Chapter Text
Adeline lived in a city called Ebott, it was the capital of their state, and it boomed with people. No one knew exactly why that was, but historians say it was because it was the epicenter for some sort of war.
Adeline was a resident of the city. Born and raised in this cold, unforgiving conglomerate. People only cared for themselves here, with crime rates unnaturally high from the other surrounding towns. Though the town was filled with corruption, it was beautiful. Blinding lights looked beautiful after rain and the dark. During the day the sun shone brightly in the overgrown city. The centerpiece of this old place was Mountain Ebott, it stuck out like a sore thumb, but not an unwelcome one.
The mountain in question was rumored to be filled with blood-thirsty monsters, monsters who ate humans without mercy. Monsters who would kill any human who dared to fall, child or adult.
This tale kept children away, and the mountain itself kept adults away. It was large and overgrown, with no one coming to clean it up for tourists. Trees blocked out the sun, vines, rocks, and roots made it dangerous to climb its steep surface. With how tall the mountain was, and how dangerous it was, only the foolish climbed.
Of course, the word of monsters was just a hoax to keep children from climbing the mountain, as one grew older they learned that monsters weren't real. Adeline once believed in this lie, of course when they were a small child. As they grew older, they knew better, knowing it was just a story to scare them away. Of course, the mountain was empty, no monsters or ghouls lived in a rock.
Though anyone who climbs into the mountain wouldn't be seen again, not because of monsters oh no. One kept away because of how hard Ebott was to climb, the dangerous animals who took up home there kept even skilled climbers away. No one truly knows why, but few who have dared to climb the mountain, (and came back alive) reported the mountain was empty.
That being said, one would wonder why this human, in particular, is climbing the mountain and is still in one piece. Blind luck some say, but even luck like that would run out in the end.
Adeline panted, they weren't exactly in the best of shape, but they too wanted to know the mysteries of this mountain. Truly, that wasn't the only reason, but who was here to judge? Finally, after hours of grueling exercise, they reached the top of the huge mountain. They looked at the setting sun, beautiful purple, pink, and red hues blended as if someone used too much water while water painting. The sun was the only warmth against the wind and cold, the approaching night creeping up behind the human. It nipped at Adeline’s exposed arms and legs, goosebumps forming.
Shivering, they looked back and saw into the entrance of Mt. Ebott, it was dark, and Adeline could barely see in. Slowly, they turned around and stood within the doorway of the cavern. It was an empty round room, with vines and dirt surrounding it. Taking long strides they walked in the doorway of the unknown, Adeline slowed their movements to a shuffle, vines grew thicker and more abundant the more they walked in. As they shuffled, the sound echoed in the chamber. They made a confused noise and moved closer, the sound was louder. Somehow, the sun barely reached into the room. Almost like a void existed, and only rested in the deep wide hole.
The young adult moved even more forward, and they lurched a bit, the vines growing from within caught their foot and held fast. Adeline’s heart pounded as they took a step back, sighing in relief, and they turned around, wanting to head back into the bustling town. But before they could fulfill that wish, a dog running across the entrance startled them, and they stepped back to get away from the startling sight. Their foot was caught in a green vine, and they fell back into the abyss.
Adeline flailed their arms, tears pricked their eyes. Wind screaming in their ears as they fell. The dim light of the outside seemed to fade away as they fell into darkness.
.
.
.
.
"Owwwww……" Adeline shifted their body, eyes closed tighter. Stealing a deep breath, they felt around their surroundings. They smelt morning dew, sweetness, and some mud mixed in? Feeling around, the human felt soft petals, at least, they assumed they were petals. Another deep breath in, their chest rising and falling with each wasted breath. Two things out of all this were, one, Adeline had a splitting headache. Two?
They were alive.
Shooting to a sitting position, they opened their eyes and looked around. Adeline was shocked. Bright blue flowers glowed around them, luminous and small. They were in a ring of these mystery flowers, and it seemed like they were surrounded by swap. Dark blue grass surrounded them.
Adeline took another deep breath and pinched their shadowed arm. The human was already dark, but the shadow and blue flowers made them even darker. The quick feeling of pain made them upset, nope, all real. The human hugged themselves, debating on whether or not to get up.
Adeline decided they should. They slowly shifted up and looked around, dusting themselves off. After some thinking, the human decided they were in some sort of marsh, the ground too wet to be dry land, and Adeline could heat faint water running.
They also scrubbed out wet dirt. It was all over their body, all the way from their shoes to their head. Sighing as they brushed out the dirt in their hair they froze. Adeline felt something in their hair that shouldn't be there. Slowly they reach a tentative hand to the back of their head. Gasping when they felt something on the back of their head. It had the same texture as those bright blue flowers beneath the shaking human.
Maybe it was stuck in their hair? Taking a deep breath to calm themselves, the human thought the flower was just caught in the mess that was now their hair. It's simple really, a firm tug and the flower would be dislodged. So they grabbed the seemingly firm base of the flower and gave a hearty tug.
A scream ripped out of the human, hot searing pain shot through Adeline’s head and seemed to only burn when they let go. Falling to their knees, hot tears built up as the blue flowers seemed to blur together. After some shuddering breaths, the glowing blue flowers stopped becoming one. They reached one hand up back to the flower.
It didn't even budge.
They gave another gentle tug, this time a short burst of pain shot through, not as bad as the first. With a gasp, Adeline drew their hand back and took another deep breath. Maybe...maybe the flower was just too tangled in their hair? Yeah, yeah that must be it. Slowly gathering their thoughts, feelings, and body, Adeline slowly got up. With shaky hands, they took tentative steps forward in the dark.
After what seemed like hours of wandering in the unknown, Adeline finally touched smooth marble. Squinting they saw dark-colored pillars, surrounded by darker vines. Looking through another entrance they saw another patch of grass. Though this one was barren of blue flowers, and the grass seemed brighter. They took another step.
A small stuffed cat popped up. Adeline gasped and stepped back, and turned their body to run. "W-wait stop!" Adeline froze, did that stuffed toy just talk?
"I know this must be scary and confusing, but listen closely human! You have fallen into a world of darkness. I have taken it upon myself, Temmie! To lead you through this awful land." The stuffed toy rambled, a seemingly practiced speech lost in nerves.
Adeline took a critical eye to the being, it was a graying cat-shaped toy. It had pointed ears, rips and tears surrounded the ears, letting stuffing hang out of the holes. The sewn-on hair was covered in burn marks, scratches, and more tears. The toy had a tear-stained face and was morphed in a sad-scared look. It was wearing a purple turtleneck, the graying dirty shirt faded into different shades of purple. Its back paws and tail were in the same condition as the rest of its body.
Adeline stepped forward, and the doll sat down waiting sadly for the terrified human to walk over. They fell to their knees, shorts riding up to the back of their knees. Tentatively, Adeline reached a slow hand out to the toy.
The doll did not move as the human slowly rubbed the top of the doll's head. They mumbled something, and the toy's ears tilted even more up. "What was that human?"
Adeline cleared their throat, drawing their hand away. "I asked if you maybe….maybe had a name?" They frowned, looking away. The doll snickered, a genuine smile pulled at its sewn face.
"Yes, my name is Temmie! Though you can just call me Doll." Adeline looked back at Temmie and smiled appreciably. They looked around, taking in their surroundings. The two beings were in a small cave. Cold wind slowly passed through, though little sunlight passed through. A blue glow emitted from the next room, Adeline could see through a wide marble doorway, a bright blue glow surrounded rushing waters. That's all they could see.
"Temmie, may I ask why you call this place terrible?" Adeline decided to ignore the fact that they were talking to a talking toy, and get the questions that popped in their head first. Temmies light smile faded, and it now looked nervous.
"Well..er..not to scare you, but this is a lawless land. Down here, it's kill or be killed, but!" They started at the human's scared face, "I don't believe in that! I have seen so many humans come and die here and I'm just sick of it." They looked back up, "We can go through this place together. You'll be safe with me."
"How do I know you're not lying?" They said, now wary of this tiny creature. Adeline scooted back, falling on their butt, resting their weight on their hands. Temmie scooted back also and looked down.
"You won't believe me, no matter what I say. But I promise you it's in your best interest to let me help you." It looked up and smiled, slowly getting up. Every so slowly they placed themselves into Adeline’s lap, resting its tired head on their stomach. Their grey undertones complimented the dark purple shirt, and they sighed in and out.
"Okay, I trust you." Adeline picked up Temmie and cradled them close to their head. The doll made no movement to hurt the human, so they trusted it. Walking forward they faced fully into the next room.
Maybe this wouldn't be for the worst.