Sorcerer’s Revenge
Derpy fought hard against the storm that raged around her, through her entire career she had never seen a storm like this before let alone experienced one. It seemed to be alive in the way it moved to and fro sending her spinning out of control for her to just barely saving herself before crashing into one of the many strange obelisks that populated the landscape.
The obelisks themselves weren't big but rather steep and spread out, tall, looming pieces of rock that seemed to want to shred anything that came close to them, there seemed to be writing on them, she wold have gotten a closer look if it weren't for the high wind. The sun was rising but still had a way to go before it would be considered daylight.
“Of all the places to send a letter why did somepony want to send one here?” she grumbled to herself. “Who would want to live in a place like this anywa-AAAAA” before the mail pony had a chance to finish another gust of wind caught her by surprise sending her spiraling toward the ground. She spread her wings catching herself and flew upward to further separate herself from the ground below.
“That was close, maybe I should just forget about this dumb delivery altogether.” she flew farther into the storm “I mean really? Who'd expect an average mail mare to deliver a letter in this kind of weather?” Just as the mail mare was about to turn around and forget this delivery ever happened, the seemingly relentless storm abruptly ended as if going threw a smoke screen, it took a while to get used to the sudden change the climate.
The place seemed so strange the weather was only part of it, everything was quiet and the air was still.
But regardless of the whether Derpy had a job and since the storm has passed she continued flying toward the designated drop off. Flying was easier without the strong wind or any wind for that matter. she looks down to see heavy forests and growth blocking the ground from sight there seemed to be mountains on the horizon.
After several miles she began to see a tower on the skyline as she gets closer she realizes that the tower is only part of a castle that still seemed far away “this place must be huge! wonder why i've never heard of it before.” after more flying the castle came into view it took a minute to process the castle itself was bigger than canterlots the tower that she had seen was only the tallest of many others that abound the castle. Even in broad daylight to loom over everything around it, upon closer inspection derpy discovered cracks and decay evident on the surface.
Worry was beginning to set in “Ok just get in, deliver the package, and get out, it's just that simple.” Ditsy whispered to herself trying to instill more confidence than she currently had. The scenery seemed bleak as she approached the castle and only getting bleaker. The mail pony gathered her nerve and swooped down to the front gate the door was large enough to fit a full grown manticore its wood coated iron showing signs of rust and rot. The door, like the rest of the castle, was rotted and made one wonder what was behind it.
Without waiting for something else to go wrong she lifted her hoof and knocked against the door making a echo that carried much further than she thought it would. The sound seemed to travel through the entire area with a low hum, Derpy waited secretary hoping nopony would answer despite the hard journey here, after all anypony who lived in a place like this must be a weirdo.
Everything was quiet; as if world was holding its breath. All Derpy could hear was the sound of her own breathing. Then suddenly but slowly the doors began to move, snapping into motion for the first time in ages. As they slowly opened the mail pony was filled with a sudden fear, fear of the unknown and subsequently her life.
What was I thinking coming here! I was so stupid, this is so obviously a trap! But fear held her in place. Too terrified to move, the pegasus could only watch as the doors finally began to grind to a halt. As utter blackness waited beyond the threshold Derpy could only hope that whatever was inside wasn't hostel in anyway.
“H-hello?” she called into the dark, not knowing what to expect.
Suddenly there was movement in the shadows; something was definitely inside but choose to remain hidden.
“I know you're in there! I can see you.” said the mail mare growing bolder with the knowledge that whatever it is, was hiding.
Not knowing what to do next she inched closer to the door until she was at the threshold, slowly she stuck her head in looking for whatever was in the shadows.
“Hello?” Derpy called again at the edge of the threshold is as far as she wanted to go but so had not come this far to go back empty hoofed.
There was another stir in the dark, but whatever it was it seemed to be covered in shadow. She couldn't make out the shape; it seemed to move but it was impossible to tell where it was going or what it looked like as if it wasn't there at all, but she knew it was there... somewhere.
Seeing this made the mail mare second guess the whole thing all over again. The journey may have been long and hard but what ever was inside seemed worse in the way it was hiding seemingly trying to lure her in. Maybe I should just leave it here, ya thats it!..but I still need a signature.
A voice came from the dark.
“Who Goes There?” the sound was distant and stranded.
The pegasus reeled back in fright it was hard to pinpoint where the voice was coming from but what was that it she couldn't see who said it. she had never heard anything like it before and honestly never wanted to it was definitely not friendly and was not the reason she came here in the first place.
“Speak, now!” It demanded, obviously not enjoying the silence it was receiving.
“I-I-I a-am J-just a mail P-pony.” She stuttered trying not to pass out from fright she just wanted to leave and act like this never happened, give the job to somepony else.
“Mail?! We Never get mail!” it rang out, its voice echoing through the walls and around the door.
The mail pony was scared but decided the sooner the better and reached into her saddle bag and shakingly removed a small envlop wrapped in paper. The paper was pink withe gold embroidery and seemed worn down, the mail mare then set the package on the ground and look back into the blackness that lurks inside.
“This was sent here.” She said trying not to sound scared as she felt and slowly back stepped outside hoping to avoid confrontation; this was too much for her to bear and she wanted out.
“Stop! Who said you could leave?” it shouted.
“Uhhh.” the mail mare stopped for a split second considering the opportunities, looking in the inside then outside before crouching down and taking off into the sky in an attempt to flee the castle and its inhabitants, going as fast as her wings can take her.
“Wait, Come back!” the the black shadow called after the Pegasus, tendrils of shadow dispatching from the the darkness and giving pursuit to the mail mare, intent on stopping her retreat and bringing her in.
The fearful Pegasus flew with all of her speed and strength she had, but the shadows were closing in on her. In a last ditch effort, she threw off her mailbag allowing her more speed but losing the letters she had been tasked with and would probably cost her the days pay or even her job, but that didn't matter now. All she cared about was flying as fast as she could. Derpy Hooves was a Veteran mailpony but this was the first time she had seen anything like this. Whatever was in there was not a pony or anything that was supposed to be in Equestria.
The wind was cold against her face as she propelled herself forward over the heavily wooded landscape
Soon enough the mail pony was nothing more than a dot on the horizon flying off back to her care free life, a worm bed and friends she can trust and depend on. Hoping that this unfortunate turn of events will fade from recognition and memory by the next day and that her boss will believe the lie she will have to come up with to cover the whole thing up.
Deep in the darkest corners of the abandoned castle the shadows stirred.
