Chapter Text

I felt strange. I knew I had fallen a great distance, I expected a horrific landing, instead I was awarded with a comforting feeling. My hands felt the smoothness of a petal from a flower. I was dumbfounded at what happened to me. Why would flowers be in such a peculiar spot?

“Chippy?” I called out. My service dog could still be around here. Only silence was the reward. I pulled out a foldable walking stick from my pocket, I always kept it with me incase of situations like this. The flowers beckoned me not to leave, as if it wanted to me to stay, but I must find my way out of here. I started scanning the ground with the stick, more flowers surrounded me as I walked in an indeterminate direction.

I finally reached a different surface, giving me an idea where I was. Whipping my stick on the ground, and listening into the environment, a echo reverberated in my ears. Telling me a direction towards the exit of this cave, above me, or to the left. Since I cannot fly, I headed left. Whipping the stick on the ground reminded myself of where I was heading to, and luckily there was little or no background sounds to interfere with this process. My stick scanned the ground for any obstructions in my way. Oddly enough the surface was smooth, almost unnatural.

With another whip of my stick, I noticed I was heading for a wall, but another way, towards the left of me, revealed itself. I proceeded with no other options available. I noticed the next room I was in was virtually quiet. I snapped my stick, revealing that I was in a large chamber. Not knowing what could lurk in these caves, made me nervous.

“Howdy!”

“Who’s that?” I called out in confusion. The last thing I expected was a friendly voice.

“I’m Flowey. Flowey the flower!”

“What?” I said in a confused tone. I kneeled and held my hand out, feeling for where the voice was coming from. I felt a smooth surface, like the flowers I felt before. Except this one was cold, my skin grew goosebumps.

“What… are… you… doing?” Flowey’s tone changed.

“I just wanted to know if you are actually a flower.”

“You must be new to the underground aren’ tcha.”

“I fell down here, and now I am talking to a flower.” I voiced out.

“Golly, you really are confused, touching me and everything. Anyways, someone ought to teach you how things work down here. I guess I will be the one to do just that!”

“Wait… what?” I asked.

“Ready? Here we go!”

I felt something in my chest pull. I patted my body, nothing was wrong with me, yet I still felt different.

“See that heart?” Flowey asked.

“Uh…” I murmured.

“Sure?” I replied without confidence.

“That is your soul. The very culmination of your being”

I assumed that what was pulling in my chest. I could feel it writhing with life.

“You soul is currently weak, but with some LV, it can grow strong. Especially if you have a lot of it.” Flowey emphasized the last sentence. It sounded like he wanted me to get this ‘LV’

“What is LV?” I asked.

“That’s LOVE, you want some do ya? Don’t worry, I’ll share some with you.” He sounded very trustworthy.

“Alright Flowey.” I said back to him.

“Down here, love is shared through little white ‘Friendliness Pellets’.

Suddenly I began to hear the sound of objects spinning in front of me. I took several steps back, unsure what they were, and how they got there in the first place.

“You ready? Move around, collect as many as you can!” He said with strong encouragement. I noticed the sounds moving closer to me. I stepped back even more, unsure what was coming. The flower did mention it was friendly, right? Suddenly I tripped and fell onto my rear. The spinning objects flew over my head.

“Hey buddy. You missed all of them.” His tone changed.

“Sorry, I lost my balance.” I began to feel nervous as I was not following his commands right. My palms began to sweat.

“Sure. Let’s try this again.” Flowey insisted.

I used my stick to help me stand and dusted myself off. “I’m ready.” Suddenly I heard more spinning objects heading towards me. My sweaty palm dropped my cane and I instinctively picked it up, the objects, once again flew over me.

“I’m sorry!” I yelled.

“Is this a joke? Are you just that clumsy? RUN. INTO. THE. Bull-Friendliness Pellets.” Flowey sounded genuinely annoyed. More projectiles fluttered in the air. I had a split-second to make a choice as I could hear whatever coming at me, was fast approaching. I twisted my leg, falling down again, letting the objects fly over me.

There was silence for more than ten seconds. “You… you know what’s going on, don’t you.” Flowey demented voice echoed in the room. “You just wanted to see me suffer… but you… you have no idea what I am talking about. I can see it in you.” He bellowed.

“Oh WELL, DIE.”

Suddenly the same projectiles that was sent to me, surrounded my ears. There was no way I could accidentally come out of this. The sound of the objects became louder as it moved closer to me, the whipping sound of the air, became more violent. A devilish laugh came from the ground, where the flower stood. Suddenly I heard some footsteps in the distance. The sound of claws lightly tapping on the floor. The sounds of the projectiles around me stopped. Flowey’s laugh was nowhere to be heard. My ears listened into the environment, as the footsteps grew louder in front of me.

I heard a sigh coming from whoever stood in front of me. “What a miserable creature...torturing such a poor, innocent youth.” A comforting female voice called out. It sounded so...motherly to me. I could not put my mind as of why. “Do not be afraid my child, it is I, Toriel, caretaker of the ruins.”

“Nice to meet you, Toriel.” I said in a courteous manner.

“You, look scared… as if you do not trust me. Do not worry, I pass through here to see if anyone has fallen.”

“Why… do you stare at me like that, eyes closed and unaware of who is talking to you?” She asked.

“I… cannot see. I am blind.” I admitted. I heard a gasp from Toriel.

“You, cannot see child?” Her tone was concerned.

“Yes.”

“Oh, my! Then, let me guide you through the catacombs, I can take you somewhere safe!” I held my hand out, awaiting her guidance. I felt fur and a claw, touch my hand. I retracted my hand in fear. “Child, why do you fear my hand?” She asked.

“Because… it’s not what I think it should be.” I responded. A chuckle came from her mouth.

“This is me, child, you have nothing to fear.” She stepped close to me. I could sense her body, inches away. I felt a warm, furry hand on my forehead. “My body may not be human, but I will treat you as if I was.” Her voice comforted me. I held my hand out again.

“I.. trust you Toriel.” I… clamored. “Please, don’t try to trick me.” My mind fluttered with various emotions, trust, betrayal, love, who should I believe anymore? Toriel sounded trustworthy, but then again, so did Flowey.

“My child, do you think I would do such a thing?” She asked.

“I…I…”

“I have taken care of many humans like you.” Toriel interrupted. “I promise, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

She grabbed my hand, I could feel a sense of security with her grasp. She began leading me out of the large chamber. I noticed we moved into another room, after we stepped onto a different surface. Toriel pulled me in a different direction, and felt her hand rising. I slipped and fell, as my foot got caught on step of a staircase.

“Oh! I am sorry! I did not warn you about stairs! Are you alright my child?” Toriel pleaded to me.

“I.. am fine. I just cannot, see what’s ahead.” I stood up, and reached my hand out again for Toriel.

“I will be better at warning you about any hazards that we might come across.” Toriel assured me.

Carefully I placed my foot on each step, with her guidance. After conquering that obstacle we continued on. I held my hand out, trying to feel if there was anything around me as I walked. It brushed against a smooth, wall like surface as we passed by.

“Ah! Can you stand here a moment. I need to open this door.” I began to hear four clicks as she walked around. A lever was pulled, and the sound of a door opening rang through my ears. “The ruins are filled with puzzles, since you cannot see, how can you solve them?”

“I can try?” I commented.

“Oh child, don’t be silly. These puzzles are complicated for people who can see, I cannot possibly fathom you doing them!” Toriel insisted.

“Very well Toriel.” I held my hand out again. I was guided through the door, into a room with water slowly running. It was comforting to hear water running.

“At the end of the hall is an obstacle. Normally, I would have you open it… oh wait! You can do it! I can guide you!” She giddily said. We walked across a small wooden bridge when Toriel pulled me towards a different direction. Suddenly she released her hand.

“You want to solve one of the puzzles?” She asked me.

“Yes.” I confidently replied.

“In front of you is a lever, pull it.” She ordered. My hands reached for a lever-like object. I felt a stone lever, and pulled it downwards. “Good job!” Toriel sounded excited. I however, was not too impressed. I held my hand out in anticipation for her, which she continued my guidance through another wooden bridge. Once again, I was pulled around, and released again. I held my hand out, with the expectation of a lever, but there was nothing but wall. My hand searched above and below, feeling vines and leaves, until I found the lever, pulling it down made a retracting sound from afar.

“That’s the puzzle?” I said.

“Yup! I am proud of you!” she exclaimed. I held my hand out, wanting to progress further. She continued her guidance, directing me into another room. My foot stepped onto something metallic, meaning there was something impeding in the way. She suddenly stopped.

“As a human, living in the underground is not without its’ risks. Monsters may attack you, surprise you. Child, you will need to be prepared for a situation like this.” she instructed.

“In front of you, is a dummy, imagine it is a monster. At this point on, you will be entering a 'fight' with whatever monster is surprising you. Fear not my child, as there is a very easy solution to this predicament! Strike up a friendly conversation!”

“Friendly conversation? As in hello! Nice to meet you!” I responded.

“Yes! Exactly! Try it out!” She encouraged. I reached my hand out to touched the dummy, and I felt my chest jump in excitement. I inspected the dummy, feeling it’s cotton body and button eyes.

“Oh! Nice to meet you! I am sorry for… touching you like that.” I said out loud. The dummy was not one for talking. I figured it so. I stepped away from it, relaxing myself from the imaginary conflict.

“Very good! You even apologized for what you did! Very kind of you!” Her voice made my body feel warm with love. I gave a smile to her, holding my hand out for her again. The next room we entered was strange, I heard the sounds of a frog croaking in the distance.

“Toriel?”

“What is it?

“I hear something odd?” suddenly my chest pulled, and jumped again. I lost contact with Toriel’s hand. This, must be what it feels like to be in a fight. I could hear the frog-like creature croak at me in confusion, as if I accidentally disturbed it. Seeing that I trust Toriel’s teachings, a friendly conversation was what I needed to come up with.

“Hello Mr… Frog?”

“Ribbit?” it sounded confused. Suddenly I heard it shuffle away, as if it lost interest. I held my hand out for Toriel, and she grabbed it quickly.

“Sorry, these little Froggits are a bit jumpy.” She comforted me. “You did good! It did not want to fight you. Coming up is a puzzle that is impossible for you to solve, so I will walk you through it. The sound of water rushing and a sudden retracting noise made myself jump in surprise.

“Nothing bad is going to happen.” We both stepped onto a metal like surface. I could feel holes where something used to be there. Each panel we stepped on, caused another to retract. I felt butterflies in my stomach as she pulled me in different directions. But, as she promised, nothing harmful happened. We now entered a different room, as I stepped off of the last metal panel.

“You have done well so far. But I have a, difficult, request to ask of you. I would like you to walk to the end of this room by yourself…. Forgive me for this!” She began to walk away from me in a hurried pace, leaving me alone.

“Toriel?” I called out. I had a hunch she was doing this to test me. I knew she walked a straight path, but I cannot assume everything here. Pulling out my walking stick, I cautiously felt the ground around me, and proceeded onwards, into the unknown. Smacking my stick onto the ground, I noticed it sounded like a hallway to me. Feeling confident, I increased my pace, maintaining the stick’s contact with the ground. The corridor was seemingly endless, until I bumped into something furry.

“Oh! I’m sorry! I thought you would stop!” Toriel yelped. “Normally I would hide behind this pillar, but, since you can’t see me, I stood at the end of the hall instead.”

“Were you… seeing if I can navigate on my own?” I asked her.

“Yes! You are very smart! Especially with that stick of yours!” Toriel happily said. “I must say… you are very independent.” she added.

“Oh! I have some business to tend to, but… leaving you here? I cannot do that! I mean, I could give you a cellphone, but…. How can you use it? I guess you’ll have to come with me!” She grabbed my hand again and pulled me into the next room. We walked through various hallways snaking around, passing through already solved puzzles.

“Oh! I have a question for you!”

“What is it Toriel?”

“Cinnamon or Butterscotch?”

“Uh… Cinnamon?” I replied

“Oh! Okay. Good… good! If you were to see anything butterscotch, would you turn away from it?” She asked.

“No, I like both, you just gave me a choice.” I replied happily. I wonder what was the point of this question.

“Good! I do too!” She replied.

Passing through the puzzles made me wonder what would they be like if I could solve them. I guess I will never know. I felt comforted by Toriel’s walking pace, as even when the floor felt like it was going to crumble beneath me, she was not worried. As we entered a new room, we stopped without warning.

“That’s odd, this thing wasn’t here before.” Toriel commented. “My child, talk to this strange monster. Perhaps you can convince it to move.” She recommended. She pushed me onto a leafy surface.

“He...hello?” I called out. I could hear sounds of someone saying the letter ‘z’ repeatedly. Was it trying to sleep? Or was it imitating sleep? My hand reached out, and suddenly I felt the fight instincts kick in again.

“Hello? I am sorry to disturb your sleep.” I smiled encouragingly.

“Wha...what?” A sad voice called out. Suddenly I could hear drops of water around me. Some of which, landed on my chest. I felt a slight tinge of pain from it, how could it be? It was just droplets of water?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, trying to consul whatever was leaking the water on me.

“...no..nothing.” it replied back. Suddenly more water dripped above. The pain stung my body again, I started to tremble in fear, as I had no idea what was hurting my body.

“You sound sad…don’t be sad, let’s talk.” I encouraged.

“I am really not feeling up to it right now, sorry.” He depressingly replied.

“Wanna hear a joke?” I asked. “Why aren’t dogs good dancers?.... Because they have two left feet!” I smiled, trying to get a reaction. Silence came from whatever was in front of me. I heard a slight chuckle.

“let me show you something…” it replied back. I felt nervous at what he could be doing. “do you see it? I… call it… dapper blook. do you like it?” it asked me.

“Yes, I think it looks fine. Mr…. Dapperblook.”

“oh gee.”

I felt like I hurt his feelings. My body relaxed as the tension calmed down.

“i come to the ruins because there is nobody around. but today, i met somebody nice. i will move out of the way, before i ramble too much.”

“Thank you….” No response was given. “Hello?” I called out.

“My child, that was spectacular!” Toriel congratulated. I held my hand out for her, and she grabbed it, pulling me away from the leaves. “You made his day doing that!”

“I did?” I asked.

“You should have saw his face… if you could have. I’m sorry… I am used to..”

“It’s okay Toriel.” I interrupted her. We continued our merry little way through the ruins, puzzles were already solved, at least according to her. Through the various rooms, I could hear some strange sounds, the croaks, the chirps, and a slithering sound, since I was with Toriel, those sounds became quiet when I passed by them, as if intimidated by her presence. Toriel was actually the caretaker of the ruins. No monster or creature would mess with her.

After a long and thankfully, puzzle free walk, she stopped me.

“We’re almost there!” She announced placing both of her hands on my shoulders.

“Where?” I asked.

“Oh… I wish I could have a better way of revealing it to you. I guess I will just spoil the surprise.” She grabbed my hand again, my feet stepped onto leaves again. I held my hand out, feeling a tree’s bark. It made me hopeful, that I would feel another tree again.

“Feeling things make you happy?” Toriel asked as we walked.

“Yes… it’s the only way I can imagine things… what they truly are. A tree reminds me of the surface, where they are endless. I used to pick up apples from the trees, and eat them.”

“Apples? You like apples?” She asked.

“Yes. I do.”

“Great!”

Suddenly the floor surface changed, from stone to wood. I felt heat emanating from a different room. Toriel stopped.

“My child…. We’re here! Welcome to your new home!” She exclaimed, I could feel the joy in her voice.