Shattertale

Chapter - 1

"Augggh!"

*You scream as you fall down a large crevasse on Mt. Ebott.

*Your fall is broken by a field of golden flowers.

I rubbed my head as sat up. "Okay, ouch, how the hell did I survive that fall? That was full force faceplant from a lethal height!"

*You get to your feet and pull stray flowers from your hair.

"Hearing a voice narrate my actions probably isn't a good sign..." I sighed, looking up at the sunlight that was so distant. I walked over to one of the cave walls and attempted to get a decent hold on the stone to begin climbing out. After all, nobody knew I was here. Nobody would be searching for me. I only managed to get about two feet off the floor before I lost my grip and fell on my butt.

*You're trying to get out the wrong way.

*Pick up a stick that and go down the corridor.

"So you can do more than narrate," I said as I found a sturdy looking stick and made my way down the dark pathway leading deeper into the cavern. The further into darkness I went, the more the walls seemed carved out than naturally formed. What was this place? I passed through a doorway of some sort and came across a single flower growing in a stray beam of light.

"Howdy, I'm Flowey. Flowey the flower."

"Holy crap, a talking flower!" I raised my stick, ready to whack petals off the smiling plant.

"W-wait!" Flowey shrieked. "You're new to the underground, right? Golly, you must be so confused. Someone ought to teach you how things work around here! I guess little old me will have to do. Ready? Here we go!"

A red heart glowed from my chest. I didn't know I could do that. "It's official, I'm 99% sure I'm tripping balls from falling on my face."

"No silly," Flowey said, sticking his tongue out to the side. "That is your soul. The very culmination of your being. Your soul may be weak now, but it can grow stronger if you gain a lot of LV."

"LV? Maybe I've played a few too many videogames, but doesn't that mean level?"

"What? No. It stands for LOVE of course! You want some LOVE, don't ya? Don't worry, I'll share some with you!" Flowey made another cute face and some white looking seeds began to float in the air around him. "Down here, LOVE is shared through... little white 'friendliness pellets'. Ready? Move around and collect as many as you can!"

Suddenly, a splintering headache came over me. I clutched my head, trying to get my bearings. My heart pounded. With each pulse, red shatter marks crossed my vision and everything seemed so dark. Flowey no longer seemed like a cute flower. A terrifying face had replaced his smile. A ring 'friendliness pellets' were rapidly spinning around me.

"You idiot! In this world, it's kill or be killed. Die!"

I blinked repeatedly until the shatter marks faded away. Flowey was back to his innocent self and only a few pellets were flying around. I stepped to the side and dodged them.

"Hey buddy, you missed them," Flowey said with a mildly irritated expression. "Let's try again, okay?"

I ducked to dodge them a second time.

"Are you braindead? Run. Into. The. Bullets. I mean 'friendliness pellets'."

I evaded them a third time.

"You know what's going on here, don't you?" Flowey sounded pissed and the terrifying expression from before was plastered to his face. "You just wanted to see me suffer. Die!"

"The hell, man?!" I shouted as the pellets surrounded me. "What are you even talking about?!"

A ball of fire rocketed through the darkness and took out of the evil plant.

"What a terrible creature, torturing such a poor innocent youth," said a kind voice. A tall woman who looked similar to a goat came forward. "Do not be afraid my child. I am Toriel, caretaker of the ruins. I pass through here every day to see if anybody has fallen. It has been a very long time since a human has come down here. Come, I will guide you through the catacombs."

"Uh, miss Toriel, thank you for saving my butt, but I'm extremely confused right now."

"This way, I will explain as we go my child."

"I'm actually not a—" I cut myself short when I realized she was leaving without me. I hurried after her to the next room. It was far better lit thanks to millions of glowing crystals along the ceiling. I watched Toriel lift the bottom on her purple robes as she bustled up the stairs leading towards some ruins. The violet brick and stonework was an interesting touch. Something sparkling and warm looking hidden among some leaves caught my attention. I reached over and touched it.

*The shadow of the ruins looms above, filling you with determination.

*HP fully restored.

Well, that cleared up the question if the voice in my head would go away or not. At least touching the sparkle made my scrapes and bruises from my fall disappear.