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// kindness.corrupt 
// Story: Ponytale 
// by Scarlett Haze 
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	You didn't even pay attention to what the flower says to you. It tells you things you already know. Of course it is kill or be killed. Would it have been any other way? You know exactly what needs to be done.
You keep your ears shut to Toriel's speech and grip on to the stick beside the dummy after the dull explanation of puzzles. "Mercy, what a joke," you think before you destroy the dummy with one strong swing. She tells you that its not what you're meant to do. She's attempting to hold you back from your LOVE and EXP. You only smirk. It's going to be a pleasure to end her existence.
Not a single monster will get in your way as one by one they are obliterated into dust. Already you feel the power build in you with each monster fell by your hoof. You don't pay attention to Toriel over the phone, even when she is being passive-aggressive with you. If she had any courage, she would have stopped you before you even began.
Coward.
Finally, the RUINS go quiet and you start shouting out for anything to give you a challenge. But nobody came.
Exploring the RUINS you find and now carry a Toy Knife that will never be sharp enough for what you want it to really do. The home of Toriel stands in front of you and her kindness as she leads you inside makes you sick to your stomach. You continue to not pay attention to her as she shows a room to you. You don't bother going inside it just yet as you move to the mirror at the end of the hallway. You practice looking like the happy little pony that Toriel believes you are. This is you, Midnight. You brush off a little leftover dust that is sticking to your fur and mane.
You force yourself to lie on the bed, and hear every step Toriel makes in this cramped home. She steps into your room and places something down on the floor. You make no movement, noting that if you were truly fearful, the Toy Knife hidden underneath the covers can fly out and strike her in the back.
When you awaken from your sleep, the pie on the floor that Toriel has told you is cinnamon-butterscotch is merely wrapped in magic and tucked away. You walk past Toriel and enter the kitchen, sifting through the drawers for one item in particular. Where are the knives.
You have no choice but to speak with Toriel and you demand her to tell you how to get out of these RUINS. She attempts to stall for time listing you a fact about slugs. You see her fear and you can't suppress your smile. She knows that she must perish. She runs. The RUINS are already emptied of life, does she think that she can cry out for help from the exit?
You follow her as she tries to once more convince you to turn away, that the world is dangerous beyond the exit.
Ha. Only disbelievers would think that you can be stopped.
She's now blocking the way and your Toy Knife should be enough to tear her apart.
All it took was one slice.
She stands only by willpower alone as she realize who she was trying to protect. It wasn't you. It was the world outside. Toriel fades into yellow dust and you collect her SOUL. "Kindness?" You question, holding the SOUL in your hoof. "Being kind only holds you back from your true potential. And I have only just started."
You exit the ruins and find that stupid flower that tried to kill you from before. It's laughing. "You're not really a pony, are you? No... you're empty inside, just like me." The flower's smile matches your own. "We're still inseparable after all this time, aren't we, Midnight? I have a plan to share with you, a plan that will make me all-powerful, even more powerful than you and your stolen soul. Together, let's destroy everyone and everything in this wretched world. All of them, turned into dust."



You stumble back in fear, having now seen yourself acting completely different than you ever have before. Being visibly shaken, Flowey cackles at your fear. "You see? It is you. You tore her body apart and all that was left was dust. And now, here we both are, one of us having a greater will to change the world, and the other forced to watch." Flowey's face continues to shift and mold as his anger and madness increases. "In this world it is kill or BE killed! And when you go against a ruthless killer, you WILL be the real Midnight that I know you are!" His voice goes softer as you keep stepping back, "And the best part? I'll be watching you. I'll be in every shadow and every darkened room you pass. So when you finally let loose and become the true creature you are, I will be there. Your best friend. Then. Now. Forever."
You run from Flowey as his evil laughter echos throughout the chamber. You cry out for Toriel as you burst through the doors and back up into the home. You search every room and keep crying out for her. You even use the CELL PHONE to try and call her and you get no response. You fall at the front door, replaying the image of Toriel turned to dust as you stand over her with a sickened smile on your face.
You keep running and shouting out for Toriel, not wanting to believe that she is gone. You collapse in sorrow and exhaustion, your heart beating in your ears and the laughter of Flowey ringing in your mind. As you curl into a ball on the floor, you feel a paw rub against your mane in a loving manner. "Were you that worried about me?" Your cries stop and you see Toriel through wet eyes. You can't express that you are overjoyed to see her as you clutch her close. She tries to shush you and holds you in her arms. "I'm here. And I'm scared too. You just need to be strong of heart and soul. I believe in you."
You tell your name to Toriel and she smiles. "That is a wonderful name."
Three pink butterflies flutter around the both of you and you look back in Toriel's light-blue eyes and yellow furred face; the sunlight above you as the two of you are embraced over a bed of golden flowers. You promise to be your best and will never harm a single monster. She nods, "I know you won't." She then lets you go and stands. "Now, please. Don't worry anymore about me. After all, someone will need to care for the flowers and the other monsters here."
You calm yourself once more and give one last goodbye to Toriel before you leave. This was your tale. No one else's. Even if that corrupt flower was now haunting you, you will stay strong. You will push through and make it home.
At the doors below Home, you give them a hard push and shield your eyes from the brightness of the outside. You check behind yourself one last time... and you step into the white snow.
You are filled with determination.