"Welcome to your new home, innocent one,"

Toriel has lead me to the next room, where six pressure plate things rest on the ground.

"My... new home?" I question. "I'm staying?"

"Why, of course!" Toriel replies. "The Underground is a dangerous place, especially for young humans like yourself. I wouldn't let you leave on your own!" Won't let me leave? That's... slightly suspicious.

"I could handle it," I try and argue.

"Oh, I'm sure you could," Toriel rests a paw on my shoulder. "I just want to keep you safe is all." Before I can say anything more, she turns around and walks across the pressure plates, before pushing a lever on the wall, opening a door.

"The Ruins are full of puzzles," she explains. "Ancient fusions between diversions and doorkeys. One must solve them to move from room to room,"

"That one seemed easy," I say, as Toriel begins to lead me through to the next room. As I get to the doorway, I see a sign on the wall.

'Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road.' It reads. I wonder if that has any purpose, and if I should remember it?

In the next room, Toriel is waiting aside a bridge overhanging a small river.

"There are some levers in this room that you have to push," she says. "I have indicated which ones you need to press,"

She moves across the bridge and I follow, noticing a lever on the wall, surrounded by painted yellow arrows.

"That one, I assume?" I jokingly question myself, walking up and pressing it. I hear a faint from behind the wall. Moving across a second bridge, I see two more levers, one of which is again, surrounded by arrows. I pull it, and hear a loud clinking noise.

"Very good my child!" I turn to Toriel, who's smiling warmly. I can't help but smile also, as I walk back to her side. She leads me into the next room, as she explains, "As a human living in the Underground, monsters may try to attack you," On the path, I notice a strange, stuffed object. "A monster might start a fight with you."

"For no reason?" I question, as we stop. "Other monsters sound horrible,"

"Oh, they're just doing their jobs," Both Toriel and I are taken aback by her reply. "I-I mean, not-not all monsters are bad..." Doing their jobs? What, hunting humans? Just... just leave that for now. Focus on the present. "If you ever do find yourself in a fight, strike up a friendly conversation, and stall for time. I will come to your aid, and resolve the conflict."

Toriel really is like an overprotective mother. Maybe that will be good in the future, as I don't have my powers to protect or defend myself, and monsters... want to fight me...

"Why don't you practise talking to this dummy?" Toriel's question pulls me from my thoughts.

"I-I'm sorry?" I question. "Talk to a dummy? Is that really necessary?" Toriel doesn't reply, only smiles warmly and nods. "Oooookay then," I say, before walking up to the dummy. As I get to it, I see a flash, and my orange soul is glowing brightly. I guess that's what happens in a fight.

Four words show up in front of me; Fight, Act, Item and Mercy. Toriel doesn't want me to fight, so I reach out and press Act. Then I decide to start talking.

"Hey dummy!" I start, before realising what I said. "That's... not how I would usually start a conversation. I didn't mean to call you... a dummy... but I mean, you are a dummy... no, see, it still- it sounds so rude!" I can't help but laugh at the awkwardness of this situation. "Let's uh, change the topic, shall we? Uhm... weather! People talk about the weather. Uh... weather's nice, isn't it?" I pause. Look around. "I mean... there isn't any weather down here. But uh... I'm-I'm sure that outside the Ruins... the weather would be nice..." I pause again. I don't know what else to say.

"That was brilliant!" Toriel cheers, and I walk away, my soul disappearing.

"Was it?" I question. "Like, honestly?"

"Yes, it was excellent! You did a great job, my child!" I stare at her for a while, before shrugging.

"I'll take your word on that," I say, before leading her into the next room.

"There's a puzzle up ahead," She tells me, taking the lead. "I want to see if you can complete it yourself."

"Sweet!" I reply as we continue.

We walk along a jagged path, before turning a corner. As Toriel passes, I see my soul flash, and a strange creature hops into view.

"What the heck are you?" I ask, and somehow I know. Froggit. Defence 1, Attack 4. How do I know that? No idea. I press Act, but before I say anything, Toriel walks up to us, glaring down at the Froggit. It looks looks up at her, before hopping away guiltily. I chuckle, as my soul disappears again.

Toriel and I walk a few more paces, before I see a floor of spikes. It somewhat reminds me of an evokers' attack, and my bravery drops slightly.

"This is the puzzle, but..." Toriel starts, looking out to the puzzle, which to me seems more like a death trap. "Here, take my hand for a moment," I reach up and grab her paw... hand- oh, whatever! She grabs my hand, and slowly and cautiously leads me through, the spikes dropping into the ground as we step over them.

"Puzzles seem a little too dangerous right now," Toriel says when we reach the safety of the other side.

"I agree," I reply, as enter the next room. When we do, I hear Toriel sigh. "You okay, Toriel?"

"I have a task for you, my child." She says, looking down at me.

"Lay it on me!" I put my hands on my hips, making a smug expression.

"I want you to walk to the other end of this room by yourself. I'm sorry for this,"

Before I can process what's happening, Toriel is running across the room. I just stare after her for a bit, a blank expression on my face. What in the Nether is that woman doing? I shake my head, before following her, just as she ducks behind a large, white pillar.

It feels like an eternity before I reach the other end, and even though I was only walking, I'm slightly out of breath. I stop when I reach the end, and Toriel steps out.

"Did you run after me, my child?" She asks worriedly. "Do not be afraid, I was only behind this pillar,"

"No, no, Toriel, I'm fine," I reply, steadying myself. "That was just a long hallway," I laugh gently, to ease Toriel's anxiety. "Was there any reason for you to run like that?"

"Yes, there was actually," Toriel replies, kneeling down so she's eye level with me. "I have some errands to run, and to do that I must leave you alone for a little."

"Ah, so it was a test of my independence," I say, finally understanding something in this world. "Gotcha."

"Perhaps," Toriel puts a hand to her chin. "Here, take this." She reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small device and handing it to me.

"What is it?" I question, turning it over twice in my hands.

"It's a cellphone," she explains. "If you ever need me, just call. I'll answer."

"Alright," I say, putting the cellphone into my own pocket. "So, this will make you feel safer with leaving me alone?"

"It will, yes," she pushes herself to her feet. "Now, I must go. My child, Please wait in this room for me. I shouldn't be too long."

"I will," I smile, before Toriel walks off. I move and sit against the pillar.

Several minutes pass and I begin to grow bored. I pull out the phone to examine it, and realise the only thing I can do is call Toriel.

"Why not?" I say, before pushing the green button. It begins to make a sound, before a faint voice is heard. I move the device to my hear, and Toriel's voice is much clearer.

"Are you alright, my dear?" She asks.

"Yeah, I'm okay..." I reply. "I, uh. I just wanted to say hi is all."

"You just called to say hi?" Toriel repeats. "Well, hi! I hope that will suffice..." I chuckle, and reply,

"Yeah, that's good," before bringing the phone back down and pressing the red button.

More minutes pass, before I glance towards the doorway. Toriel trusted me to stay here... but I can't wait forever! I get to my feet and walk strongly towards and out the exit, into the next room. Looking around, I see red piles of leaves, a froggit, and another bright star.

As if she knew, the phone is ringing, Toriel's contact appearing.

"Hello, my child," she says, when I answer. "You haven't left the room yet, have you?" I look back into the room I came from, before out at the layout in front of me. I shouldn't lie... but... she would be so worried if she knew the truth. I mean, I could always go back, and just wait... no. I've already left, there's no going back.

"No," I end up lying, feeling a pang of guilt. "No, Toriel, I haven't left."

"That's good," she replies. "There's a few puzzles up ahead that I haven't explained yet, and I don't want you to be hurt."

"Don't worry about me, Toriel," I reassure, even though it pains me to lie. "I'm fine. I won't leave this room." I hear a satisfied chuckle from Toriel, before she hangs up. I replace the phone and sigh, before turning to the froggit. It ribbits a few times, before talking.

"I have some advice for battling monsters, human," it says.

"Alright," I reply, wondering why this froggit isn't attacking me like the other did. "Lay it on me."

"When in a battle," the froggit explain. "If you act a certain way, or fight until you almost defeat a monster, they mightn't want to fight you any more." I nod in agreement and understanding. "So please, if a monster does not want to fight... show some mercy, human,"

"I will," I say, this time meaning it. The froggit ribbits again, and I notice a dark hole in the nearby wall.

I walk into, to discover a small room, and a bowl with a sign that reads 'take one.' I do, and read the packaging of the small,

"Monster Candy?" Hmm. I stuff it into my pocket, before leaving the room again. I pass the froggit, and walk into the pile of leaves under the star. They crunch underfoot, and I can't help but scrunch them around. I laugh, at both the enjoyment, and at how much of a child I am being. Toriel's nickname is rubbing off on me.

I reach up and press the star, and the voice plays in my mind again.

'Playfully crinkling through the leaves fills you with Bravery.'

"I guess it does." I say, before pressing Save.