Mountain View

Toriel, as you discovered, was called a monster, and so were all of the other creatures you met on your journey through the ruins. But both Toriel and the others were not anything like what story books made monsters out to be; mean, scary, and evil. Toriel, in particular, was more like an overprotective mother bird just looking out for her egg. You were the egg in this case.

“Now, my child, I must leave you for a little while to run some errands. Please, stay here and wait for my return,” Toriel had crouched to your level, speaking gently.

You nodded and Toriel smiled in turn. She got up from her crouch and left the room, only to return a few seconds later, looking quite flustered.

“Here, my child. You may use this to call me if you find yourself in any sort of trouble,” She cupped your cheek warmly, and gave you a little kiss on the forehead, before handing you an old black flip-phone.

You nodded again and hugged Toriel tightly, thanking her for everything she had done to help you. Toriel tensed, but after a moment she hugged you back.

Once more she told you to be good, and stay put until she came back. But you had no intention of waiting around. You had a promise to keep.

<<>><<>><<>>

The trip through the ruins had turned out to be more fun than you expected. You had always adored puzzles, and it was wonderful to delve into each new and interesting puzzle as you crossed into each room.

What was even better was that you had already made a friend. His name was Napstablook and he was ghost monster who had been resting in the ruins when you were passing through. Though a bit timid, he was very sweet, and you hoped to see him around the ruins again.

You had to admit you were getting very tired. And unsure of how the long the ruins were, you were tempted to turn back and wait like Toriel had asked you. But luck was on your side, for when you turned the corner, there was Toriel, walking out from behind a large dead tree.

She looked surprised to see you, but quickly recovered, her motherly worrying returning.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to have left you so long. I was hoping to surprise you, my child…” She said, briskly walking to you with a sorry expression. You felt a bit bad for Toriel, she really did try, but you had the feeling she was a bit out of practice when it came to caring for a child.

“It’s ok,” you told her cheerfully, “I had lots of fun and I even made a friend!”

Toriel smiled down at you and held out one of her furry hands. “I’m glad, my child. Now come with me, I have a surprise for you!”

You accepted the hand graciously and followed her into what appeared to be a cottage, filled with hope.

The cottage was very cozy, reminding you of your grandmother’s home when she had been alive. Toriel had run to the kitchen after the smell of burning pie reached your noses, leaving you to wander about the house.

There were three small rooms off the main hall. The first was a small children's room, filled with dusty toys and a box full of randomly sized shoes. The second, Toriel’s room no doubt, was neat and orderly with a random notebook full of knock-knock and standard jokes. Most were about skeletons. But the last was perhaps the most peculiar. The door was blocked and sign on the door told you that the room was under renovations.

A long horizontal mirror, bordered by vases of tall water sausages. You looked into the mirror and saw yourself, soft yellow petals tangled in curly short-hair, wearing a cream and brown striped sweater. You combed your fingers through your hair, catching tangles and combing out petals.

Once you had finished your exploration you crossed into yet another room which gave off a very warm and relaxing atmosphere. A large fire place burned brightly, illuminating the room. Alongside it, a bookcase was filled with stories and history, with a few cookbooks scattered here and there. In front was a large chair, where Toriel sat with a pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose, reading one of said cookbooks.

Toriel noticed your presence and looked up from her book.

“Hello, my child. Is there something you wanted?”

You nodded and walked over closer to Toriel, “Is this the whole of the underground? The ruins?”

Toriel looked a bit nervous, “Would you like to hear a fact about snails?”

You frowned, not liking her avoidance of your question. “Toriel. I need to know. I need to help my friend. I made a promise I would.”

Toriel’s eyebrow raised, “Your friend in the ruins? Child, why would you need to leave for that?”

You frowned. “Not Napsa!”

Toriel looked at you, disbelievingly. “Then who?”

You smiled and told her, thinking she would surely understand, “I call him Mr. Dreamer. He helped me and I need to help him. I promised.”

Toriel's expression was unreadable and tension was thick in the air. She motioned for you to follow her.

Down the dark steps you and Toriel descended into a long hallway, and at the end you reached a large purple door inscribed with the same symbol embroidered into Toriel’s robe. You waited for a long moment of anticipation before Toriel turned to face you, her expression solemn.

“Beyond this door lies the exit of the ruins. I plan to destroy it. I do not wish anyone to ever leave again,” She looked at her feet in quiet contemplation, then back at you her eyes carrying a haunting sadness, “But I cannot help but be curious. Your friend… ‘Dreamer’. I wonder how much you really know about him. You only know him by that name, do you not?”

You nodded silently.

“Your ‘Dreamer’ has done terrible things… Every human that falls down here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave. They die. You naive child... If you leave the Ruins... They... ASGORE... will kill you. I am only protecting you, do you understand?”

You felt a sudden confliction in her soul when she finished. Her voice was so sad, so truthful, but you could not believe Mr. Dreamer could kill. His voice was always so sad and soft, like a kicked puppy, he never believed he was good enough to be called your friend.

But the way Toriel spoke, her voice soft and lonely, grieving over lost children. They came. They left. They died. It hung heavily in your chest.

You would have to either break your promise to Mr. Dreamer… Or break Toriel’s heart.