Chapter Text
It took her several minutes for her complex brain to finally order to her legs to move. By her order, rest assured.
She entered the next room, her joy like going out of the window. A horrible impression, as if she was lacking time, was tormenting her in the lower abdomen, leaving an unpleasant sensation in her body.
She was moving forward when she realized that the ground was different. More... dark purple and looked... broken?
Wary, she frowned her muzzle while wriggling her black whiskers. By animal instinct, she got on all fours and inspected it better.
Exact. The ground seemed ready to collapse. Not stupid enough to try to walk on it, she moved back at least a meter from the trap.
She positioned herself and gathering momentum, she ran. She jumped and landed without mishap on the other side.
Picking herself up promptly, she went on her way.
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She was entering another room when the ringing of her phone made her raise her tail due to surprise. Toriel was calling her! She was going to scold her because she had gone to explore! She was going to receive the punishment!
Trembling and filled with regret, she picked up.
"Hello? This is Toriel."
She did not appeared mad at all.
"For no reason in particular... Which do you prefer between... cinnamon and butterscotch?"
EXA8 would have straight off answered if only she knew what those two things were.
As she was wondering how to respond, Toriel called out to her.
"Is everything alright, my child?"
"What's "Butterscotch" and "Cinnamon?" she replied without thinking.
"Er... Food... I guess?"
EXA8 did not know what to say.
"It doesn’t matter, my child. Thank you for being patient."
She put her phone away without understanding the previous discussion, but relieved that her disobedience had not been noticed.
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Catching sight of an iron panel hanging on the wall, she mechanically went to read it.
Three out of four grey rocks recommend you push them.
If the voice were so pessimistic, the journey would not be joyful.
She turned to one of these much-vaunted stones. It was laying on a small path that led straight to a slab. A row of spikes was blocking the way.
The half-fox knew exactly what to do. She pushed the rock to its new location.
But she was stopped by a Froggit.
Froggit hopped close!
EXACT8 sighed but smiled at the little creature who was really wondering why he was attacking her. So much so that he apologized and the fight ended almost immediately as he leaped away.
The girl continued her work and the spikes disappeared, letting her go into the other room.
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She walked in a small corridor before coming out on the front of a large floor space ready to yield. It was impossible to jump! There was a turn that prevented her from seeing how far this trap extended.
Yet, something was blindingly obvious to her.
Some places were better solidified than others. Inputing small details was always useful in the end.
She pressed herself against the wall and proceeded to cross this trap to finally land on the path, safe.
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Next room, the child thought.
Three stones to push. The first, nothing happened. The second, the same. Just a few Froggits were staring at her, curious. However, none attacked her. The news had gone fast: a new monster was walking through the Ruins and it was kind.
At the third rock, a voice rose from it. Which did not surprise EXA8.
If there were talking flowers, a talking goat, talking frogs and... talking flying things, then why not a rock?
"WHOA there, pardner! Who said you could push me around?"
It was true. She had not been given permission, she reasoned herself.
"Sorry..."
Looking at the trap still activated on the small bridge crossing a small underground river, she asked reluctantly and apprehensively:
"Can you go place yourself over there, on the slab, please?"
"HMM? So you're ASKIN' me to move over?"
"Yes..." she said in a timid voice.
"Okay, just for you, fox."
It moved... a few centimeters forward. She came closer and patted its head(?).
"HMM? You want me to move some more?"
"Yes..."
"Alrighty, how's this?"
He moved but in the wrong direction and almost went out of the way.
And she approached it again.
"HMM?"
"Not that way..."
"That was the wrong direction?"
A nod.
"Okay, think I got it."
It returned to the path and finally went to stand on the slab. Smiling and thanking the stone, EXA8 headed for the exit. As she was about to cross the now empty line, the spikes suddenly lifted in front of her.
One more step and she would have been skewered.
Trembling and full of incomprehension, she turned to the rock. With her heart beating and still barely realizing what she had just avoided, her eyes widened when she found the reason of her situation.
It had backed up.
Frowning, trying to calm down, she stood before him. Resentment mixed with a hint of disappointment towards herself for not seeing it coming, was gaving her a headache.
After all, how many similar tests had she passed before falling here? She should have known!
"HMM? You wanted me to STAY there?"
If it had a face, EXA8 was convinced it would have worn a petty smile. She knew too well the intonations of voices not to visualize it.
"Yes." she said in a cold tone without even becoming aware of it.
"The things I'd do for you." the monster mocked her.
Die, vociferated the voice as the sight of EXA8 became blurred.
Shaking her head, the latter thanked the stone again with a small voice. Her thoughts were muddling up too much for her to find something to retort.
And this time, although suspicious and glancing at the prankster, the trap did not reactivate when she passed it.
EXA8 foresaw that they would not become friends, that rock and her.
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The next room contained a yellow star, a hole in the wall, and a soft triangle with holes, put on a table.
She touched the star first.
Knowing the mouse might one day leave its hole and get the cheese...
It fills you with determination.
Ruins - Mouse hole
File saved.
So it was called a cheese, that yellow thing? And it was edible?
Her stomach rumbled but this "cheese" was not for her and the idea of stealing it did not please her. Not only naturally, she had reservations, but also because she had been clearly forbidden to attempt such acts.
But why was all this being told to her? What did "File saved" mean? She could not help but think that a hidden meaning was laying somewhere in these words. But apart from feeling it, she could not do much: her intelligence was not developed enough for that.
She approached the... "Food".
Given its appearance, this cheese has been here quite a long time.
It's stuck to the table...
All the more reason not to eat it.
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The next room contained… A white thing with two eyes closed and lying on a carpet of leaves blocking the way?
She advanced towards it, curious.
"zzzzzzzzzzz..."
'zzz' ?
"zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... zzzzz... come on, go away... zzzzzzz..."
She wanted to, but she seemed to be absorbed by this little being who was obviously pretending to sleep. Moreover, he prevented her from passing.
This ghost keeps saying 'z' out loud repeatedly, pretending to sleep.
Move it with force?
❤Oui Non
She chose Yes, not seeing what else to do and persuaded that he would not attack her.
A fight got off.
Here comes Napstablook.
If the voice could be a little more cheerful, it would be better for EXA8.
Anyway, this Napstablook ghost, she thought was cute. Like most monsters in the Ruins. Except this rock. She immediately noticed that the spirit was sad and chose ACT, of course.
The voice did not even try to contradict her.
❤
Check *Flirt
*Threat *Cheer
Always by instinct, she chose Cheer. And besides... If it was another voice that advised her? A voice much less perceptible, more discreet?
A certainty. It is 'me' who chooses.
You give Napstablook a patient smile.
"heh..." he said.
He began to cry. Saddened, EXA8 waited for him to calm down a little. This monster, she did not want to get away from it. He was not making fun of her, he looked distraught.
A message was then displayed.
Really not feeling up to it right now. Sorry.
She sympathized with him. It often happened to her too.
Napstablook looks just a little bit better.
*Check *Flirt
*Threat ❤Cheer
You ask Napstablook to smile.
"he, he..."
He wept but less bitterly. EXA8 was jubilating. Her efforts were not in vain!
Cheering seems to have improved Napstablook's mood again.
Cheer again! The child was taking pleasure in consoling him. Her tail was moving in every direction and a big smile was brightening her face.
Napstablook wants to show you something.
"Why not?" she gushed, excited.
"let me try..."
He started to cry again but his tears did not fall down. They went to form a hat on his head. EXA8 was surprised. Magic was still something unknown to her.
"call me 'dapper blooky'. do you like it..."
Napstablook eagerly awaits your response.
EXA8 applauded while laughing. Ah, he was much better like that, happy to reveal his talents! How adorable!
"oh gee..."
The fight ended without ever really having begun.
"i usually come to the Ruins because there's nobody around... but today i met somebody very nice..." the little ghost sighed.
EXA8 smiled, thrilled with the compliment. Her eyes sparkled, she was delighted to have been able to help.
"oh, i'm rambling again. i'll get out of your way."
He was slowly disappearing when the girl, hoping to see him again, said to him:
"See you later!"
Which made him smile.
She was showing him that she really wanted to be his friend. He was not an obstacle in her way… unlike a certain stone.
Oh, she was gonna sulk at that damn rock for a long time.