[The following audio transcript is available for access with the permission of Queen Toriel Dreemurr.]
TORIEL
Greetings. Do not be afraid, my child. I am Toriel, caretaker of the Ruins. I pass through this place every day to see if anyone has fallen down. You are the first human to come here in a long while.
Say, what are you wearing? A ‘tutu’? This is the first time I have heard of such clothing.
Oh, forgive me. I should be guiding you through these catacombs. This way.
[From the balcony.]
TORIEL
This is the Old Town, our first settlement under the mountain. We call it ‘Home’. Yes. That is it. ‘Home’. Nothing more, nothing less.
By now, many of the citizens have moved beyond. There is ‘Snowdin’, ‘Waterfall’, ‘Hotland’, and the Capital: ‘New Home’.
………………
Come to think of it, the person who named these places was… not very creative.
You want to visit town? I suggest against that. It is not safe for you.
[Queen Toriel’s home.]
TORIEL
Ah, I see. There are spare clothes in your bag.
To be honest, I was worried when I first met you. Your ‘tutu’ looks rather… drafty. It is not practical for travelling. Is this what you call ‘fashion’?
No, I am afraid I have not seen a ‘ballet’ before. If you do not mind showing me, I would be delighted to watch. After you take a much needed rest, that is.
[One night later.]
TORIEL
Good morning, my child. Did you have a nice dream?
…May I ask you a question? It has been on my mind. Did you… intentionally jump down here?
[Toriel gasps.]
TORIEL
Such recklessness! Your parents must be worried sick about you!
Huh? They would be proud? I do not understand, my child. I see nothing good coming from this adventure. Why are you giggling like that?
Oh well. We can talk about this over breakfast. Do you like snails? They are not popular with children, but that is all I have for now. I have yet to restock my pantry at the market. If that is not to your liking, we can always have toasted bread instead.
What? You enjoy them with butter, garlic, parsley, and a baguette…? My, my, you have quite the mature palate for your age.
…………
Do you like chocolate or marshmallows?
No? Neither? Nothing wrong, my child. I am just a curious old goat.
[Two hours later. Blue dances a routine for Toriel to witness.]
TORIEL
I must say, that was quite the elegant performance! It never crossed my mind that a person could spin like that. So swift with grace. And that sense of balance. Impeccable!
A ‘pirouette’, you say? How interesting. I will keep that in mind.
What if I try? Don’t? A-are you saying that I am too heavy???
…Ooh. No wonder they train you from such a young age. It does make sense. Your bones are still forming, and I am set harder than stone. Indeed, a broken toe would not be in my best interest.
[Time passes.]
TORIEL
Were there others before you? Well. Yes.
There was a pair of siblings. A brother and sister. The boy was quite an energetic one! I still remember how he zoomed around the Ruins, punching imaginary foes with his glove. The locals were quite intimidated.
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As for his sister. She was a little… strange. The quiet type. I caught her trying to draw pentagrams with chalk to ‘summon spirits’. I had to remind her that only certain monsters could make that magic function.
Hm? Wizards? No. They are Seers, a special type of skeleton. Ah… they used to live in the Ruins along with the rest of us. Not anymore though.
You seem relieved, my child. Do you think they are spooky? No? Trying to act tough, little lady? Hehe.
[Time passes.]
TORIEL
My child, why did you leave the house without permission? I was worried sick! What if you got hurt?
Is that bouquet of flowers for me? …Alright. At least you meant well. But do that again, and you are grounded!
How did the golden flowers get here?
…They… They fell from above. Like you.
…………
I am not lying, my dear.
Where else would they have come from?
[Time passes.]
TORIEL
I wonder if that pair of siblings ever left the Underground. I have not heard anything about them. But, I suppose it would be impossible to send letters back here.
As a mother, I would not want my child to climb up a dangerous mountain just to deliver mail to this old goat.
Do you think it is a good idea to invest in more phones? I have only two…
No, you cannot leave the Ruins. It is too dangerous.
I could accompany you to the flower garden, though. What about the Old Town? No. That is also too dangerous. I do not want ‘him’ to find you.
Who is ‘he’? You are better off not knowing.
[Time passes.]
TORIEL
My child, you do not understand. Us monsters made a declaration of war against your kind! You cannot cross The Barrier without entering ‘his’ domain.
W-what? Warn your people? No, my child. Please. It is not worth the danger!
Young miss! Temper, temper!
[Time passes.]
TORIEL
Are you packing your bag again? Why are you so stubborn? I already told you, it is dangerous outside The Ruins!
You promised that you will return victorious?
…………
I suppose that you do have family and friends waiting for you back home…
Alright. I will teach you about ‘him’.
Who is ‘he’?
He is Asgore. The King of Monsters. If you meet him, he will take your SOUL. The Royal Guard protects and assists him in his quest for war.
I can tell you about the Kingdom’s general structure. Things might have changed over the years. But, the core should remain similar.
Oh, sweet child. There is no need to report back to me about the siblings. In the off-chance that they are still in the Underground, they would have been adults by now. The three of you should escape together.
[At the Ruins door.]
TORIEL
Here we are. Beyond this door lies the rest of the Kingdom, starting with Snowdin.
This is a little something for your journey. Yes. It is butter garlic snails with a sprinkling of fresh parsley. Made into a sandwich. A nice twist to your favourite, if I do say so myself.
You want a hug? Of course I will give you one. I am more than happy to do so.
[Toriel hugs the Blue Child for a long while.]
TORIEL
Although I am still reluctant to let you go, it is time for you to leave.
Be strong, my child.
[One day later.]
TORIEL
Hmm… Have I not done this before? How strange. I am sure I wrote down this very same pun earlier…
Come to think of it, did I also not fill this fireplace yesterday? Or was it today? I wonder if the solitude is playing tricks on my mind?
…………
Was I a good mother? Have I done enough? I tried to teach her everything she needed to know before she left, but I cannot help but worry.
Maybe I am overthinking this. The little girl was such a precious, precocious sweetheart. I cannot imagine anyone wishing to do her harm.
[She hears muffled barking from the basement and decides to investigate.]
TORIEL
Huh? Dogs? At the Ruin’s exit?
Such a commotion… could it be the human has returned?
[The barking fades. Queen Toriel begins to open the door, but then shuts it tight again.]
TORIEL
Gaster! Why is he here? And why is he covered in… blood?
[Toriel continues to listen.]
ROYAL GUARD 1
Woof! Suspicious smell end here.
ROYAL GUARD 2
Suspicious door is suspicious too. Woof!
GASTER
Is that so? Smash it down.
[The Royal Guards attempt to break down the door together, but Toriel braces from the inside.]
GASTER
…Huh. As solid as ever. Perhaps the human tried to get inside instead?
Could there be a second drop site? Did they fall straight into Snowdin? Maybe through a cave that we have yet to discover? Impossible…
[The Royal Guards whine and whimper.]
GASTER
Ugh, fine. If the smell bothers you so much, then leave. Yes. Go into the forest and make yourself useful! Shoo!
ROYAL GUARD 1 & 2
Yip yip yip yip… whine… whimper…
[The Royal Guards leave. Gaster continues to mutter inane theories in front of the door. Toriel struggles not to breathe too loudly.]
???
Arf! Doctor Gaster! There you are!
What the heck was that? You can’t go around barking orders at my troops! I’m the Captain, not you! Ruff-ruff!
Ugh, I’m smelling the smell complaints alright. Can’t you at least wash yourself first?
GASTER
Hmph. Later, Captain Doggon. Now that you’re here, The King’s decree comes first.
About your gripe… need I remind you? You were not there! None of your Royal Guards were there! If your forces weren’t so lax in your old age, that accursed human wouldn’t have rampaged free in Waterfall!
DOGGON
You will NOT blame the Royal Guard for this!
GASTER
Oh no, no, no. I’m not blaming the Royal Guard. I’m blaming YOU, Captain! Your roster is unbalanced to the point where Waterfall has zero coverage. And why? Because the majority of your troops are hydrophobic?!
DOGGON
Woof! That doesn't give you the excuse to take matters into your own hands! Whatever you did sickens me to my SOUL! Even The Hammer of Justice shuddered at the sheer violence you inflicted.
[Gaster responds with a bitter laugh.]
GASTER
Captain, bloodshed was unavoidable. The factor of ‘Life’ strengthens the outcome of The Code. There’s no better catalyst than what courses through their veins. The more, the merrier, the deadlier.
DOGGON
W. D. Gaster. You didn’t just dispatch the kid: you relished in it!
GASTER
It was indeed… cathartic.
DOGGON
………………
For star’s sake, Doc, you’re insane. I don’t understand why the King hasn’t fired you yet!
GASTER
Because I, for one, am competent in my profession. Do not forget that I made those containers. We now have a total of three human SOULS at our disposal.
DOGGON
Hey, don’t steal the credit, arf! It’s the Royal Guard who found the first two.
GASTER
Which would have long since expired without my invention.
Anyways, have the Dog Clan search Snowdin through and through. There may be more humans lurking about.
DOGGON
GrrrrRRR! One day, you’re gonna get into some serious trouble. One! Day!
[Toriel waited and waited, until she couldn’t hear the outside footsteps anymore. She then began to cry.]
TORIEL
Three… human… SOULS? Asgore… he… he really did it…
I am sorry, my dear children. I truly am.
I-I should have never allowed you to leave.
[END TRANSCRIPT]