Chapter Text
She hadn't thought it would end like this.
Standing in front of her bulk, the human was frighteningly small. Clutched in their hand was a small toy knife, and it would look comical if not for the dust clinging to the plastic blade and spattered up their forearms. But surely, surely, there had to be some kind of mistake...?
She could feel their soul singing with rage, an overwhelming call of freedom freedom freedom LET ME GO.
"You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. There is only one solution to this. Prove yourself... Prove to me you are strong enough to survive."
She felt the stutter as their souls were launched into a fight.
Toriel blocks the way.
She steadied her stance, and threw a wave of fire. The magic flamed only weakly; without true intent to injure the human was able to leap over the attack with ease. They lunged forwards in turn, missing only by a fraction. Toriel's eyes widened. Surely they hadn't meant to swipe with such ferocity? She sent a twisting stream of fireballs back at them, watching as they weaved their way closer. Missing again, barely, barely, Toriel could feel their intent, a dark bubbling fury that hung heavy in the stale air. Her disbelief wavered in the face of such anger, such vicious hatred, coalesced in her direction. She hesitated slightly before raising her paws. As she threw her arms wide with a flame spell the human dodged, neatly avoiding the fire but crashing into her paw and ticking their HP downwards. Inhaling sharply, Toriel covered her mouth in horror and dropped the attack.
This was her last mistake.
The human stood, shaking off the ash of fire magic, and darted forwards. With an audible crack, Toriel felt her HP drop. There was a brief second when she didn't realise it, when she wondered why the human had suddenly stopped, before a white-hot flash of lancing pain pierced her to her very soul. Leaking blood, dust, and spilt magic over her robes, Toriel fell to the ground in a sudden lurch. Absently she noted that even on her knee she was still taller than the human. They were so small...
"Y... you... really hate me that much?" She coughed, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. "Now I see who I was protecting by keeping you there. Not you... But them! Ha... ha..."
She felt her soul beat hard in her chest, shaking as if it would break apart.
The last thing she saw was a flash of red and an achingly familiar smile.
Then, nothing.
The human smiled. They idly scuffed a foot through the dust, ignoring the screaming in their soul.
As they made their way through the archway, their soul pinged with an encounter.
But no one came.