The new clothes Toriel had given Sunset were a little snug, but they fit nonetheless. The red and pink stripes on the shirt highlighted the red glow of her SOUL very nicely. She felt much better after Toriel let her use her shower. All of her aches and pains slipped right down the drain with the water.
Okay, so I'm clean, rested, and full. What do I do now?"
The answer to that question came when she exited her room once again. Since she'd already seen everything to the left, she headed right instead. The next room appeared to be some kind of foyer. To her left was a door that presumably led outside of the house. To her right was a stairwell that went downwards into a yawning darkness. Something about it gave her second thoughts about going down there; but even if she wanted to, two giant padlocks sat in front of the steps and barred her entry. After a moment of hesitation, she walked straight ahead into the next room.
Toriel was there, sitting in a comfy rocking chair in front of a roaring fireplace while reading a book. A table sat towards the rear of the room with three plates set. Another bookshelf was next to the fireplace. Taking it all in, Sunset smiled and walked towards Toriel.
The goat glanced up from her book at Sunset, smiled, turned back to her book, scrunched up her face, paused for a few seconds, and looked at Sunset again. Her eyes took in every inch of the girl in front of her.
"Is there something wrong?"
"I'm sorry." Toriel put a hand over her eyes. "I didn't mean to gawk. You just look so much like them."
"Uh...thanks?" Sunset wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"Do you need anything, little one?"
"Well, now that I'm fed and clothed, I actually had some questions I wanted to ask you. Do you mind?"
"Ask until your curiosity is sated, my child. We don't get many newcomers to the Underground."
"All right then," Sunset held up a finger. "First question. What exactly are you?"
"If you're referring to my species, then I am a monster."
"Monster? But that can't be right. You're so nice."
"When I say 'monster', I don't mean a wicked and cruel person. Every being in the underground is a non-human creature that fits the secondary definition. Very few of them fit the first one."
"Unless you're a flower named Flowey apparently." She winced at the memory.
Seeing her distress, Toriel wrapped her arms around Sunset. "There there, my child. I won't let anyone hurt you now."
"That reminds me. I never thanked you for saving my life."
"No thanks are necessary. I merely aided someone in need. Anyone else would have done the same."
Sunset opened her mouth, then bit her tongue. "I suppose that's true. But how did you know I was in danger to begin with?"
"I didn't know exactly. I pass through that area every day to see if someone has fallen down. It just so happens that yesterday, someone had."
"Every day? Have you seen anyone else besides me?"
"Only that flower, I'm afraid. Why? Are you searching for someone?"
"Huh? Uh, nonotatalljustcurious." Sunset rubbed a hand behind her head. "I think I'm going to go for a walk if that's okay."
"You may as long as you're careful." Toriel reached into her pocket. "Just in case, take this cellphone with you. I have some errands of my own to run later, so that way you'll be able to contact me if something goes wrong."
Sunset took the phone, put it in her pocket, and walked towards the front door. "All right. See you later."
"Have fun."
Outside the house, Sunset got her first real look at the Underground. The garden in front of Toriel's house contained a bunch of red flowers, all of them wilted. A little further away stood an equally dead tree, leaves scattered around the center. Walking closer to it, she touched her hand to the rotted oak.
"Guess Toriel's not as good with plants as she is with pastries." The next room contained a fork in the road with one path going left and the other going right. She went left. One thing the old goat hadn't told her was the the Ruins were full of puzzles. One area had her finding switches to hit in order to proceed. Another room had her moving rocks over switches. And a third one had her precariously proceeding over a series of spikes. She had no idea why the rooms were set up in such a manner to begin with. Perhaps they were supposed to be a precaution against intruders? Or maybe some kind of training course for younger monsters?
One room stood out though. Inside stood a simple practice Dummy. She looked around it but couldn't see anything else, no boxing gloves, no practice weapons, no instructions for how to use it, and no indication that it had even been used. Out of sheer curiosity, she moved closer. Part of her wondered if it was alive. After all, she'd already seen a goat and a flower so why not a living Dummy?
Should I hit it?
On one hand, it wasn't moving, so it didn't seem to be alive. But on the other, maybe it was just sleeping. Carefully, she moved her finger towards it, ready to jerk it to safety at a moment's notice.
"Afternoon."
"WAAAUGH!" The unexpected voice sent her reeling backwards where she promptly tripped over her own two feet and sprawled all over the floor.
"Terribly sorry for startling you, milady."
"T-the Dummy? You talk?"
"I have the ability, yes. Though I admit, I'm not usually much for conversation. Though for you, I shall make an exception. You're the first Human I've seen in eons."
Sunset didn't know whether to blush or blanch at that. "Well thank you. Though now that I know you're alive, I'm not sure what to do now."
"How does me being alive change anything? I am still a Dummy after all; and like all other Monsters, I am at your mercy. Or lack thereof."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know?" If it had had eyebrows, she was sure it'd be raising one. "Monsters and Humans are mortal enemies. It's been that way for as long as I can remember." It rotated so that its arm was pointed at Sunset. "Yes, one whiff of that SOUL of yours is all it will take. Why, I am quite surprised you have not been attacked already."
"Attacked? W-what are you talking about?" Was she about to get another dose of "Friendliness Pellets"?
"Don't worry about me. I have no interest in bloodshed and no use for your SOUL if you die. But you should probably arm yourself before going any further." It turned around completely, showing her its back. Embedded in it was the long handle of a knife.
"Oh my goodness. Where did that come from?" Gripping one of the Dummy's arms in one hand and the handle in another, Sunset tried to jiggle it free.
"That knife is merely a souvenir left by the first human I met a long time ago. She was not much for conversation either."
It took a few tugs to remove; but at last, she freed the blade. To her surprise, it seemed unaffected by years of disuse. Experimentally, she took a few swings for practice and flicked off a layer of dust.
" It feels smooth." She ran her finger over the tip. "Smooth and kind of familiar."
"Does it?" The Dummy turned back around. "That was not the expected reaction. I suppose I really am at your mercy now."
Sunset barely heard it. Her eyes were still locked on the knife. It gleamed brightly in the light. She gave a small grin and kept rubbing the tip. It shifted a bit in her hand and pricked her finger ever so slightly. Moving her hand up to her eyes, she stared it the wound. It was a small trickle of blood, barely visible. Out of instinct, she moved the finger into her mouth to suck it dry, but the pain didn't come. The blood felt warm, soft even. And it was oddly calming.
I wonder if Monsters can bleed?
She imagined what she'd do if she saw Flowey again. What would it be like to give Mr. "Kill or be Killed" a taste of his own medicine? First she'd uproot him to make sure he couldn't get away. Then she'd cut off all his petals. Then maybe she'd drive the knife into his face again and again until there was nothing left. Yes, yes that would show him. That would show ALL of them. She'd make them all cower and beg for their miserable lives. She'd--
Wait. WHAT?
She shook herself back to reality. The knife was still there, along with the Dummy. And she was standing right in front of it.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"What?" She spluttered and leaped backwards. "N-No! No. Of course not." Holding her hands in front of her, she blushed crimson. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'll just take a step back, put this away, and I'll um...uh."
Spare him.
"Spare you, yeah. I'll do that instead."
"That's certainly nice to hear. Being slashed to pieces is hardly my idea of entertainment."
"Again, I'm really sorry."
"You're forgiven, milady. A little scare now and then keeps the heart pumping a little longer. I wish you luck in your travels."
"Um, thanks." Sunset turned and began to walk away. "See you later I guess."
On her way back to Toriel's house, her mind was racing. That was the second time she'd zoned out and the second time she'd felt such violent tendencies. First, the mirror had triggered it, and now the knife. She definitely needed to ask Toriel about that. Perhaps exposure to the Underground was making her sick, or something. Or maybe Flowey's pellets had infected her somehow, as a way to twist her into accepting his wretched mindset. Well, whatever happened, she was NOT going to prove him right. Even if she ended up killing herself first.
The return trip was a lot faster than the outgoing. As she walked around the gnarled oak once again, she noticed that the side facing the house had a few carvings whittled into it. The first one read "T+A." The second one was crossed out and read "A+C." Next to that one was a third that read "A+F." So feeling a little left out, Sunset drew the knife and carved "T+S" with a dorky heart around it. Yes, now that she thought of it, no one word could describe her new goat-mom any better than love.
"Oof!" She'd been so distracted that she hadn't seen her foot catch on one of the roots, and she found herself kissing the floor once again. Inwardly groaning, she rolled over on her back and hoped this wouldn't become a habit. Staring at the sky, she caught sight of the tree's branches for the first time. They pointed towards the sky, leafless and dead, seemingly in defiance of the lively house behind it. The only color she could see was a tiny gem on one of the branches.
Wait a minute.
Righting herself, she rubbed her eyes and looked again.
That can't be right. Gems don't grow on trees. Not even in Equestria.
To resolve this contradiction, she climbed the tree for a better look. The gem hung from the very top of the tree. Fortunately, curiosity overrode any sort of fear. Once she got close enough she grabbed for her new treasure. It took a few pulls to pry loose, but she eventually succeeded. Turning it over in her hands, she got a good look at it, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head!
"This is...TWILIGHT'S CROWN!"