#a bunch of subtle callbacks to undertale

[cynnied-writes]

Like Fire, HellFire

○ fandom: deltarune

○ characters: toriel | undyne | asgore | susie | kris

○ genre/warnings: pure angst | hurt/little comfort | major character death | vague descriptions of violence and injuries

○ tags: chapter 3 weird route predictions | psychological trauma | immolation | some religious imagery | delusions & hallucinations

○ word count: 4k

→ summary: a mother's job is to protect her children no matter what. oh, how easy it is to corrupt such a noble cause.

○ note: hey. you wanna read something fucked up? take snowgrave but turn up the heat.

As an adult, Toriel knew that life was messy.

Everything that had seemed oh so simple in her youth had, with time, revealed itself to be a complicated web of… of madness. If she’s being honest. Her life, especially. Some days she wished she could turn back to the clock to where the world was much easier to manage.

So, when she woke up in a fantasy world, one filled with happenings reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, for the first time in years, she was giddy.

Wandering around the marvellous land alone for the first hour or so, she allowed herself to indulge in every whimsical folly. To speak at length with the world’s cartoony residents. To revel in the way the deep plum of the wonderous, pinafore dress twirled around her ankles when she spun. Even when she came across her candy-coloured child, she joked around with them as she’d never done before.

Because her life in this dreamscape is all relatively simple, isn’t it?

Even in this topsy-turvy world of peculiar people and fantastical battles, her only goal is to protect Kris and their friends. But fortunately, this world has granted her a magnificent power.

With but a single thought, she can conjure balls of flames in her palms and wield them with devastating accuracy. FatesFlame is what it is. Or, at least, that’s what Kris called it when they asked her to protect them. Which she did without fail.

Even though their enemy’s screams of anguish were… unsettling, to say the least. They’re not the kinds of sounds that one easily forgets. No, if it were not for the lively victory tune that drowned out the tormented cries, then she would’ve gone mad ages ago. But, then again, maybe she already had…

No matter.

None of this was real anyhow.

It couldn’t be. In real life, she doesn’t have magic. Her sweet Kris certainly wasn’t blue. Susie wasn’t pink. And she would’ve remembered a fellow goat monster family moving into their tiny town. Though Toriel did have to admit, Ralsei’s horns reminded her of something. But she digresses. None of any of this was real.

The screams weren’t real.

These battles they were fighting were make-believe, no actual harm done.

The screams weren’t real.

It’s just like in one of Asriel’s or Kris’ video games. She wasn’t hurting anyone; they’re not programmed to feel pain. To visually simulate it, yes. But not to actually feel it. To feel it so much that they felt the desperate need to scream.

The screams weren’t real.

The screams weren’t real.

Oh please, dear Angel above, please tell her the screams, the wails that resound within her mind, that haunt her every step, that are so loud she can barely hear anything but them. Please tell her they’re fake.

pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease—It is quite lovely, though, to see Kris making friends.

To see them coming out of their shell, a thing she almost thought would never happen. See them lead their small team with confidence in their gait. To take charge during battles and do their best to get everyone out safely. Yes, the sight of it all just warmed her soul.

What was decidedly less lovely to see is the Chief of Police trying to turn her against her child.

Dressed in what reminded her of one of Kris’ Japanese sci-fi cartoons, Undyne frantically called out to her from across the way.

“Toriel, please, listen to me!” She said. Desperation dripped from every word as she clutched her hands to her chest before pointing a clawed finger at a stoic Kris. “I don’t know who that is. Or what that is, but it ain’t your kid. It’s not Kris. I don’t even think it’s completely human.”

“Do not call my child an it.” Toriel said through bared teeth, throwing out an arm to shield Kris from Undyne’s words. “And what’s that supposed to mean, not completely human? What else are they supposed to be?”

“I don’t know, but it’s not a person. Haven’t you realized what it’s been forcing you to do?” Then, throwing her arms open wide, she invited them to take a look at their surroundings. The reddish, golden hue that had overtaken the formerly colourful world. The glows of a thousand tiny fires. Her fires. “You’ve left this world in ruin. You’ve killed so many innocent people.”

“Innocent?” She gasped before raising her shaking voice. “They attacked us first!”

“I know, but, come on. Since when did you ever believe that violence is the answer? Even if someone hurts you first! I know we don’t get along all that well, but,” Undyne took a step back, running her hands through her ruby locks, shoulders heaving. She continued to plead, “I know you’d never do anything like this. Look behind you and you’ll see a path bathed in ashes from your flames, Toriel. You’ve hurt people. It has made you hurt people. A lot of people.”

But she hasn’t! None of this is real. Those people weren’t real. The…screams weren’t real either. So while it was true, she’d never condone any of her actions thus far in the real world; she had to believe that they didn’t count in this one. Because if they did… then what of the screams. the screams. the screams.

Her doubt must’ve shown on her face.

With a sense of finality and spark of hope in her eyes, Undyne thrust out an open hand toward her. “Just come with me, I’ll keep you safe. I promise.” Somehow, even in all this turmoil, a rueful smile tugged at her lips. “Asgore would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you.”

“And what about Kris?” Toriel asked, sparing a glance for her quiet child, though they didn’t look to her. Instead, with their mouth set in a pained grimace, they kept their gaze trained on Undyne. Their fist balled at their sides and their shoulders pulled tight. She knew when her Kris was afraid. And if Undyne was the cause of it? Then she didn’t need the other’s answer. “If you plan to harm a single hair on their head then I think I’ll have to decline that tempting offer.”

“Toriel, that is not your—”

“Silence!” She cried. Sure, to make the boom of her voice reach every ear in this world. And for it to echo throughout the spaces in between.“It matters not. Real or fake, they are my child, and you will regret making an enemy of me.”

“Fine,” The hand Undyne held out trembled before falling to her side as she hung her head. “You’ve made your choice.” Toriel could just make out the words she whispered to herself. “Sorry, Chief. I tried. Forgive me.”

When she lifted her head again, her eyes had hardened, and her lips pulled into a firm line. Then, holding out a hand, she stared them down as her digits glowed with bright cyan energy. That soon manifested a grandiose, jagged spear, several heads taller than she.

Tilting her chin high, she let her voice ring out loud and clear. “In that case. By the power of the seven seas, I, Undyne the Undying, Heroine of this world and Protector of all others, will strike you down. En guarde!”

The ensuing fight…Toriel honestly doesn’t know how long it lasted. It could’ve been quick. A brief collision of raw, unruly power. Or it could’ve spanned hours. A prolonged epic war of flames and tides. Toriel had no clue. She’d been hardly conscious of any of it. No, after the battle had officially begun, a glut of rage overcame her, blinded her.

It’d been a red mist that burned hotter than the fires of hell until it glowed in the grim twilight of her irises. A fury so fierce it couldn’t be contained where it was building in her chest. Something so furious that it lit her veins ablaze until there wasn’t a single part of her that didn’t burn with it. Not until she was the fire, and it was her. They were one. United in goal; to protect Kris and get Undyne out of the way. If not in the severity in their methods. She learned that last part the hard way.

Because when the battle was won, and the red mist slipped away, she struggled to put out the flames. They still clung to her hands and arms. Desperately trying to will the magic away as she’d done before, but something was different this time. Something was… wrong. For the first time since arriving in this strange world, fear sparked within her, but it wasn’t for anybody but herself.

By the time her flames finally settled, an unnerving silence had filled the area. There was no victory music to be heard. There wasn’t much of anything for her ears to cling to. No, they were quite useless. Her other senses, on the other hand, were being put to the test.

If it was possible to taste the feeling of burning, she was. Along with ashes and stuffy humid air. There wasn’t much to smell. Other than what was left of her flames. Though the scent of charred flesh slowly started to appear. But no. It wasn’t charred flesh. It was charred fis—

She hadn’t realized she’d been staring at her blackened paws until she whipped her head up to gaze across the way. To the spot where Undyne had been standing, proud and valiant, only to drop lower to find… to find…

Oh… That’s… Undyne’s… She’s… Did she…?

But how? How could she have been strong enough to do…that?

Oh…

Just before she had attacked, Kris hadn’t told her to use FatesFlame.

They had told her to use HeartBurn.

Huh…

That’s not a spell she remembered learning…

She looked back down at her hands. Curling and flexing them before bringing them in tightly to her chest.

Daring to gaze upon what was left of the noble heroine, now unrecognizable, she let out a sob.

Or was it a scream?

You’d think she’d be able to tell the difference.

“Kris.”

“Kris, sweetie.”

“I think.”

“I think it’s best if we make our way home now.”

Their adventure was over.

She was sure of it. Why?

Because her body ached and groaned as she woke up.

Her old bones and joints hadn’t complained once her escapades through the Dark World. It was nice. But after what she dreamt she’d done to Undyne, she’s glad to be back in reality. Just a bad dream, nothing more.

Twin groans chorused from the couch as Susie and Kris shook out and stretched their lanky, teenage limbs. A small smile grew on her lips.

Such sweet things. Toriel crossed her claws that Kris wouldn’t wander off while they made chocolate chip pancakes this time. Hopefully, the lure of sweets in a speedier form of gratification than a pie would be enough. Then they’d get dressed and ready for church. Come to think of it, she’d never seen Susie at a service before. She’d have to ask—

“Uh, Ms. Toriel?”

Taking a moment to rub the sleep out of her eyes before turning to respond to Kris’ guest. “Yes, Susie, dear?”

The hulking, scruffy teen raised a single clawed finger, pointing towards the front of the house. And though her shaggy, brown hair obscured her face, the quiet fear in her voice was clear as a bell. “Is Chief Undyne okay?”

Her soul skipped a pulse, and, for a moment, hellish flames covered her hands once more. Then, just as quickly as they appeared, they were gone.

She’d almost forgotten she’d called the police station last night. And that there was a potential threat lurking about the surrounding area. Her tires. Yes, it’s all coming back now. That dream must’ve affected her more than she thought. Making her confuse illusions and reality. From now on, she’d have to recount basic facts to herself. The most apparent differences between the Dark World and the real one.

Her mischievous yet never malicious Kris had smooth tanned skin, not a bright blue. Susie, who, while she’s sure the girl is strong, couldn't wield a giant axe and was this lovely rich lilac. She’d never met Ralsei before, and, as sweet as he was, she’d never see him again.

No matter what visions her mind was supplying her with, she couldn’t conjure a single flame if she tried. And Undyne? Undyne was alive. Maybe not unharmed, if Susie’s fearful tone was any indication. But she’d probably be nowhere near as wounded as she was in Toriel’s dream.

Her stomach dropped when she ultimately followed the line of Susie’s outstretched finger.

Backlit by the morning sun, Chief Undyne laid slumped in the doorway, her deep blue cap shielding her face. Lifeless. No. She didn’t know that. Not yet. Holding out a hand, signalling for the kids to stay put as she investigated.

Steps slow and hesitant, she approached Undyne. Calling out for her. “Chief Undyne? My dear, are you alright?” Praying that she’d wake before she reached her.

She didn’t.

Kneeling by her side, she gave Undyne a once over. It didn’t look like she was visibly hurt anywhere. (Her flesh, not covered in one giant scorch mark. Angel above, she could still hear the screams. She could still taste the ash. Could still smell—) No, no, no, no. That was a dream. A disturbing, haunting one. But a dream, nonetheless. Whatever was wrong with Undyne had nothing to do with her. Right? Right.

Reaching to remove Undyne’s hat, she faltered in lifting it from her head. Fearing the sight of her disfigured face. It’s fine. She’s being ridiculous. Foolish, even. Grow up, Tori. It was a dream. A dream. Just take the damn hat off. Squaring her shoulders and holding her breath, she took hold of the dark brim. Slowly raising the cap and revealed… Undyne’s sleeping face.

See! Worried about nothing. Though, now that she was taking a good look at the whole of her… Was her chest rising and falling at all?

Resting a paw on Undyne’s shoulders, she gently shook her shoulder as she called her name. “Chief Undyne?”

No response.

“Undyne, dear, could you wake up for me?”

Nothing still.

Toriel’s soul began to race.

“Undyne?”

Oh, Angel above. Please don’t tell me she’s—

“Somethin’ the matter, Tori?”

At the sound of Asgore’s southern drawl, she jolted. Looking up from Undyne’s unresponsive body to her ex-husband standing in her front yard. In what must’ve been his Saturday best, he held a bundle of rainflowers tied together with a sprig of common rue.

He, too, was backlit by the morning sun. Except, unlike how that light had shadowed Undyne, it lit his brawny form up. His long, blonde hair glowed, the sun making a pseudo halo of his shining locks and the curve of his horns. The extra rays fanning out around him, forming these wings of pure light. He looked like…like…like an angel.

And, despite all the praying she’s done, that notion didn’t fill her with the peace that she thought it should’ve.

“I, uh, she—” Toriel stammered as she pulled Undyne a smidge closer to herself. It’s not that she didn’t trust Asgore, well, that’s a whole other conversation, but it was rather more because she didn’t trust herself. Then, thankfully, Kris spoke up from behind her.

“Dad, Chief Undyne won’t wake up.”

In a split second, he shifted his disposition in a way she hadn’t seen him do in years. Like a light switch, one moment he was her bumbling, pushover ex and the next he was The Chief of the Police. Calm, cool, and collected. Entirely focused on the situation at hand.

Rushing forward and bounding up the front steps, he came to a stop just in front of her and Undyne, kneeling. His eyes hardened yet not unkind, never unkind. Finally, he asked, “What happened?”

Doing her best to compose her trembling voice, she tried to give a proper answer. Though it came out all in a rushed and jumbled mess. “We-we don’t exactly know. We all woke up and found her like this in the doorway. I have no clue what could’ve happened.”

Raising his hands up, he motioned for her to slow down. And then to take a breath. She gladly did both. “Alright, alright, then let’s start with the last thing you do know. Did you call Undyne here?”

“Yes.” He did always know the best questions to ask in times like this. Recalling her terror from last night, she caught his eyes and said, “There was something outside last night. Slashed my tires. I thought it was best to alert the authorities. Undyne said that’d she’d be over soon.”

“Then you all went to sleep? And none of you woke in the night?” She shook her head. Asgore lifted his gaze over her shoulder, arching an eyebrow. Kris and Susie must’ve answered in the same silent way. Considering that, he lowered them back down to Undyne soon after. Curling a finger, he brushed a knuckle along Undyne’s temple. “How odd, it feels like she has one hell of a fever. And none of you heard Undyne open the door? Or—”

“Asgore, I don’t think she’s breathing.”

The flowers he brought dropped to the deck. Quicker than Toriel could think or even blink, he had Undyne in his arms. Holding her close to his chest, she looked so small. Tinier than she’d ever seemed, even when she was a child.

Rambunctious little thing. Always following Asgore around while he patrolled. Stars in her eyes and wild ideas in her mind. Is it too late to regret not inviting her over more back then? She knew Asgore loved her like a daughter. But she’d been so busy with a toddling Asriel that she hadn’t thought to try to forge a bond. This never would’ve happened—

“Tori, are you with me? It’s gonna be alright. I’ll get her over to hospital. They’ll figure out what’s wrong. It might just be something going around. Mrs. Avis mentioned finding her son like this in the Library.” Asgore said, low and steady, from up above. He had stood up at some point. She didn’t know when. Great, she’s properly losing time now. “It’s going to be alright. Undyne’s made of stronger stuff than you’d think.”

“Berdly? Oh, the poor pet.” Grasping at the closest tangible thing, she pulled the bundle of rainflowers and rue to her chest as she rose to her feet. A much-needed lifeline. “Even if that’s so—It’s just—I feel responsible.”

“You saw something suspicious, and you reported it. Nothing wrong with that. This,” Asgore gazed down woefully at Undyne and sighed. “This unfortunately comes with the territory. Though, she’s still so young. I wish I was still—” Gulping down the rest of his sentence, he shook his head before meeting her eyes once more. His eyes softened, as they always did when he looked at her. Though this time, they were tinged with certain gentle tenderness. “But never mind that. Don’t feel guilty. You were just trying to protect the kids, yeah? Keep them safe?”

“Yes,” She answered, nodding. Though her mind was somewhere else. “I did what I thought what was best.”

“Then no one can blame you for this.” He turned to leave but paused midway. Then, leaning in close, he said, “Before I go, I know you’re pretty shaken by this but, please do try to make it to church. Even if it’s for the evenin’ service. I know it always made you feel better.”

All she could give him was a weak smile. “Thank you, Asgore.”

He gave a hearty one back. “Have a good day, Tori.”

A blink, and he was off with Undyne. Down the porch and across the lawn.

Another and he disappeared around the corner of their property’s towering hedges.

“Kris?”

“Susie?”

Neither answered, but she knew they were listening anyway.

“I think.”

“I think it’s best if we get some food into us,” Turning to finally face them. The children looked a shaken as she felt. “Yes?”

“Yeah, that sounds great, Miss T.” Her answering smile was just a touch too big to be all that genuine, too many teeth, but Toriel didn’t push. Not so subtly coughing into her fist, Susie shoved an elbow between Kris’ ribs. “What do you think, Kris?”

“Sounds good, Mom.”

“Perfect! How about you two go get cleaned up a bit and I’ll get started on the batter?”

“I get first dibs on the bathroom!” Susie said, more to Kris than to her, as she sped off. Leaving the two of them to soak in the welcome quiet they were left in.

It was much more straightforward, focusing on something as simple as making pancakes. Toriel knew the recipe off by heart. Sift together; One and a half cups of all-purpose flour, three and a half teaspoons of baking powder, a teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of white sugar, and two dashes of cinnamon. Make a well in the bowl, pour in one and quarter cups of milk, three tablespoons of melted butter, and—oh, where did that egg go?

As she searched for where the lone egg had rolled off to, she offhandedly said, “It is rather unfortunate what happened to Chief Undyne.”

“Well,” Kris began, drawing out that last syllable as if they were considering something. “She did get in our way, didn’t she?”

Crack.

Pausing, clutching a now empty eggshell as the yolk fell into the pancake batter, she glanced over at Kris. Who, she realized, hadn’t moved an inch from where they first stood after waking up, staring blankly at the front door…?

“What was that, my child?” She asked, her voice light and wispy. Surely, she hadn’t heard what she thought she did. It’d be silly to believe that Kris knew such intimate details about her nightmare. Got in their way? Her Kris, they’d never disregard another person’s life so, so, flippantly.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna get something from my room.” They answered as if they were almost bored, still drilling holes into their front door. Until… Until they finally turned their head, locked eyes with her and simply said, “Proceed.”

In a blink, they disappeared up the stairs. Thumping and bumping all the way as all teenagers did. Leaving Toriel to stare, wide-eyed, at the vacant space where they used to be but not seeing a damn thing. The fur on her nape and along the edges of her arms were raised, on high alert.

Unconsciously, she drew her clenched paws in towards her chest. She dared to look down at them. And, for a moment that lasted both a second and an eternity, they were on fire. And they just wouldn’t go out. No matter how hard she tried.

The infernal flames blackened her fur and began to burn the sleeves of her nightgown. Inching farther and farther up her arms. If she couldn’t extinguish them, they’d consume her whole. She wouldn’t be able to escape the screams. the screams.the screams.the screams. the flames. the flames. the flames. please. please. please.

They’re gone.

Just like that, they were gone.

Were they ever there in the first place?

Hurriedly looking all around her, she dashed over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed water in her face. Then, gripping the sides of the sink deathly tight (Her paws, still a pristine, pearly white. How?), she took several deep breaths.

Finish the damn pancakes, Tori.

And she did. And they were perfect.

They were light, fluffy golden disks polka-dotted with chocolate chips for the hell of it. And, by the ways Susie and Kris scarfed them down, they must’ve tasted amazing. Some of her best work.

Toriel wouldn’t have known either way. Not about the pancakes. Her morning cup of tea. The BLTs she made Susie and Kris for lunch. Her afternoon cup of tea. The shepherd’s pie they had for dinner. Nor the sip of fake wine they had at church or the bottle of genuine wine she had once Kris had gone to bed.

It didn’t matter.

It all tasted like ash.

Thank you so much for making it to the end, I hope you enjoyed (?) reading this. Not sure if that's the right word to use when I spent the last 4 thousand words doling out psychic damage like I'm an Alakazam, but, oh well.

Either way, I would be forever pleased if you left a reply or even reblogged this! Seriously, even if only to ask me to turn on my location for a little chat, I don't mind. Go wild.