Lost In The Echo (Arc 1: UNDERTALE)

Chapter 2: "An Awkward Conversation"

Entry Number 2, Pacifist Timeline Number 1

"Magic" appears to have long, wavy, blonde hair... though it is currently more of a dark brown from the dust and dirt that laced between the strands, much like the torn rags she adorned as clothing. Her skin tone appears to match Frisk's, though perhaps just a few shades lighter under the right light. Aside from the mucky old clothing she wore, she wore these black boots, similarly to her sibling.

I wonder why she presented so poorly, almost as if she was treated like a wild animal in her past rather than a human being. Her history both intrigues and concerns me...

- W. D. Gaster

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After having discovered a world beneath Mt. Ebott, the two humans followed their new guide, Toriel into a place called the Ruins, the first major area of the Underground. The elderly goat woman began to tell the siblings about the inner-workings of monster technology: puzzles that combed the area to stop any humans from progressing. Some were relatively easy to solve, while others had hints and riddles hidden within the same chamber that were not as apparent at first glance. It was starting to be clear to the two why humans who climbed Mt. Ebott never returned. Frisk looked up at the looming shadows cast by the little bits of vines and architecture within the Ruins themselves. The uncertainty of what they would find next filled them with Determination.

"Welcome to your new home, small ones." Toriel said with a smile, making Magic feel a tinge of discomfort. She didn't like being referred to as small, since it made her feel weak and powerless.

"For the record, I am not small." Magic responded in offense. Sure, Toriel was much taller than her, but if the legends were anything to go by, most monsters were probably naturally taller than the average human.

Toriel looked at the older human and patted her on the head gently, that maternal smile still gracing her features, "In my eyes, a child is still a child…"

Magic grumbled in annoyance, but dared not talk back to Toriel in front of Frisk. She couldn't afford to make her own sibling be mad at her, with the way they trusted this woman so much. They followed the old monster into a room that was dissected by a small river. Just over the surface of the water was a sturdily constructed bridge. There was a sign off to the side, as well as these strange looking levers embedded on the wall.

"This room has a spike trap at the end of the chamber, blocking the way out." Toriel turned to the two humans following behind her, "I have labeled the switches that you need to press in order to clear the puzzle. I shall leave it to you, my children."

She walked ahead towards the other side of the room, leaving the two humans to look around the chamber in curiosity. Magic raised one hand, scratching the back of her head.

"Well, this is just great. All this time we've been wondering if the rumors about monsters under the mountain were true or not…" she muttered under her breath, "as if we didn't have enough to deal with already."

Ignoring the grumbling of their older sister, Frisk turned their attention towards the back wall just before the bridge they were meant to cross. They noticed some yellow text scribbled on the wall in chalk next to the first switch and, almost as if it was out of instinct, ran over to press it. They heard a small click, expecting that to have come from the springlocks on the spike trap up ahead.

"I think the next switch is on the other side of the bridge!" Frisk signed to their sister as they ran across the bridge.

"Wh..- Hey! Frisk, hold on!" Magic shouted in alarm, following her sibling in concern, wanting to make sure nothing bad happened to them.