Undertale - A New Home [ENG]

Chapter 5 - Heartache

I woke up completely confused and was still in this bed where I lay down to rest. Was all this really not a dream? I rubbed my eyes and tried to sort out my thoughts. My adventure underground was really real. I carefully sat up and noticed that I was covered up. Toriel must have put the blanket over me while I was sleeping. I wasn't usually a late sleeper, so that much time couldn't have passed. I glanced at my wristwatch on my left wrist and was surprised to see that the time down here was completely out of whack. It was as if I was trapped in another dimension where time had no meaning... There was a plate on the floor, the contents of which I couldn't quite make out, so I got up and switched on the light. There was a piece of cake on the plate and I was sure that Toriel must have baked it. To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of sweets, but I took the plate outside and walked into the living room where the large dining table was. Toriel was sitting in her armchair reading. She was also wearing reading glasses! When she saw me enter the room, she looked a little surprised and put the book aside."Ah, hello Robert! You've recovered quickly. I see you've got the butterscotch cake with you! I hope you had a good rest. Enjoy it, Robert," she greeted me, smiling warmly into my face. I slowly began to enjoy her hospitality, although it was more like mothering, which I didn't dislike at all! It was very pleasant here."Thank you, Toriel. I feel really strange, to be honest," I replied and picked up a cake fork with which I tasted a piece of the pastry. It was actually very delicious! Toriel must really like baking. A smile of satisfaction spread across her face as she looked at me."You know, this is all new to me. Can you relate to my situation? Suddenly being attacked by a talking flower was definitely not one of my goals for the day and yet I've encountered this... monster, as well as an oversized goat lady whose house I get to live in and some creatures that tried to harm me. I had a conversation with a ghost, Toriel. Until recently, I wouldn't have thought any of this possible, do you understand?" I bubbled out. Somehow I had the feeling that I needed to get rid of all this. I wasn't hungry, so I left the plate of cake on the table. Besides, with the spider donut and their cider, I was good to go... Toriel looked worried when I told her about my thoughts. A moment of silence fell and she sighed very deeply before she began to speak."Yes, I can understand that. It shouldn't really happen anymore that people fall into the Underground" What was Toriel talking about, 'not anymore'? Did that mean I wasn't the first person to end up down here? She was definitely keeping more from me than she knew."Humans and monsters should never cross paths again. After we assumed there would only be a war when our two races met, the monsters began to grow afraid. We didn't expect a human to appear here so suddenly either, Robert. But I am glad that you are pure of heart. So be kind enough to promise me that you won't harm any monsters," Toriel asked me. So that's how it was. I just nodded and thought about how it must be much scarier for the 'monsters' to meet a human than for me to meet them. She made it really hard not to like her. I was probably just lucky to have met her after Flowey attacked me. The room was filled with warmth and you could only feel comfortable. Still, I wanted to go home."Don't worry about it, Robert. You're in safe hands here. I promise you that I will protect you from danger with my life and that you have nothing to fear," Toriel's warm voice rang out again. But that didn't stop me from finally asking the question I should have asked a long time ago. I'd never had the heart to, but now the moment had finally come."Tell me, can you give me the recipe for your cake? It's really great!" I asked Toriel. Her eyes started to light up and she put the book to one side."Of course! You seem to be interested in baking too? It really is a wonderful art, isn't it?" she spoke enthusiastically. We talked about the local plant species and I learned a lot about so-called 'Water Sausages', 'Echo Flowers' and one genus in particular interested me."Toriel, I've been wondering for a long time which plant species Flowey belongs to. Is it just a coincidence that he turned out like that or how did he originate?" I asked, but Toriel suddenly didn't look as happy as before."It's a long story and I'm not ready to tell you about it. There are so many things to do in this house! Have you looked around everywhere?" she deflected. I could understand that she wanted to keep a secret from me, but there had to be some connection to Flowey between the two of them. As she already seemed sad enough, I didn't feel like pestering her any more and finally decided to leave."It was a lovely day with you, Toriel. Thank you so dearly for caring for me, but it's time I left. I want to go home. Can you please show me the way out?" I asked politely. Apparently she hadn't expected me to leave."Very well, please follow me, I'll show you something," she said in a tone I'd never heard in her voice before. There was no more joy to be heard. Wordlessly, she heaved herself out of the armchair and walked deliberately in one direction. She expected me to follow her and stopped every now and then. Her appearance frightened me, but I remained hopeful that she would show me the way out. There had to be an exit somewhere in the ruins. She descended the stairs into the cellar, which I noticed when I first entered the house. I followed her and the further down we went, the darker and cooler it became. There were no lights on the walls to illuminate the way and an eternally long corridor stretched along which we walked."Listen to me, young one," Toriel began to speak and there was still no sign of joy. As we continued down the cellar, she spoke to me."There is no definitive escape from the Underground for people like you. You're not the kind of person who will survive," she said coolly. Flowey said something similar to me when we met. But I remained hopeful and didn't say a word."I can't judge you, Robert. But you're more mature than many other people. Yet I also see a weakness in you. Answer me one question before I challenge you. What are you hoping for? Courtesy in return for your kindness?" she asked. There was a certain undertone in her voice and I began to feel threatened. What kind of creature was Toriel? We stopped and a large gateway opened up in front of her, the doors of which were closed. She turned her body towards me and her eyes shimmered slightly red in the darkness and the surroundings lit up dimly. The purple walls of the ruins could be seen more clearly after Toriel's hands began to glow."No," I replied and got into position. I braced my legs parallel to each other in the ground and my soul began to glow."Because kindness is not a service," I shouted and my shield formed around my left arm. Fireballs circled Toriel. Her gaze remained icy cold and fixed on me."Then prove to me that you'll survive," she spoke and a rain of fireballs rushed towards me. Shocked, I jumped to the side and pressed my shield against the remaining projectiles. How had this situation escalated so much? What was her plan? Why was she trying to stop me from leaving the ruins?"Listen, this is madness! What do you want from me, Toriel? I trusted you and you promised to keep me from harm!" I exclaimed in panic. "I figured it, you're feeble," Toriel replied. What did she mean by that? I prepared myself for another hail of fire and stood ready. Behind her back was the gate with the symbol engraved on its wings that could be seen on Toriel's dress. However, this turn of events didn't give me much time to ponder the meaning of the emblem before another flaming projectile rained down on me. It split into whipping balls of flame that whizzed around me, making escape seem almost impossible."Toriel!!!" I shouted loudly, hoping she would refrain from using her magic. Blazing fireballs rained down on my body, burning me like hell inside. My clothes were not damaged, but I could feel myself weakening physically. I dropped to my knees and my weak tall figure wouldn't be able to stop much of that intense force before my soul shattered. Toriel winced as I looked into her face after I landed on the ground in pain. She was clearly superior in this fight and our encounter was unlike any previous contest. It was downright unfair to have to stand up to a confrontation with her."You won't pass here. Humans don't cross the barrier. He will kill you if you try. Asgore intends to use the souls of humans for his own purposes. If you step through this gate... you will die," Toriel spoke bitterly. Who was Asgore? What was the barrier? This woman very deliberately wrapped her information in riddles of thought."What are you trying to accomplish, Toriel? Why are you doing this? Stop it!" I shouted, getting increasingly louder. I straightened up, trembling, as the fireballs felt as if they had scorched my skin. Toriel silently waved her arms and unleashed another chain of flaming fire magic. The projectiles roared wildly towards my shield, which slowly threatened to shatter. I sensed that my impression of a hostile creature was affecting the durability of my shield. I was not hateful in Toriel's presence, but visibly disturbed. I respected her and now she was proving to me that I could not put my trust in a foe-like creature."Listen to me, I can't stay with you. I have to go home, Toriel. Please realize that I can get through my arguments without a fight. I won't hurt a monster," I promised and we both paused. She still blocked the way."Fight or you die. That's the rule in the Underground," Toriel replied in a similarly forceful tone to Flowey's, but I was hopeful. I hoped Toriel would come to her senses, so I spread out my left arm... and made the shield disappear. My soul was now open and more vulnerable than ever. I trusted this woman and looked into her eyes with a serious expression. Despite her trying to teach me that I would die if I crossed the gate. I was hopeful that she understood who I was and that I was no longer a child. Toriel lifted her head and her eyes were turned in another direction. She had no intention of piercing my soul. Desperation was written all over her face. It didn't feel like I'd get anywhere by talking at her. Cold air filled the basement and Toriel let the flames slide back into her hands. Suddenly she began to sob. Deep sighs filled the long cellar. The darkness slowly engulfed us again as her fire magic died out. Toriel fell to her knees and wept into her palms."Pathetic, isn't it... I couldn't protect a single human soul. You're probably going to meet Asgore. Please don't. Listen to me, he'll- ah," Toriel began, but I hugged her. This woman was the kind of mother you'd wish for; caring and warm. She showed interest and was someone I trusted. There was nothing pathetic about her."Thank you, Toriel," was the only thing I could say. She was still crying when she lifted her head and looked into my face."Look at you, you've grown mature. There certainly aren't many kind humans like you in the world, Robert. I have to thank you for sparing the monsters in the ruins from the beginning. No one deserves to suffer physical harm. I don't want another innocent human soul like yours to be taken. Please, take care of yourself," she begged me and hugged my body tightly. This time I felt comfortable. All she wanted was for me to stay with her. She wanted to protect me."I will, Toriel. I sincerely hope to return here one day," I said goodbye and she let me go. The gate opened and I waved farewell to her before entering a long corridor, the end of which seemed to hide daylight. It was an aching goodbye and I felt my heart tighten. Cold air flowed into the corridor and I was outside. Bright light blinded me and I pressed my arm in front of my eyes to protect them. Now my journey would begin.