way by ripping her soul out of her body or slaying her if she doesn't want to die?"
Dogamy kept silent to this accusation while the rest of the guards frowned visibly not used to somebody talking about killing humans as would it be a bad thing. Breaking the sudden silence Dogaressa's husky voice sounded much louder than normal as she tried to reason, "Toriel please understand it is-"
Cutting her off Toriel continued Dogaressa's sentence, "Necessary? For the greater good? Just a human? A small price for freedom?," each word underlined with enough bitterness to let the canine guard visibly flinch as would she perceive them as physical hits.
Lowering her gaze Dogaressa broke eye contact with Toriel. Her snout keeping shut unable to continue the half spoken sentence as the tall goat monster had already done that for her.
Seeing how his wife's grip around the halberd tightened Dogamy could tell that this bitter words had troubled Dogaressa deeply. This angered him. Exposing sharp teeth Dogamy lowered his head instinctively covering his throat as he shifted into a more aggressive stance. Husky voice going borderline to a snarl he wanted to retort sharply to this, "Miss-," as a vague movement in the corner of Dogamy's eyes demanded his attention.
Greater Dog had turned his head sharply. Narrowing his eyes his nostrils widened repeatedly as he checked the air for a unknown scent. Then Greater Dog remarked in the for him typical short spoken manner, "The human went this way."
Following the other guard's gaze Dogamy spotted another exit behind to the left from miss Muffet covered as well with a silvery veil. "Very well then", voice still noticeable close to a snarl Dogamy turned back to Toriel and Miss Muffet remarking ironical to the later, "if there is as you said no human here then I suppose we have to continue our search at a more promising location." He mentioned the other guards to advance towards the other exit. "Miss Muffet Miss...," excusing himself Dogamy paused his goodbye for a moment as he noted that he still didn't knew Toriel's last name. Waiting a second to see if the tall goat monster would give this detail away Dogamy continued his sentence as Toriel just frowned at the advancing canines, "It was a pleasure." Turning towards the exit he and Dogaressa left Toriel and miss Muffet behind following the other guards to the exit that the human had been taken.
Having heard the short statement from Greater Dog Toriel's entire mind was ringing with just one single insight. Miss Muffet hadn't lied. Frisk was still alive! There was still time to save her! To protect her from the knight and the other monster who wanted to slay her for her soul. Seeing the other dark hooded canines moving in the corner of her eyes only absently listing to Dogamy's goodbye Toriel frowned. Being for a start just an inconvenience the guards had now to be considered as a serious threat. As they could by bad luck on her side manage to reach her child before Toriel could. And judging by their words and armament it was more than clear to Toriel what that would mean for Frisk.
Closing her eyes already feeling the dreading sting of loss Toriel remembered the stories a friendly stranger had told her a long time ago through a closed door. This stories that had spawned more than one horrid nightmare regarding the deaths of the other children that had fallen down before Frisk. It was always more or less the same dream that left Toriel with no other choice than to watch helplessly as her children got slain by unforgiving nature as well as merciless monsters yawing for their souls. They all had died alone probably afraid and in pain without anyone to help or to protect them. And now the royal guard was after Frisk. Feeling the sting widening into tearing pain on this last thought Toriel came to a decision. She wouldn't wait for Frisk to become a nightmare as well.
Turning around in a swift movement Toriel cupped the fiery orb with both hands. White furred fingers quickly altering its brute force into a far more sophisticated construct. Then lifting the now small golden weave before her lips Toriel opened her eyes again. The spot behind the small table where Miss Muffet had been standing was now empty but the guards where still in the room. And they all had conveniently turned their backs to her. Taking aim Toriel pursed her lips and uttered a single word into the glowing weave stretched between her fingers. The weave trembled briefly as the softly spoken syllables vibrated through it its strings focusing and enhancing their magic. Then the centre of the weave buckled violently outwards producing an audible crack as the magic fabric stretched itself into a golden lighting that arced elegantly towards the exit and the unwary guards.
Already raising a hand to part the silvery veil and leave Miss Muffet's bakehouse Dogamy was interrupted by a loud crack followed by a golden lighting that passed his head in a uncomfortable close distance before smashing into the veil. Erupting outwards from the point of impact golden fire spread in split seconds over all the rest of the silvery spider web covering walls and ceiling. Then the flames faded into a barely visible glow as quickly as they had appeared covering the unharmed web like a thin sheet of glass. Having guarded the door to the ruins Dogomy didn't need very long to determine the nature of this spell. Its a ban. Continuing to move his hand the suspicion was undoubtedly verified as Dogamy's fingers were unable to pass the magical barrier.
"Was is the meaning of this?," glancing towards Toriel his hand still laying on the soft glowing wall Dogamy's voice sounded pressed as he forced himself to stay polite.
Straightening her purple dress the tall goat monster answered calmly, "You will stay here for awhile while I go and get my child."
"Miss due to all respect but that 'thing' is a human," still remembering what just one of this kind had done to his friends and wife Dogamy almost spit the last words out. Raising his voice not willing to support this fixed idea of Toriel any longer he exclaimed further, "Therefore it is NOT your child but a threat to monster kind that needs to be resolved!" Seeing how the tall goat monster visibly tensed and purple eyes widened in reaction to his words Dogamy pressed on demanding, "So break this spell so that we can do our job!"
Clenching her fists it seemed that Toriel wanted to retort sharply to that. But then her stance relaxed as composed mindset triumphed over blind anger. Breaking eye contact expressing that this conversation was over Toriel started moving towards the exit.
"Very well then!," slamming the end of his halberd onto the ground Dogamy proclaimed snarling, "In the name of the king you are under arrest for willingly aiding a human against monster kind!" Pointing the weapon towards Toriel he mentioned the other guards to advance.
Having foreseen that this couldn't end well Muffet had pulled herself up into the large web beneath the ceiling as soon as the guards had stopped watching her. So the lavender monster had now a nice view down onto Toriel and the dark hooded canines closing in on the tall goat monster.
What are we going to do? Vibrating through the web the silent question had a timid almost concerned undertone as it reached Muffet's fingertips. Moving nothing more than a finger Muffet replied silently as well, Nothing for now. Reacting to her answer the web twitched barely noticeable as multiple spiders moved uneasy, But they want to hurt the friendly Frisk-human! And they were rude to the spiders in the ruins! They did not even buy a single doughnut! Taking notice of this the other spiders that were previously against the human seemed to consider speaking up as well but kept quiet for now.
Eight eyes observing attentively the other monsters below Muffet ended the argument with a resolute impulse, Quiet! This is not the time! The spiders answer was a little more than a reluctant 'perhaps' but Muffet hadn't the time to insist on a clearer one as the first guard reached Toriel in this moment.
This was not really the outcome that Toriel had wanted. The tall goat monster exhaled. But they had threatened her child. Preparing herself Toriel moved further towards the exit and the approaching guards in front of it.
Reaching her the first guard tried to grab Toriel's hands. "Mam I arrest you hereby in the name of the kin-," caught by surprise the last word of the guard pitched up into a surprised yelp as Toriel sent her flying. Hitting one of the cake displays dotted through the room the yelp from the guard ended in a pained wheeze.
Ending the throw Toriel focused onto the next guard. The dark coated figure was still trying to figure out what had happened to his partner. Stepping forward Toriel yanked with minimal resistance the weapon out of his hands using the guard's momentarily confusion to her advantage. "Huh?," blinking the canine displayed an almost comical expression as he realized what had transpired. Then Toriel wielded the blunt side of his own halberd against the guard's head. Not used to this kind of weapon the hit was not as precise as Toriel would've liked it to be. But it seemed to suffice as the guard's body went limb.
Judging by the shocked silence after the second guard had hit the floor the other canines had expected a slightly different outcome. Taking a quick glance at the three remaining guards Toriel tried to guess which of them posed the greatest threat. Dogamy and Dogaressa were closer than Greater dog. But the big canine was wearing a chest protector and had already readied his weapon whereby the couple seemed to be taken aback by Toriel's rigorous attacks. Dogaressa probably doesn't want to fight and Greater Dog is bound to follow her orders, assessing the situation calmly Toriel moved on to Dogamy.
Coming in reach Toriel wielded the halberd against Dogamy's head using again the blunt side to minimize the damage. The weapon moved in a precise half-circle but was parried by Dogamy who reacted just in time to stop it. Although he managed to block the halberd before it could reach his temple Dogamy still staggered sideways as he was unable to compensate the sheer force behind Toriel's swing entirely. Driven away from Dogaressa Dogamy struggled visibly to regain his balance. His weapon was raised just a bit to high as that it would be needed to protect Dogamy from a second attack. Perceiving this details as a matter of routine Toriel followed Dogamy while reading the halberd again.
Just to move past the seemingly helpless canine without even trying to strike him. "Don't let yourself enchain by one spot of colour. A good fighter needs to see the bigger picture or be slain by the very little thing they deemed unworthy to note," Toriel could still hear Gerson giving her this important lesson in his old man's voice after he had surprisingly to her transformed a one on one fight into a one on two fight. Of course she had been quite upset about this in her eyes unfair fight and the bruises had hurt as well. But in hindsight had this lesson saved Toriel about at least a dozen times in the war and on other occasions through her life. And it seemed that it had this time as well as a halberd cut directly besides Toriel through empty air.
Stepping backwards and sideways Toriel positioned herself behind Dogaressa. Then the tall goat monster wielded her weapon against the female guard which was still standing there with extended halberd after her attack had missed. But the head of another halberd passing Dogaressa's side forced Toriel to step back before she could strike. Moving past his wife Dogamy followed suit halberd still pointing at Toriel to drive her further back.
Turning around Dogaressa followed her husband. She hadn't readied her halberd yet. "Toriel please stop," there was honest concern in the females canines voice, "you don't have to do this! Please think about Frisk. She is out there all by herself and we are not the only ones looking for her!"
Annoyance and motherly fury disturbed Toriel's calm expression for a brief moment as Frisk's name was mentioned. "Then let me leave so that I can go find her!," false expression slipping even more the tall goat monster's voice changed almost into a snarl as her stolen halberd clashed in a swift series of strikes against the guards weapons.
Parrying Toriel's fierce attacks wasn't easy but Dogamy managed himself fairly well while driving Toriel further back. Already seeing the wall close behind Toriel Dogamy demanded, "In the name of the king I compel you to surrender to the law! Drop your weapon and discard the barrier!," husky voice underlined with demanding confidence on the prospect of safe victory.
Limiting herself to merely blocking Toriel's attacks Dogaressa tried again to reason, "Toriel please do as he says! You've no chance to win this fight you are not a trained guard!" Raising her weapon just in time Dogaressa flinched under another forceful impact of Toriel's halberd. "And even if you should by chance manage to subdue us there is still Greater dog guarding the exit! He has not fought so far whereby you've already used powerful magic and fought four guards!" Continuing forward Dogaressa stayed by Dogamy's side as he forced Toriel another step back. "So please give up!"
"I wouldn't call the other two much of a fight", pulling her facade back together Toriel's voice and expression went calm again as she answered Dogaressa, "but your are right. I'm not a trained guard." Retreating further a buzzing feeling wandered over Toriel's skin as her back crossed the magical barrier. "And is it true that I needed much more magic for this spell than I would've liked to." A slight tiredness betraying her unimpressed words Toriel stopped as she felt the resistance of the silvery veil covering the walls in her back. "But who says that I've to fight you to proceed?" Ending the sentence Toriel spread her arms letting go of her halberd.
Taken by surprise the two canines recoiled as the weapon from the tall goat monster fell suddenly with a loud clang to the ground. Looking back up they saw how Toriel's arms finished their opposite horizontal arcs so that the tall goat monster was now standing in a T-stance. Seeing this and the small movements of Toriel's fingers creating bright aureoles around her hands in the magical barrier Dogamy and Dogaressa immediately came to the same conclusion. Toriel had discarded the halberd to be able to cast freely and judging by the brightness of the fiery magic it was not child's play.
Reacting in unison both of the dark coated guards pulled their halberd back to swing at the tall goat monster. Wielded in elegant arcs both weapons moved in a blur of steel one coming from above and one from the side. But Toriel had already finished her preparations. Clawing her hands into the very fabric of the spell Toriel dragged the magical barrier in front of her blocking the incoming weapons.
Hitting the barrier Dogamy and Dogaressa were thrown of balance as their halberds bounced of it before they could find their target. But being trained guardsmen they went with the abrupt change of movement and stepped back regaining their foothold as well as moving into a defensive stance. Raising his weapon in unison with Dogaressa Dogamy trained his eyes on Toriel again.
The tall goat monster was still standing on the same point where she had been moments before. But now this point was shielded by a large bulge where Toriel had forced a part of the magical barrier inwards to protect herself. Standing tall the white furred monster in the purple dress exclaimed, "As I said I'll go now to get my child," trivializing both the attack of the canines and the just displayed example of magical skill with a unnerving calm voice that went only a whit livid as she once more affirmed her bond with the human. Then Toriel opened her clawed hands and prohibited with a firm gesture that any more sound may cross the barrier.
All had been said, all had been done. Turning away from the two dark hooded canines Toriel moved along the wall towards the exit. There was still Greater Dog standing in her way but she ignored him as well as Dogamy and Dogaressa following and attacking her. Seeing her coming the tall guard planted his feet firmly on the ground and held his halberd horizontal before his chest to block Toriel's path. But the barrier simply moved on and shoved Greater Dog aside.
Reaching the exit Toriel left without looking back. Parting the silvery veil covering every entrance to the bakehouse her purple eyes wavered quickly over the dusty ground. There! Spotting the small footsteps in the dust Toriel was filled with new hope. Her child was still alive. There was still a chance to save them! Shaking of the exhaustion from the fight and the spell casting Toriel followed the trail every step going a bit faster her entire mind ringing with just one thought. Don't worry Frisk. Mom is coming to save you.
- A / N -
Sorry for the long time without a word, got caught up in other stuff. Would you kindly answer me some questions?
You may have noticed, that I've changed the paragraph style (like not longer one sentence per newline), is the readability still okay? Do you think I should use commas? (Left them out because I read they make break the reading flow) What do you think, so far, of the story?
- A / N END -
- Review Stuff -
T: I love what you've done with the story! A lot more understandable, still love the story too.
Me: Glad to hear that, what do you think of the side-plot of Toriel following Frisk?
- Review stuff end-