(Dreamworld)

“So...what have we learned~?” Shalltear asked with a singsong tune in her voice.

“Not to be that trusting towards random strangers at times?” Veronica answered as she deadpans at her counterpart.

“At all times you idiot! Honestly you would be hopeless if I wasn’t the voice of reason.”

“Hey I take offense to that. I've gotten us this far haven’t I?”

“Only with my help and your dumb luck. If I wasn’t here to help you, you would be dead in a matter of minutes.”

“Now that’s just being mean.” Veronica said as she crosses her arms in annoyance. “I mean I would last at least a few days or more depending.”

“.....W-Were you dropped on your head when you were born?”

“I don’t know. I have no memories of my past and you’re not willing to tell me about it for some reason.”

“Some things are better left forgotten, especially in your case.”

“What do you mean by that?” Veronica unfolded her arms as she raised an eyebrow.

“I could tell you….but I think you’ll be a bit busy dealing with what’s going to happen to you now that you’re in the underground.”

“Wait a minute, you can’t just-.”

(Underground Ruins, Toriel’s home)

Before Veronica could get her answers from her counterpart, she soon felt herself slowly waking up. Upon waking up, she soon found herself in what appears to be a small bed that was build for a child her age. Looking around she noticed the room she was in looked like it was made for a child. Mostly due to some of the toys laying around on the floor along with some posters of characters that looked like they were from a show she has never heard of.

“It would seem that we’re in Toriel’s home.” Shalltear said as Veronica slowly begins to pull herself up from the bed she was in.

“Why do I feel like I just gained a few pounds?”

“Well you were knocked out for about a day after getting hit by that stupid plant’s attack. Geez you really are hopeless if you let something like this weaken you.” Veronica simply rolls her eyes as she tries to pull herself out of bed. Only to fall face first onto the floor with a thud.

“.....This is going to take a while for my body to recover huh?”

“Technically you are fully recovered, just that you need to get the blood pumping in your body so you don’t feel so damn heavy.” Before Veronica could come up with a response to Shalltear statement, the door to the room she was in opened. Looking up she saw Trixie enter into the room with a tray full of food.

“Trixie sees that you’re awake.” The unicorn said as she walked over to the dresser to place the tray down and walked over to Veronica and helped her up.

“I feel as heavy as a rock.” Veronica said as she felt Trixie pull her up and place her onto the bed.

“Well you have been asleep for about a day or so. Guess the medicine that Toriel gave you actually worked.”

“Medicine?”

“You were bleeding even after she removed that thing inside your chest. She gave you some kind of medicine to stop the bleeding. As a result you’re alive thanks to her.”

“Well that’s good to hear....which brings me to my first question.” Veronica said as she raised an eyebrow at the unicorn. “Mind telling me why you said I was your daughter?”

“Oh, um….well…..It was kinda a moment of tactic...Trixie thought she wouldn’t get the help from Toriel if you weren’t related to me...which turns out that wasn’t the case seeing how she would have helped us either way you look at it.” Trixie said with a blush on her face.

“....For an adult, you’re not very bright.”

“Hey! Trixie’s gotten us this far right?”

“True...but you’re still not the brightest adult.” Veronica stated as Trixie puffed her cheeks in annoyance as she smack the vampire upside her head. “Ow! What was that for!?”

“For being a smart alec to the Great and Powerful Trixie….that and for talking back to somepony older than you. Now on to a different subject. Are you feeling okay after what happen? I mean besides feeling heavy?”

Veronica simply moves her arms and legs around a bit to see if anything was wrong with her. So far besides feeling the heaviness from being asleep for about a day or so, she was feeling fine. Though a bit sluggish on her movements.

“So far I feel fine. Nothing is out of place or anything so that’s good….though I am a bit hungry.”

“Then it’s a good thing The Great and Powerful Trixie was able to get Toriel to make us something to eat. You’re welcome by the way.” Trixie said as she notice Veronica deadpanned expression. “What?”

“Let’s….just go before I say what the voice in my head is saying about you.” Veronica said as she hops off the bed she was on, and made her way to the door of the bedroom they’re in.

What was waiting on the table though… was the last thing that Veronica wanted to see. Cinnamon Butterscotch pie… or as she called it. “……My mortal enemy.”

“Hello darkness, my old friend~” Shalltear said with a bemused expression on her face.

“Oh haha…” Veronica mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes a bit. “Being given this as my only choice for food is like being given a death sentence.”

“If it was a death sentence, then you would be dead. Now suck it up and eat it, kid. Unless you want to make that goat lady cry?”

All that did was cause Veronica to groan even more… before having to suck it up and actually take a bite. Yet… That single bite was the only bite she had. “There, I ate it. Can you stop mentally torturing me now?”

“Well seeing how this is my source of entertainment….no.”

“Trixie has to say. This is some pretty good pie… but can make one better.”

All Veronica wanted to do in that moment was have her head drop down and land face first in the pie when Trixie said that. Having to eat it from a stranger that just happened to find them in this predicament was one thing… Having to eat it from somepony that’s your friend and roommate? She did not want something like that to occur at all. Just as she looked up at the doorway that lead into the kitchen, she soon notice Toriel walking into the room with another freshly baked Cinnamon Butterscotch Pie.

“Oh, I see you’re awake child. I thought you would’ve be asleep for about a day or two after what happen.”

“Oh come on. I’m not that defenseless, lady.” Veronica thought internally to herself. Shortly before Trixie then spoke up.

“Trixie really likes your pie, but thinks that she could make one better.”

“Oh? Would you like for me to teach you the recipe then?” The moment that Veronica heard that, internal alarms were going off inside her head as she began to panic a bit.

“Please say no. Please say no… Please say NO!!” She thought to herself.

“Trixie would be thrilled to learn a new recipe!”

“DAMMIT!!!” Veronica internally cried in agony. “Why must I suffer like this?!”

“Because your life is like a TV show that I somehow find amusing. Should I play the “Hello Darkness my old friend” song in your head now?” Shalltear asked as she tries not to bust out laughing.

“...... Where’s your mute button?” Veronica grumbled, her face landing in the pie and squishing it as she moaned a bit in internal agony.

“Now, now, dear child. No playing with your food like that.” Toriel said as she walked over to Veronica. Lifting the vampire’s face up from the pie, she pulls out a small napkin and wiped away the pie from off of her face. “There, better?”

“And just when I thought this couldn’t get any more entertaining.”

“Yeah...I guess.” Veronica said as she pulled away from Toriel. “Not that I don’t mind staying here or anything. But Trixie and I should get going now. I’m suppose to be heading over to the knight’s guild in Dokapon so I can get use to the whole quest thing.”

“L-Leaving so soon? But you’re still recovering from your injuries back in the entrance of the Underground.” Toriel said to her in a motherly tone… before taking a deep sigh and then saying something else. “Well, if you are going to go… then you need to learn-”

“How to fight?”

The moment she heard the word ‘fight’, Toriel went on the defensive as she looked back at Veronica with a shocked expression. “What? No! How to talk to people…”

“…… But I’m doing that with you right now…”

“How to talk your way out of a battle child. Violence is not the answer to all fighting.”

“......She does realize that you’re a vampire and they are known to be aggressive and fight a lot...granted this is different in your case seeing how you took over my body.”

“So what do you suggest then?” Veronica asked internally. “Just play along until we get going?”

“No, stay here and eat pie until we’re fat. Of course play along until we get going!”

“I wasn’t asking for sarcasm…” Veronica groaned… until she heard what Toriel said next.

“Before we do that though, let’s make sure you can brush your teeth…”

“....If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” It didn’t help that what Shalltear said next really did not give her any form of mental support whatsoever.

“....Well, we’re kinda screwed.”

“I thought you were enjoying this…” Veronica deadpanned before looking back at Trixie for a moment and giving off the facial expression of what looked like a scared puppy wanting to run away from the crazy goat lady that was her owner.

“Um, as much as Trixie would like to stay. We should be getting going. Trixie thinks that somepony might notice Veronica has gone missing and might be worried as to where she has gone off to. So if you can direct The Great and Powerful Trixie and Veronica to the exit, then that would be great.”

“Ah… I see.” Toriel said as Veronica notice a change in her facial expression for a moment before it change back to a happy facade. “Well if you’re going to leave, would you be willing to help me with something in the kitchen? I just need help cleaning a few dishes.”

“Trixie can help with that.” The unicorn proudly declared as she walked over to where Toriel was. All while Veronica was watching this all unfold.

“What the hell was that just now?”

“So I wasn’t the only one that saw that as well.”

“Well, both you and I were looking at her when her expression changed. It just makes me think that there’s more to this goat lady that we don’t know…” Shalltear said mentally. Just around the same time that Trixie asked her something while she was helping with the dishes.

“So. Do you have any suggestions for us while we are traveling, Ms. Toriel?”

“Just… that you should be very careful when leaving the ruins. The monsters out there can be… a bit dangerous. Especially when you have a young child with you.”

“So not only am I seen as a child, I’m seen as something that pulls monsters to me like a magnet.” Veronica groaned again internally. “Fantastic…”

“You’re a human with two souls inside of a vampire’s body. One’s human which is you, while the other is that of a vampire. It wouldn’t be a surprise that monsters would be drawn to you like a moth to an open flame, or in this case a double edged blade.”

“Would you know of anypony that could help us on the journey?” Trixie then asked Toriel as she used a dishtowel to clean up some plates.

“I might know someone that could help you both with that.” Toriel said as she begins to make her way out of the kitchen. “I’ll actually go get him. You just stay here and finish up in here. This won’t take long.” She said as she walks past Veronica and into the front room where the door was.

That had Veronica look back to Trixie for a moment as Toriel had stepped out of the room. “Who do you think is this person she’s talking about?” All Trixie could do was shrug as she dried up a few more plates and finished with the dishes.

“Something’s not right.”

“Hunh? What do you mean?” Veronica asked as she looked around the room for a moment. “I mean… other than this place being oddly quiet, I don’t sense anything out of the ordinary.”

“Follow her. Something about the way she’s acting doesn't seem right to me. I mean, don’t you think it’s kinda odd that she knows a person to help us? Not only that but she told Trixie to stay here while she goes and gets him?”

“She must’ve assumed that Trixie would look after and babysit me…” Veronica muttered… before realizing what she just said. “Oh HELL NO!!”

“.....Focus idiot. Why go out in a dangerous place alone when she herself said that it was filled with dangerous monsters?”

“... You’re right. Something about that isn’t right.”

“Follow that lying motherfucker before she does something that might keep us trapped here forever.” Veronica didn’t need to be told twice about that as she stood up from her seat, and followed after Toriel. Once she was in her sight, she paused and brushed up against the side of the doorway and watched the goat monster walk downstairs.

“Where is she going?”

“Downstairs from the looks of it. Seeing how we can’t go back to that hole from before, I bet she knows of another way out of these ruins.”

“Please don’t tell me that the person she’s referring to lives down here…”

“Who lives in a basement besides a overweight fat nerd that hasn’t left his parent’s home after college?”

“...... How do you know any of those things?”

“Your mind is like an open book kid. Now focus and follow her. Make sure she doesn’t know you’re following her or else we’re screwed even more than how we are now.” Veronica rolled her eyes as she goes back to following Toriel downstairs. As she continues to follow after her, Veronica noticed that the layout of the hallway was different then the layout in the upstairs hallway. The walls were made of stone than wood.

“I wasn’t expecting something like this here.”

“Indeed, though coming from her it shouldn’t be a surprise.” Shalltear said as she looked ahead to see Toriel walking down the hallway. “Don’t just stand there, follow her.”

“Oh r-right!” Veronica stammered as she slowly continues to follow after Toriel. Once they turn the corner, they would soon see her standing in front of a large stone door.

“I knew it. There was a way out of here!”

“What do you think she’s going to do?”

“What do you think she’s going to do? She’s going to destroy the only means for you and Trixie to get out of here. Stop her you idiot!”

“I’m sure she isn’t going to do that.” Veronica said as she begins to walk up towards Toriel. “Hey, Toriel! What are you doing down here in this dark and cold place?” She asked, causing Toriel to jump in surprise by hearing Veronica voice down here. Turning around the vampire would notice an awkward smile on her face as she looks around trying to avoid eye contact with the little girl.

“Oh, hello small child. W-What are you doing here?”

“I notice you were walking downstairs for some reason.” Veronica winced from saying that as she placed a hand on her head for a moment. “Okay, let me rephrase that. The voice in my head said that you were doing something odd. Like saying that you’re planning on destroying that door behind you.”

“What? Don’t be silly. Why would I do something like that?” The Goat monster said, trying to act innocent. But due to her eyes shifting left and right, and the expression on her face. Her lie didn’t do so much as raise suspicions for the vampire.

“Uh huh…..you do know that I can tell when someone is lying just by listening to your heartbeat right?” Veronica said as Toriel’s eyes widen in shock by this.

“Well what you’re saying isn’t a lie, but you haven’t figured out how to do that yet. Nice job in lying about that one I guess.” Shalltear said as she notice Toriel’s expression darken. “Though I think you might’ve dug your own grave with that one.”

“...... Child, this is a matter that does not concern you. I don’t want you to lose yourself like-” For a moment, she stopped… realizing what she was about to say before looking back at Veronica. “... like my son.”

“Great, we’re dealing with a grieving mother. As if dealing with that flower wasn't bad enough.” Shalltear said as she groans in annoyance. “We don’t have time for this. Just walk pass her so we can leave….then again we can’t leave that blue unicorn here...unless we can just bail on her.” Shaking her head, Veronica looked up at Toriel with a confused expression on her face by her statement.

“Look, I’m sorry about whatever happen to your son. But keeping me here against my will pretty much counts as kidnapping. So if you would do so kindly as to let me and Trixie leave, then that would be great.”

“Child, you may be eager to leave… but I want to make sure that both of you are ready…” Toriel explained. “Others may not take so kindly to a human with two souls walking around the underground…… Because all other humans who have passed this gate before have perished.”

“Perished? By what?”

“.....How the hell are you still alive after coming this far in life?”

“Not many monsters take so kindly to humans… especially when the war between both kinds lead to us being banished here,” Toriel sighed, before looking at Veronica with a fierce gaze. “But… if you want to pass… prove to me that you have the strength to survive.”

“Can’t we just talk about this like civilized monsters...or humans or…hey what am I anyway?” Veronica asked as she placed a hand to her chin.

“About to be roasted if you don’t move your ass. Like, oh I don’t know. NOW!?” Shalltear yelled as Veronica looked up to see a fireball heading towards her. At the least second, she quickly ducked out of the way as the fireball passed her as she looked back at Toriel as her hands were covered in fire.

“Okay, guess talking is out of the question then huh?” Veronica said as she drew out her sword and prepares to fight.

“No… it isn’t. The choice is yours to make.” Toriel told her in response. “Would you find it in yourself to truly strike me down? I only wish that you can resolve matters peacefully… even though-”

“HOLD it!!!” In a fit of both magic, fireworks, and sparkling dust. A certain show pony appears in between the vampire and the goat monster. “Who dares attack The Great and Powerful Trixie’s assistant!?”

“......Trixie, may I ask you something?” Toriel replied back. “Do you believe that you and this child can be able to survive past the door that leads outside the ruins?” Trixie looked over at Toriel with an questionable expression on her face before looking over at Veronica with the same expression.

“Trixie is confused. Why are you and Toriel down here and why are her hands covered in fire?”

“Long story short. We can’t leave unless we get pass her.” Veronica answered as she points over to Toriel. There was a moment of silence for a while before Trixie’s eyes widen to what was going on down here.

“Oh…..Oh! Trixie sees what’s going on now.” The unicorn said before standing in front of the vampire. “Fear not! For I! The Great and Powerful Trixie will defend-.” Just as she was about to finish her long winded speech, she was soon sent flying backwards by one of Toriel’s fireballs and caused her to crash into the stone wall. “...On second thought…maybe you should do this assistant…Trixie is going to lay here...until the pain stops.”

“Great and Powerful my ass. She couldn’t do more then serve as your meat shield then anything else.” Shalltear said causing Veronica to roll her eyes and glare at Toriel with determination in her eyes. In seeing this though, that was when Toriel combined two of her fireballs into a much bigger flame before sending it in their direction. Upon seeing the giant fireball, Veronica quickly drew her sword up above herself to cut the fireball in half. Only for it to explode upon impact sending her skidding backwards a bit before coming to a halt thanks to using her sword as a means to stop her from going backwards.

Once Veronica came to a halt, she placed her sword into the ground for a moment as she raised her hands up. Once her hands were up, a dark aura appeared around them as a ball of darkness appeared before she fires it at Toriel in an attempt to injure her, but not kill her. Just enough so she can be knocked out.

Her attempt seemed successful… but it was after the dust settled that she saw that it did a bit of damage to her. Nothing fatal, but still looked like it hurt. “...... Most i-impressive, child… You certainly have strength… But… can you be able to demonstrate restraint? Violence is not always the answer to solve all problems.”

“Says the crazy goat lady who's throwing fireballs at us.”

“You’re not helping Shalltear.”

Toriel then stood upright, looking at both of them for a moment before speaking. “You may leave. But know this. Once you go through this door, you and your friend will never be allowed to come back. Do I make myself clear?”

“Does that mean Trixie will not be able to get that pie recipe from you?” Trixie asked as Veronica looked over at the unicorn with a deadpanned expression.

“Really? That’s what you’re more focused on right now?”

“What? Trixie was promised the recipe. If Trixie does not get it, it’s your fault.” She glared at Veronica in response. “Besides, Trixie is the only one to keep an eye on you after we leave… Child.”

“.....Why am I friends with you I will never-.” Before she could finish her sentence, she was soon cut off by being hit in the face by a fireball about the size of her head. This caused the vampire to fall backwards on the floor. “Ow.”

“Focus idiot. You got a flaming she goat throwing fireballs at you to deal with.” Shalltear said as Veronica quickly pulls herself up. “Got any ideas on how to beat her?”

“Why are you asking me? You’re the one with the bright ideas after all.” The vampire thought as she fired off a ball of darkness at an oncoming fireball from Toriel causing it to explode upon impact. “I’m just a girl that goes on instincts with you not being the brains of this party.”

“Well then you better think of something, because right now you’re kinda running on empty via magic wise.”

Yet, as another fireball was thrown at them, Veronica did not expect for Trixie to grab what looked like a bucket of water and throw it at the projectile… Nor did Veronica or Shalltear expect such a futile attempt to actually work. “Haha! The great and powerful Trixie has discovered a weakness to your pyrokinetic sorcery-” Unfortunately, she only had one bucket…and Toriel had more that one fireball at the ready. “Oh Dear Luna no.”

“Okay Veronica, think. There’s gotta be something that could work to our advantage.” While Trixie was busy screaming while dodging molten balls of fire, Veronica began to look around the area she was in. Just as she was about to groan in annoyance, she soon noticed something fall from out of the goat monster’s pocket. “Um, I think you dropped something?” That had Toriel look down at her feet and it caused the Caretaker to stop what she was doing in order to pick it up off the ground rather quickly.

“What is that anyway?”

“...... My phone, child.”

“....Wait, you have a phone? Down here in this place?” Veronica asked, a bit dumbfounded by this.

“... Yes I do.” Toriel continued to speak more… but it was then that Veronica heard Trixie say something.

“Hey…… Perhaps we can use that phone to distract her?” She whispered. “Get her to not pay attention to us and have us sneak out?”

“I might be able to do that.” Veronica said as she looked over at Toriel. “Hey, does that phone take pictures or something?”

“Oh? Why yes it does. Why do you ask?”

“Mind if I take a few pictures of you?” The vampire asked as Toriel raised an eyebrow. “Kinda running on empty at the moment, and I know how this is turning out, you’ll pretty much win the fight. So why not take a few pictures of yourself just in case you want to brag about it to your friends?”

“Why sure… Would it be just of me or you and your friend as well?”

“We’ll start out with you first before we get into the shot. You know, so everyone can get a good look at your rocking figure after all.”

“Okay, this can’t actually work? I mean she’s not that stupid or gullible to fall for something like this-”

“Alright, is there anything in particular you want me to do, child?” Toriel then answered back.

“.....I stand corrected.”

“Hm, mind turning around so I get a good picture of your back side? Gotta take a picture of you all around just in case someone makes a model based off of you and needs the pictures for it.” Veronica said as she noticed Trixie appear near the door in a puff of magic. Toriel nodded, doing what Veronica had requested her to do and not noticing Trixie’s presence at all. Once she was turned around, Veronica began to take pictures of the goat monster as she slowly crept over to the door that Trixie was able to slowly open. “That’s it, just a few more pics and I’ll be done.”

“Sure thing. Are you sure that you want these photo’s to be just me?”

“Hey, I have no worries about it being all about you. Just stay like that for ten seconds and I’ll be done with your back side.” Veronica said, as she place the camera phone against the door before following after Trixie and closing the door shut quietly.

“Okay, so what-” That was when Toriel turned back around… only to see that both Veronica and Trixie were nowhere to be found and the phone along with a token with the words “Sorry” on it's forehead lying on the ground. “....Son of a bitch.” The goat monster then walked over to pick up her phone…only to blush at each one of the pictures that was taken of her.

“M-maybe I should be exercising more…”