YES I am aware that since this takes place around episode 10 Baguette isn't supposed to be speaking English, but pLEASE JUST LET IT SLIDE HGHJ-

Ho there, reader- Go check out @LightDancer365's lifebook chapter labeled "crossover" for more information on this AU thing!

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Balls of searing flame whiz past mine and Party Hat's heads; one barely grazing my left cheek. I clutch the toy knife in my hand, the only weaponizable item besides the stick we found in this crazy place so far. Its plastic edge was sharp, inflicting more damage per blow.

I take another swing at Toriel, and she flinches as the knife lands hard on her arm.

"No!" Party Hat screams at me. "We don't want to hurt her!" He barely dodges another fireball, leaping to the side at the last second. "We will always give you our mercy!" Party Hat shouts at Toriel this time. "Just like you taught us!"

"And it is a mercy for you to stay here! Where it's safe!" Toriel cries. Her white fur is illuminated by the magical fireballs circling her, light and shadows dancing with the moving flames. "Please..go back upstairs."

Party Hat glances at me, fear, pain, and desparateness all rolled into one. "Baguette, maybe we should-"

I silence him. "You're really going to disregard the conversation we had?"

Prior to entering Toriel's basement, Party Hat and I had a small argument about whether to leave the Ruins or not. Despite all of Party Hat's closest friends most likely being beyond the gigantic door Toriel was going to destroy, Party Hat wanted to stay.

It confused me. Party Hat's friends mattered the universe to him.

"Baguette, please..I want to stay.." Party Hat muttered, looking down. "It's safe here, and Toriel will take good care of us..she could be like a mother, and I.." His sentence trailed off there. He pulled his lips into a tight line.

"Your friend has the right idea," Toriel looks straight at me. "I will protect you, should you stay with me. We'll have a good life together, safe from harm." She smiles weakly. Fireballs still flew at us, but seemed to divert their path when they got to close too Party Hat or I.

There's a life on the surface we needed to get back to. People will wonder where we went. Even if the Ruins are large, it'll become boring eventually. We can't stay here.

Toriel wanted us to prove we were strong enough to handle the rest of the Underground. Maybe Party Hat isn't capable of doing what it takes, but I am.

"This is for your own good, Party Hat." I adjust the grip on my knife. "I'm sorry, Toriel."

Not waiting for a response, I lunge at Toriel, and make a deep slash across her chest. She gasps, and crumbles to the ground.

"NO!" Party Hat shrieks, rushing to her side and pushing me away. "Toriel..n-no.." His voice quivers, eyes going wide at the gash in her purple robe. Strangely, no blood is leaking from the wound, but it was better it didn't. Party Hat didn't look like he could handle pools of blood at the moment.

"You are..stronger than I thought..." Toriel speaks softly. "Listen to me, small ones..if you go beyond this door..keep walking..until you reach an exit." Her breathing was raggedy, her voice breathy. Party Hat looked absolutely torn.

I look away, grimancing. It had to be done..Party Hat couldn't be convinced otherwise.

"Asgore.." She whispers, but a strong emotion is attached to the word. "Do not let Asgore take your souls..his plan cannot succeed." She hisses.

Party Hat whimpers, nodding and shaking his head. His streamers dully shake with him. "Toriel.."

With effort, Toriel takes both me and Party Hat into her arms. I see Party Hat bury his face into the sleeve of her clothing. "I'm sorry..please don't go..don't go.." He softly cries.

"Shh..shh.." With a white paw, Toriel stroked Party Hat's back. "You are strong enough to make it without me..be good, won't you? My children.." The words were barely a whisper.

Her touch fades away, and Toriel turns into dust before my eyes. The particles scatter, gray patches onthe ground being what was left of her.

The silence is only broken by Party Hat's sobbing. It sounded like he was trying to contain his cries, but to no avail. Tears dripped from his eyes to the floor like rain.

I make the decision to approach him. "Party Hat-"

"Don't talk to me!" He screams in my face. "You killed her! You killed Toriel! What did she ever do to you!?"

"You didn't want to leave. I had to convince you some other way." I respond. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel at least a little guilt in my chest, especially since I was the one who made Party Hat upset like this.

"You didn't have to kill her..she was like a mother to me.." Party Hat's voice breaks. "And now she's gone, too.."

I sigh. "I'm..I'm sorry. But we have to go."

Party Hat shakes his head. "No..no, I don't want to."

The door opens with a forceful push, a long hallway extending behind it. "Come, or get left behind."

Begrudgingly, Party Hat gets up on two legs, and walks past me without a word or look. I follow him.

I hope this is over soon.