The figure came into view and Gregory was horrified by what he saw. The figure was not a human, it looked like some kind of humanoid goat with brown eyes. She was wearing a long purple robe with white sleeves. And in the middle of her chest, there was that same strange symbol he came across before. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped.
"My goodness! Another child has fallen! Don't fear my child, I am here!" The weird goat lady approached with a friendly smile on her face. I start to back up when she comes closer. How can I trust her especially after that weird flower tried to kill me?!
"Do not fear my child. I am Toriel, caretaker of the RUINS. I pass through this place every day to see if anyone has fallen. But I didn't expect two humans to fall on the same day. This is most unusual." Toriel had a motherly tone to her voice. It felt warm and inviting just like Freddy's voice felt. Could Gregory trust Toriel just as he trusted Freddy when they first met? If this place is dangerous just like the Pizzaplex then it would be good to have an ally like her.
Wait! She also said there was another human here!
"What is this place?! Where the hell am I?!" Toriel seemed to stiffen when Gregory swore. But she tried to regain her composure.
"Please don't talk like that my child. And you are in The Underground. It's where monsters live."
"Wait… mo- monsters?! I thought it was just a legend! Why are you even under this mountain?!"
"I can explain once I get you to your new home. Come, my child. I will guide you through the catacombs." Toriel walked forward and Gregory reluctantly followed behind her. In the next room, the walls were purple and looked pristine, and the air felt clean.
There were also red flowers right next to a stairway that goes up in two ways. Gregory continued to follow Toriel to the next room. In the room, there were pressure plates on the ground.
"Welcome to your new home, innocent one. Allow me to educate you on the operation of the RUINS." Toriel precedes to step on four of the pressure plates and she pulls a lever on the wall making the door to the room open after he follows her through the pressure plates in a safe winding path.
"The RUINS are full of puzzles. Ancient fusion between diversion and door keys. One must solve them to move from room to room. Please adjust yourself to the sight of them and watch closely at what I do."
Puzzles? Gregory remembered how it was to reverse the Pizzaplex. Trying to get around the animatronics and decommission them was a puzzle in their way. If he could survive at the Pizzaplex then certainly he could survive here.
"Thanks, and my name is Gregory by the way."
"Gregory, what a nice name my child! Thank you for telling me, Gregory! I don't know the other child's name, but I am too kind to ask. But perhaps they will tell me later as you did. Come let's continue!"
Toriel brought Gregory to the next room where there were several switches. Toriel explained to Gregory that he needed to flip the labeled switches to continue.
As Gregory does this he thinks about his time in the West Arcade where he had to flip the switches to rest the surest breaker.
"At least there isn't some giant spider-like DJ this time," Gregory mutters to himself as he flips one of the switches. This causes Toriel to raise an eyebrow and concern washed over her face.
"What was that Gregory? Have you met some sort of DJ? Was it playing music at a party?"
"Never mind. Let's just continue." Gregory continued to flip the last switch and the spikes blocking the exit to the room went away.
"Splendid! I am proud of you Gregory!"
"It wasn't that hard, the switches were labeled," Gregory said, a little bit upset, but deep down he enjoyed the praise Toriel gave him. It reminded him of his mother. Toriel looked a little bit hurt at first but then she smiled politely.
"I am still proud regardless! You did great! Let us move to the next room!" Gregory followed Toriel into the next room where there was a training dummy. It looked like it was made of cotton.
"As a human living in The UNDERGROUND, monsters may attack you. You will need to be prepared for this situation. However, worry not the process is simple. When you encounter a monster you will enter a FIGHT. When you are in a Fight strike up a friendly conversation. Stall for a time while I resolve the conflict."
"Toriel I have been in a situation like that before and talking won't help. The best thing to do is to just run and find a way to outmaneuver whatever is chasing you or if that doesn't work then fight them." Once Gregory said this Toriel was shocked completely, and she couldn't look anymore concerned.
"Gregory, what do you mean you were in a situation like that before?! Was something trying to hurt you?!" Toriel was now leaning down next to Gregory and she put her paw on his shoulder.
"It's- complicated," Gregory hesitates while pausing mid-sentence. Toriel grabbed Gregory's hand and started to walk toward the next room.
"Let's just skip this one for now," Toriel distracts him by speaking up, "there is another puzzle in this room. I wonder if you can solve it?"
"I can do it. It can't be too hard." Gregory says confidently. As he began to follow Toriel into the next room, the same box that appeared with Flowey appeared in front of him. What appeared to be a frog-like monster was standing in front of him. And in the text box, it said 'Froggit attacks you!'.
Gregory saw multiple boxes in front of him. They said; attack, act, items, and mercy. Gregory selected act, and he decided to select shoo away.
"Stay away from me!"
The Froggit seemed startled at first and it backed away. Toriel then walked into the battle, and she glared at the Froggit. This caused the Froggit to leave without another sound.
"What was that thing?!"
"That was a Froggit. They are quite common in the RUINS. But don't fear Gregory! I will protect you!"
Toriel led Gregory forward and a bunch of spikes in front of them were the only thing that stopped them. Gregory stared at them, and he began to start to get the hang of this place.
Well, this should be interesting.
Author's Notes: Gregory is starting to learn the basics of The Underground, but what about Vanessa? As always thanks to my proofreaders Kaeli, and The_Armada_of_Ships.