Guiltale

Chapter Four pt Two: Burning Memories

The next morning, Toriel let me sleep in, but was eager to spend more time with another person.

"Oh, we must enjoy some activities together, now. Do you wish to garden? Perhaps we shall hunt for bugs! Or we could spar? For exercise?"

"Hmm," I started, considering the options she gave me. "I love flowers, so maybe gardening – though I am sort of a germaphobe. Same reason for no bugs – I'm sorry, Toriel, I know you've probably been waiting a long time, and the first mature person to fall doesn't like bugs. Sparring sounds fun, but I'm not going to attack you – you're too sweet, I'd feel terrible!"

Toriel chuckled. "Well, in that case, we must try them all! Err, except the bugs, if you do not like them. That is... fine." She put on a comically sad face, "I will simply have to continue going all on my lonesome!" smiling again, she took me by the hand out into the yard. There, she placed me on one side and herself on the other before explaining the rouxls.

"Now, when it comes to sparring, it will seem like a normal FIGHT when in fact neither of us want to hurt each other. That is the gamble involved, I suppose." I began to wonder if this were another trust exercise. "We both take turns attacking until we decide one of us to be the victor – either by how tired they are, how much they still want to FIGHT, or if the other simply overpowers them. Some people like to make their own rules, say, 'the first to hit the other wins', but I think it's up to the players. I will try to be careful since I have not fought anyone in a very long time though."

"Well, if your fireplace magic is any indicator, you're super precise." I said. My gaze landed on Chara for a moment, who seemed near biting her fingernails. What is there to worry about? I even saved when we got out here...

I discovered both 'what there is to worry about' and 'what's a boss monster' within the first few minutes of sparring. Toriel didn't just use fire magic, she used fireball bullets – meaning the whole FIGHT involves not getting burnt, plus sweating the whole time. It took four tries for me to win, and it ended up sort of a technicality (Toriel let me win because she saw how hot I was getting). It was at this point that Toriel finally decided that I should attempt to hit her, since she was finally warmed up. Holding H_____'s toy knife, I was faced with a monster that wanted me to get good at FIGHTing, for my protection. How could I even brandish my 'knife' at her?

"You have excellent form, Grace. Have you ever fought before?" Toriel said once we were finally having even matches.

"Oh, yeah. I used to do karate at my da-" I stopped myself before I could even get the word out, my face falling suddenly. In doing so, my dodging rhythm was ruined and Toriel hit me square in the chest with a burning hot firebullet.

I couldn't help but scream as burning agony flooded my chest, feeling like a white-hot knife had been plunged into my chest. Except the burning heat rippled away from the point of impact like a wave.

"Oh %$%$%, are you okay, my child?!?!" Toriel cursed as she rushed to me.

I shrieked as I tried to sit up, trying to get a look at my stomach. "Owww, yeah, that's hot" I said, trying to lift my shirt up so nothing touched my tender skin. My stomach was covered in angry welts, skin peeling and some still sizzling. It was the grossest, most painful thing I'd ever seen firsthand. Falling back, I stifled a sob.

"I'm so sorry, Grace. I thought I was keeping my mind in control but I suddenly saw how much you looked like-" Toriel rambled as she worked, calling magic from her SOUL in a much greater amount than before. Chara, floating above, couldn't look at me.

"Grace," Chara said, still looking away, "your HP is at about 5. Mom... she did 23 points of damage, that's..." she accidentally took a sneaking look at my exposed, fried skin, and stifled a gag.