AN: Inspired by Cataquack Warrior's prompt, A Small Act of Kindness. I decided to expand on it.

A Small Act of Kindness - In the first main room of the gallery, Ib decides not to risk damaging the ant's portrait, and sets it back in the right place. She cannot go any further, but at least she has made a friend, and maybe that will be enough.

K is for: Kindness

The ant had been watching the girl sit on the floor for quite some time now, head down, hugging her knees and trembling. They had chatted for a while earlier and the ant really liked her. She was sweet and really nice, even bringing his painting over when he told her how far away it was and how much he wanted to see it.

"What's the matter?" he asked her.

She finally looked up and gave him a smile. She had a really nice, soft smile. "I think I'm stuck here."

Now the ant was puzzled. "Huh? What do you mean? Aren't there supposed to be a lot of doors here?"

"The one that leads out is locked, I think."

"Well, where's the key?"

The girl shrugged and offered her hand, so he jumped abroad. Bringing him closer to her face, she sighed heavily to the side. "I have a feeling it's on the other side of the room I didn't explore."

The ant was starting to get agitated, like she was trying to hide something. "Well why didn't you go explore it?"

She shook her head sadly. "There's a large gap on the floor and I can't cross it without something to step on. Even though it's the only thing I can take off the walls and use, I didn't want to step on and damage your painting."

She was awe-inspiring. "That's really… nice of you! You're so kind! …but why don't you just jump past?"

"It's really wide, I'm scared of falling."

"Then… let me help!"

"Huh?"

"You're my friend, I want to help!"

She blinked at him in confusion. "How?"

"We can use my amazing painting! I'll walk across and find you that key."

The girl instantly sat up. "Are you sure? It's really far."

"Then take me as far as you can!"

She was so nice and he hadn't had a friend in such a long time. If he and his amazing painting can help her, then he would do just that! Shifting the ant from her hand to her shoulder, the girl hesitantly went to retrieve his painting from the wall again.

He looked on in amazement as black, scaly limbs struggled to grab the girl from the jade walls. That was new. He admired the different paintings of all his past friends from his new eye level and wondered where they all went. The ant watched the beautiful story of a metamorphosis until they came to a door, and the rather large gap on the floor the girl had mentioned earlier.

"I can see why you'd rather not jump."

She nodded and placed the painting down. Just as she suspected, it was just large enough to act as a bridge. The ant hopped from her shoulder to the finger she held out as she slowly lowered him towards the painting.

"Are you sure about this?"

One more look of her sad and yet hopeful face spurred him on and instead of replying, he quickly set off to find the key. It was a little far, but nothing he couldn't handle. On the other side of the chasm, behind the door sitting on the floor was the key they were looking for… and a red headless statue seemingly guarding it. Looking up to the walls, he was taken aback by the epilogue to the metamorphosis story.

"Hey, Red..." he greeted with a small voice. Well, he was an ant afterall. "Mind if I take this old thing?"

As soon as he lifted the key onto his back, the statue took a giant step forward and crossed its arms. The ant nervously scuttled a few inches back but it didn't seem to follow. It was probably just observing. Maybe?

"Well, nice chatting with you! Take care!"

He was worried it wouldn't fit until the key slid easily underneath the wooden door. As soon as he was back in the hallway, he heard a gasp from the little girl and he danced victoriously inside. Hopefully she would smile again! The little ant made his way over as fast as he could and hopped onto her outstretched hand.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed.

He knew the happiness on her face made it all worth it, and he was right. "Yeap! No problem."

A snarl ringed through the hallway before the door on the other side flew off its hinges onto the wall. The headless statue walked out and turned its body to face them. Paralysed, the girl stumbled back and tripped on her own feet. The ant didn't know what to do.

Red thrust its arms out and marched towards them, using the ant painting as a bridge. Scrambling out of the hallway, the two friends froze when they heard a huge crash. The little girl peeked back into hallway by the door frame and gasped. The ant did the same and screamed.

"My painting!"

x

Ib glanced at the ant on her finger and her heart filled with sadness.

"I'm really sorry about your painting, I should have saved it before... I didn't mean for it to..."

The ant could only look on and repeat the words as if it was in a trace. "My beautiful painting... oh my poor painting..."

The child could only apologise profusely as she set him down, grabbed the key and slipped away. He didn't seem to notice. She didn't know what else to say.

She could only vow not to hurt another painting in the gallery.

AN: Yeahhhh and we all know how that story ends. Sorry Ib.

Quick question: What does the number 13 remind you of?

I was thinking of writing about Friday the 13th for the chapter but I'm not too keen on it (4 Horsemen and Lucky 8 are enough thanks) and was wondering if anyone else had any ideas.

Take care x