Sticks and Dust
I pass Toriel's 'test' on my independence. I snort after she walks off to run her errand. Just how old does she think I am? I obediently wait in the hall for a few minutes before I get bored and go into the next room. There's another Froggit sitting by the door and I watch him with a careful amount of caution before approaching him. The monochrome of Battle doesn't appear, so I assume he doesn't wanna fight. I purse my lips a little and look at him. A text box appears above him asking me to show some Mercy if a monster doesn't want to fight anymore and spare them. I hesitate before nodding and slipping away. He watches me go with a heavy gaze. The corridor I'm in continues down, but I spy a doorway just up ahead and go through that. There's a bowl full of little wrapped candies. There's a little sign that reads: 'Monster Candy. Please Take One'. I smirk. Don't mind if I do...
I finger the candies in my pocket as I continue to walk down the corridor. So I may have knocked the bowl over when I took one too many candies, but hey, I needed them. It is what it is.
I start whistling as I stride down the hall. I take a sharp intake of breath as the world fades to that of Battle. A little monster that reminds me of a gnat flutters up to me. He looks absolutely terrified. I just raise an eyebrow and smack Act. I grin as I jab the Terrorize option. The monster- Whimsun- runs before a text box even appears with whatever I would have done to scare him more than he already was.
I keep going, sparing Froggits and Whimsuns as I trot along, a merry tune escaping my pursed lips. When Battle kicks up again, I smile, finding I like the feeling of not having to fight. A new monster strides up to me, a short cyclops looking thing. I take my turn, hitting first Act, then Pick On. Loox snarls at me and attacks. I yelp, focusing on moving my soul. Even if the attacks hit me, they don't actually do anything; it's only when they hit my soul that there's any consequences. But Froggits had been pretty easy to avoid. I yelp as a dibbit of my health disappears to an attack. I hit the Pick On option again to go through a similar turn. I stare at my options, my face gone slack. The Act isn't working. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Sorry Toriel. I punch the fight button and run up to Loox, screaming. I punch him hard in the face. My punch takes off 1 health. One out of a lot more. Loox smiles maliciously and attacks again. One more hit and I'm done for. I'm panting looking around. I need a weapon if I plan on taking this guy, er, monster down. I pick up a heavy wooden stick lying in the leaves and turn back to the Loox. I hit the Fight button again and this time take off the rest of his health with a last attack. I sigh deeply as Color comes pouring back to the world. I stare at the pile of dust the monster left when I defeated him.
No. No, I killed him. My hands shake as I realize that. On the streets, you did what you had to do. I've had to kill animals before, but never something like this. This wasn't a person, but it was still a creature with hopes and dreams. And I snatched them all away.
I shake my head a little and press on, stepping over the white pile. Shouldn't have gotten in my way. You do what you have to do. In this world, it's kill or be killed.