Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale, or any of its characters.
Charlie's eyes fluttered open. She was in a dark place, the only light was coming from directly above her. It was the light coming down from where she had jumped. The hole, which had seemed so huge when she jumped, was now a tiny pinprick of light shining down on her. She appeared to be lying on a bed of golden flowers. Was she alive? No, that was impossible. She had fallen for hundreds of feet, she couldn't have survived. So was she a ghost? That was a possibility, she guessed. She prodded one of the flowers. No, she must be alive. She didn't phase through the flowers, she still had a physical form. But how was that possible? She hadn't climbed all the way up the mountain and attempted suicide to somehow managed to live.
She heard footsteps. They were approaching her.
"Wh-who's there?" Charlie called, her voice shaking slightly.
The footsteps drew closer.
"I asked, who's there?" Charlie said, voice steadier this time.
The footsteps were in the same room as Charlie now. The owner of said footsteps walked into the light, and Charlie was slightly taken aback by the person standing there. It was a goat woman, wearing purple robes and standing on two legs. Charlie should have been scared, but there was something comforting about this goat-lady. The goat-lady offered a furry hand to Charlie and helped her to her feet.
"Another human, hmm?" The goat-lady said. "Come with me my child, here is not the safest of places."
Charlie said nothing, but walked with the goat-lady anyway.
"My name is Toriel, I am the caretaker of the Ruins," The goat-woman, Toriel, said. "What is your name, my child?"
"I'm Charlie," Charlie replied. "Am I dead?"
Toriel laughed softly, and shook her head.
"Of course not my child," She said. "You are in the Ruins, in the Underground."
"In the what?" Charlie was confused.
"The Underground, my dear," Toriel said. "Home of the monsters."
"Monsters?" This was all very strange. All Charlie had wanted was to see her friend and parents again, but instead she somehow ended up in a strange place, which was apparently inhabited by monsters.
"Yes, monsters." Toriel smiled. "A very long time ago, humans and monsters used to live side by side on the surface. However, a war broke out and us monsters were too weak. We were banished down here, to the Underground, and we've been sealed here ever since."
"Oh." Charlie said. She couldn't think of much else to say, I mean, what do you expect? She had just learned that there had been another intelligent race living below her all of her life. As she and Toriel walked along she thought of a question.
"Are they all like you?" Charlie asked. "The monsters, are they all goats like you?"
"No, my dear," Toriel answered. "There are many different kinds of monsters, all unique and beautiful"
Her face darkened for a moment. "Although, not all of them are as friendly to humans as me."
"I see," Charlie responded. "Where are we going?"
"We are going to my home," Toriel replied. "I have a spare room that you can stay in. I hope you will find it satisfactory."
"That's very kind of you Toriel," Charlie smiled. "Although, I would hate to be an inconvenience to you."
"Don't be silly my child," Toriel laughed. "I have been very lonely since the last human left me."
"The last human?" Charlie inquired. "You had another human stay with you before?"
Toriel looked sad. "I have had a total of seven humans stay with me." She said. "All of them left, trying to get to the surface again. Six of them are dead, although I haven't heard about what happened to the seventh."
"What was their name?" Charlie was excited. Could the seventh human have been her friend? Could they still be alive?
"My child, I am very sorry," Toriel said sadly. "But it pains me to speak of them right now. Could you ask me another day?"
Charlie was disappointed. She was hoping that she could find her best friend again. But she knew the feeling of losing someone, and she didn't want to make Toriel upset, so she nodded.
"Ah," Toriel smiled. "We have arrived at my home. I will show you to your new room, you must be tired, my child."
Charlie had to admit, she was pretty tired. Toriel brought her to a bedroom. Toriel bid Charlie a goodnight and Charlie fell into the bed. It was the comfiest thing she had ever felt. For the first time in a very long time, someone had showed Charlie kindness. For the first time in a very long time, Charlie felt at home, and happy. She knew that it would only last for so long until her depression took over again, but she relished in the happiness that she felt while it lasted.