Chapter Text
Anon, to sudden silence won,
In fancy they pursue
The dream-child moving through a land
Of wonders wild and new,
In friendly chat with bird or beast –
And half believe it true.
~All In the Golden Afternoon
By Lewis Carroll
Chapter 1
Pain.
That was the first thing she knew.
Sound.
That was the second.
A golden scent was the third.
Slowly her eyes opened. They were heavy and tired and easily slid shut again.
A few moments later she tried again, succeeding in opening her lids fully this time. Her surroundings were swathed in deep brown shadows while a thin beam of light fell over head. Her body lay in a tiny pool of soft golden flowers.
How had she come here?
Where was here?
...Who was she?
Her head swam and ached with an emptiness that she didn't understand. Wracking her brain only proved to increase the throbbing and she quickly ceased trying to remember anything. Standing on unsteady feet she looked out into the darkness, searching for a possible path or way out of wherever she was. But nothing appeared and the only clear escape seemed to be the opening several feet above her head.
Not caring about much aside from seeking help for her head, the Girl stumbled forward and simply walked. After several minutes of intense darkness she suddenly walked into an barrier and her unsteady momentum propelled her forward until she came out under another patch of sunlight upon a mound of grass. A single golden flower stood in the center, it’s round face smiling at her. The throbbing in her head faded and was replaced by a distinct fuzziness that made thinking difficult. Were flowers supposed to smile?
“You made it, I’m glad!” the Flower exclaimed eagerly.
She frowned and the Flower’s smile faded “Don’t you remember me, Chara?”
Chara.
Who was that?
Was it…her?
It felt both wrong and right at once. She felt her head shake but she didn’t move, what was happening?
The Flower drooped a moment before perking up “I suppose that’s understandable! After all, you’ve just Determined yourself back! You can call me Flowey for now! And, Chara…” The Flower stopped and appeared to be listening closely to something though she said nothing. “You’re not…what? Never mind, the point is, I can help you achieve what you want. You want to leave right? I know how to do that! All you have to do is give me…” The Flower’s face twisted suddenly and she stepped back with a gasp of horror. “YOURSELF! GIVE YOURSELF TO ME AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS FOR THIS WORLD!”
Terror filled the girl but an emotion, separate from her own, pulled toward the Flower. For a brief moment she was falling backwards as a ghostly child surged forwards. She knew this child. She had to…protect this child. A scream of protest choked in her throat as she reached out to stop the phantom but a sudden crashing noise shattered the apparition. The girl landed on the ground and looked up at the looming, smiling Flower.
“I can give you your dreams…” he started in an alluring tone.
The Girl tried to back away but was stopped when a white fire suddenly burst from the darkness and rushed towards them, consuming the Flower furiously.
The Golden Blossom shrieked in rage and disappeared into the earth.
A figure stepped from the darkness clothed in robes and carrying a light. “What a horrible creature! To attack such a young girl…my dear are you hurt?”
The girl shook her head even as she slid away from the creature. Despite it’s docile tone, it was indeed a monster with a goat like face, white fur that covered it’s body, and two small horns atop it’s head. She felt very sure that this wasn’t normal.
“Ah” the creature sensed her fear and held up two reassuring paws. “Do not be afraid my child. I am not here to harm you. My name is Toriel and I am the caretaker of the ruins you have found yourself in. If I may, you seem to have injured your head, shall I examine it?”
The Girl suddenly realized that her head was throbbing again and her fear gave way to pain as she doubled over defenselessly.
“Oh dear! You poor thing!” the goat woman exclaimed as she hurried to the Girl’s side and fussed over her a moment. “I cannot examine it well enough here, though it is easy to see you are bleeding. Can you stand? If so, follow me and I will lead you to a place where you will be better tended.”
The Girl nodded, knowing that even if the creature really had wanted to harm her, there would have been no point in the act of caring. Slowly she stood and followed as the woman led her forward onto a path.
“Do you have a name, my Child?” Toriel asked.
The Girl opened her mouth and then stopped as emptiness filled her. Tears stung her eyes and she shook her head before crying out in pain.
“There, there, do not hurt yourself anymore. It is alright if you do not remember. Shall I come up with something for you?” Toriel offered in a gentle tone.
The Girl nodded carefully and waited while her companion pondered a moment.
“I hope you do not mind a name so obvious, but given your outfit I cannot help but to consider, Ladybug? Would that be suitable?”
The Girl stopped.
Ladybug.
Was that her name?
No, but…she knew it. A familiar voice came to mind above a crash of thunder.
“Ladybug!”
She didn’t know who the voice belonged to but she was sure he was calling to her. She clenched a fist over her heart and looked to Toriel with a joyful smile as tears filled her eyes again. “Yes. Yes, Ladybug would be nice!”
Toriel smiled happily and nodded. “Then Ladybug you shall be!”