Toriel stared at the spikes for a minute. First, she looks at the spikes, and then she looks back at me. She seems to be deep in thought.
"This is the puzzle, but… here, take my hand for a moment." Toriel then grabs my hand, and we walk forward. Her… hand is soft and warm. It reminds me of- The spikes subtract into the ground as she guides me through. She could have just shown me the path and let me walk across it, I'm not a baby! I've done things like this enough times, like when I crossed over the bridge with those creepy staff bots when I was trying to escape the sewers at the Pizzaplex.
"Puzzles seem a little too dangerous for now," Toriel says with a small uneasy smile.
"I could have handled it. Trust me I have done harder things than that before." Toriel looks stunned again and she tries her best to maintain her composure. She then proceeds to kneel down to my level, with a tight and concerned smile.
"May I ask what dangerous situation you were in Gregory? I am more than willing to listen to you if you want to talk about it. I will understand." Toriel says softly and puts her hand on my shoulder.
I only have known Toriel for a few minutes. I still am trying to decide whether she is being truthful. I don't feel comfortable enough right now to tell her about the Pizzaplex. Maybe in a while, I will tell her a little bit about what happened. But I won't tell her everything right now!
"Let's just say I have been through a lot one night. It happened a little while ago, but it doesn't matter now." Toriel's face stiffened at this. I could tell she is heavily concerned about me.
"Well… you're with me now Gregory. And I will protect you like I will protect the other child. Your new home will be safe and sound, and no one will hurt you there." Her words sounded tempting. After all, I only have a cardboard box to return to if I get out of here. But Vanessa is still down here. As long as she is here, I will never be safe.
"I don't know if that's the best idea." Toriel's smile vanishes after this. She stares at me blankly. Eventually, she smiles and tries to pretend she didn't hear me say that.
"We should get going, Gregory. I have a surprise for you when you get home. By the way, for no reason in particular, which do you prefer? Cinnamon or butterscotch?" I could tell by the way she is talking, that she is trying to change the subject. Her speech is rushed and hurried, and I could tell she is just trying to get me not to think about leaving.
"Cinnamon, I guess!" I say with a huge sigh. Fine, I won't talk about this now, but once the time comes, I have to get out of here. I don't want Vanessa to come to find me again. I know what she'll do.
"Splendid! And you do not dislike cinnamon, do you? I know what your preference is, but. Would you turn-"
"Could we please get going already! I don't care about what I eat! Just so long as it keeps me alive, I'm good." I yell cutting off Toriel. Her eyes widen in shock, and she just stares at me.
"Gregory, it is not polite to yell and interrupt people. Now please, let's continue on." She says while grabbing my hand. I feel irritated by this, she has only known me for a few minutes! What gives her the right to say that! But I guess that so long as it keeps us moving, I will let it go.
We then make it to the next room. It looks the same as the rest of the Ruins. The hallway is long and empty except for a pillar near the end of it. I wonder what challenge could possibly be in this boring hallway! There is literally nothing here!
"You have done excellent thus far, Gregory," Toriel spoke proudly as she faced me. She then looks over her shoulder at the hallway for a second with a look of uneasiness.
"However… I have a difficult request to ask of you " Toriel goes silent for a minute, and she looks at me with a troubled face. I wonder what she could possibly have me do that warrants her reluctance? But no matter what it is, it can't be more difficult than what I already did.
I avoided a security guard dressed as a rabbit! I crushed an animatronic chicken in a garbage compactor. I made an animatronic gator fall by making him lift a bucket full of rubber balls. And I tore out an animatronic wolf's eyes after running her over in a race kart. Wherever Toriel wants me to do can't be more difficult than what I've already faced.
"I would like you to walk to the end of the room by yourself." I can't believe my ears. This is what she calls a challenge?! I survived in the Pizzaplex for 6 hours and she doesn't think I can walk down a hallway by myself?!
"You can't be serious!"
"I know it seems difficult. Please forgive me for this." Toriel starts to walk to the room at a fast pace. I am still frozen in disbelief. I can feel my annoyance rising as I just think about it.
"This is a joke!" I scream as I look up at the ceiling with my hands on my head. The few seconds I look away, I lose track of Toriel. But after a few seconds, I see her shadow coming from behind the pillar.
"This is so unbelievable. I can take care of myself. I don't need her help." I start to walk towards the end of the room. I get there in about a minute. Once I arrive Toriel moves from her 'hiding place' and faces me.
"Greetings, Gregory. Do not worry, I did not leave you. I was merely behind this pillar the whole time." I facepalm at Toriel's words. She looks at me sheepishly.
"I can tell that you are annoyed by this, Gregory. I am sorry if I seem a bit cautious. I have reasons for why I am like this." Toriel looks down at the ground as if she is thinking back. She looks pained by her memories.
"Look, I understand that you mean well. It's just that I can handle being on my own. It's been that way for a while." I frown as I think about my box in that cold alley. The memories make me miss Freddy more. Maybe I shouldn't have left the Pizzaplex.
"Thank you, Gregory. Now it's time for us to continue." She grabs my hand and smiles at me. "I was irresponsible earlier with the other child. But I have learned, and now I will take you to your new home." Toriel and I walk through the door into the next room.
Author's Notes:
Gregory and Toriel are continuing to her house! What will Frisk think once they see Gregory?! As always, I thank my proofreaders Kaeli, and The_Armada_of_Ships.