Gargoyle

Chapters

How I Died - Prologue.
Chapter I - Waking up.
Chapter II - Like something from a Game.
Chapter III - First Blood.
Chapter IV - Nightmare.
Chapter V - A Stone Gargoyle is in the base.
Chapter VI - Over Encumbered.
Chapter VII - Prison Break Part I - All hell breaks loose.
Chapter VIII - Prison Break Part II - Battle of Titans.
Chapter IX - Prison Break Part III - They weren't always like this...
Chapter X - Prison Break Part IV - Beware the Shadows.
Chapter XI - Prison Break Part V - Welcome to the boss level.
Chapter XII - New Companions
Chapter XIII - Denial And Anger...
Chapter XIV - Self Doubt

How I Died - Prologue.

Gargoyle.

How I Died - Prologue.

‘Long ago, in the distant past…

Before the formation of the Kingdom of Equestria, before the first Dragons formed the Council of Elders, before the Griffins united to form their mighty Empire, before the birth of the Changeling hives, and before the rise of Chaos and Harmony.

There was only the Demon King.

A demon that had been around since the creation of life itself.

Their first.

A demon, who fought for control of the underworld.

Their general.

A demon, who united the demonic horde under his banner.

Their King…

His demon horde roamed the world, freely slaughtering any who dared to oppose them and ruled over the younger creations of life, with a cruel and malicious reign.

For thousands of years he ruled unopposed, allowing the younger races of ponies, griffins, changelings, dragons and many more to evolve as he saw fit.

But, as with all whom live to rule with tyranny such as he did… there were forces far greater in motion.

A champion of stone was brought to the world, summoned by power of the Alicorns who would become the first rulers of a new world, leading a united army of races to oppose him.

The battle raged for days and nights but the forces of the warrior broke the stalemate, pushing the demonic horde back into Tartarus. The Demon King fought ferociously against the power of the stone warrior but to no avail, and was cast into the pits of Tartarus with his armies, sealed away till the end of time. But before the final blow was struck, The Demon King cast a curse upon the land, vowing, he will return to claim what is rightfully his when the stars broke the gates of Tartarus.

Many soothsayers of all races came together to figure out when the stars would appear, all coming to the same conclusion and prophesied the words that exist to this day...

When Chaos rises & falls,
When the rule of Shadows falls to Harmony,
When the Night rises & falls
When the Night returns to rectify its past,
When Chaos rises & falls once more,
When the power of the heart, vanquishes evil,
When the Shadows return and fall to a united crystal,
When Chaos returns to rectify its past,
When the lessons of a student, blossom into leadership,
Tartarus will open its gates…’

When this prophecy is fulfilled, the Nine Dark Stars will align in the mark of the Demon King and Tartarus will weaken, allowing the ancient evils that dwell within its walls to break free and lay waste upon the land. Allowing the Demon King to lead his horde across the world once again…

Only the hero of stone, summoned from beyond the void, can truly destroy this evil…’

“Thank you, enjoy your purchase.”

I smiled as the man left with his own smile on his face, who could blame him though. He just bought a brand new game for his console; it was Friday and from the look of his other shopping he was planning to spend the entire weekend enjoying that game.

Would be a lie if I said I wasn’t a little jealous.

But I had my own plans, I’d specifically taken this weekend off because my friend from way back in my primary school days were coming down to stay for the weekend from their universities, seeing as it was the summer holidays. We’d been planning this little get together for months now, sorting out days off with our jobs and what have you.

It was going to be a fucking brilliant weekend.

See, we play Dungeons and Dragons, me and my friends, not the online version but the good old fashioned, character sheet, describe what it is you’re doing and have a few good laughs kind. Granted we didn’t fully play it properly as most of the time, we would fall into fits of ‘the giggles’ because something would happen that would set us off. But we had fun regardless.

When we were teenagers we used to play every couple of weeks because we lived locally with one another, Alice and Sam only lived next door and were siblings, Luke was my flatmate and the others lived in the village as well, so getting round to one another’s houses was easy. Though as we got older, we didn’t get as much chances to hang out together to play the game as much as we used to whether it was because of school, college, work or whatever. So our fortnightly like sessions became quarterly every year, which in hindsight is better, it gave us more time to prepare in advance and there’s always the thrill of anticipation.

And tonight is night we finally make proper headway in the current quest were doing.

As I watched the customer leave, I felt something jab me in my side and looked to see my supervisor, Kate, giving me an annoyed glare.

“Scott, you’re meant to be cleaning out the back, remember?”

“Yeah I know, but there’s a thing called a queue Kate,” I replied with a patronizing tone.

“Don’t give me that attitude, Scott!” She snapped back, “I’m your supervisor remember?”

“Again, I know, you never shut up about it.”

We glared at one another for a moment, some customers in the shop watching us shocked and interested in what was going to happen next. I was the first to break into a grin before we both burst out laughing.

“You’re such a pain, Scott, you know that?” She chuckled.

“Yeah I know, I’ll get the cleaning done in a moment,” I said stifling a yawn.

“Alright, I’m gunna put the kettle on, want a cup?” She offered.

“Sure.”

I watched her walk into the back office before returning my attention to the shop floor, I liked Kate. I really did. When I first started working at GAME a year ago, she had been working here for about five months and at first we didn’t really speak to one another because of different shift times. But after my first two months she was promoted to supervisor and had her shifts changed to the hours I was working, we pretty much hit it off after that and became good friends.

It wasn’t the first time we had pretended to get into an argument like that in front of customers, we usually did it once or twice a week when it was just the two of us working, or when Frank was around, poor old sod still believes each argument we have is genuine.

Eventually Kate came back with two mugs of tea and handed me one, the shop by now had virtually emptied and it was pretty much us two left. Figuring I should make a start on cleaning before a rush of people came in in the last five minutes of us being open – which happened a lot – and headed back into the back room, leaving Kate to man the tills.

The cleaning didn’t take me that long to be honest, just some tidying up of stock and a quick brush around with the broom and I was done, finishing off my tea me and Kate then quickly began the routine for shutting up the shop. Turning of the lights, making sure the alarms were on etc.

As the metal gate came down over the door, Kate pulled the key from the lock and said bye to me and headed off in the opposite direction I was heading. I put my hands in my pockets and began the short walk home, thankful it was a dry evening as I only brought my hoodie as a coat. Not like the rain would have bothered me if it had been raining, tonight was going to be epic anyway.

I walked past the crowds of people returning to their homes after a busy day of doing whatever, I popped a headphone into my ear and selected a random song to play, unable to stop myself smiling as I began to imagine the fun we were going to have that weekend, and not just with dungeons and dragons.

Sam and Alice were going to bring over a couple of old games consoles as well as several of our favourite old co-op games, like Mario Kart double dash.

Man that game is fun.

I came to the end of the road where the traffic lights were and briefly glanced upwards, I saw that the light was red and proceeded to cross, humming to the music as I did. My thoughts began to drift through how I was going to start my quest for my friends.

Would I have them finally defeat the necromancer they were hunting? Or should I just fuck them over by making them fight a black dragon? Or maybe-

There was a screech of tire against road, and my world went black.

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter I - Waking up.

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter II - Like something from a Game.

Gargoyle.

Chapter II - Like something from a Game.

I couldn’t believe what I was looking at in my reflection...

Looking directly back at me was a grey, stone like faced creature which reminded me of a gargoyle with a human like head, two large horns protruding from the head, strange pointed horn like things coming out of the sides, two large wings sprouting from the back and two eyes, completely black with a low red dot in the centre and in my mouth, rows of sharp fangs with two jutting out from the corners of my mouth.

Looking down over my body I saw that I was wearing what appeared to be a simple loincloth, and like my arms, my lower legs had a similar leather material wrapped around them. I began to hyperventilate again as I got up and began to walk in a circle, rubbing my arms as I tried to think what the fuck was going on.

“Ok so I’m a stone… thing, no need to panic…” I muttered to myself.

“No need to panic? THIS IS THE PERFECT FUCKING TIME TO PANIC!” My mind shouted at me.

“There has to be a perfectly logical explanation for this!”

“Dude, we’re a fucking Gargoyle! WHERE’S THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS?”

“Maybe… maybe…”

“I’m waiting!”

“I’m dreaming!”

“…What?”

“I have to be dreaming right? There’s no way this is real!”

“Good point… but how do we determine that’s the case?”

“Well… you can’t be hurt in a dream right?”

“I… think so.”

“So… if I do this…”

I lifted my arm up to my mouth and bit down hard against my skin, I winced as the pain surged through me and blood began to slowly leak from where my teeth had gone through the skin. I curiously pinched my skin to double check and like with normal skin, it was pushed up in between my finger and thumb.

“Did you just bite yourself...?”

“Ok… so I can feel pain… and I guess I’m not made of stone, just stone like?”

“Can you focus please? This is more serious than wondering if you are stone or stone like!”

“You’re right… sorry… wait… why am I talking to myself? Oh god, I’m going crazy!”

“Just calm down!”

“I’m sure there is a perfectly logical reason for this,” I said to myself again.

“STOP SAYING THAT!” My mind yelled.

I sat down on the ground as I struggled to keep myself from breaking down and crying, I had no idea where I was or what the fuck was going on. I tried to think of any reason as to what was going on when I had a sudden flashback; I was walking across a road then nothing.

And then it hit me.

“What… what if I’m in a coma?”

“What?”

“Well, I can feel pain, but I know this isn’t real. I remember… walking across a street before blacking out so… maybe I was hit by a car or something and I’m in a hospital?”

“That… makes some sense… I guess, but what do we do?”

“Well, there must be a trigger in this ‘dream world’ I’m in that will wake me up, you know, like in Life on Mars.”

“Alright… so what do we do now?”

“I guess… look around or something?”

I stood up and stretched my arms, pushing my concerns and questions into the back of my mind for the time being, deciding that I was definitely in a coma and somewhere in this world was the trigger for me to wake up. I figured the best thing to do is to find someone within this dream that could give me an indication as to what goes on here.

Like the people who live here and who rules over it that sort of thing. It felt weird thinking about that given this is a dream world concocted by myself but I figured it would probably be more exciting to see what my subconscious would throw at me.

I looked around and saw to my left a pathway in the trees, figuring it was the best thing to use as a means for finding civilisation and began walking down it. As I walked I casually looked over the trees and couldn’t help feeling like I was in the middle of an RPG, like Zelda or Oblivion.

I didn’t notice I was smiling as I walked down the pathway, a gentle thump as my feet came into contact with the ground. I figured out that because of what I currently was, I must weigh a fair amount given the slight imprints I was leaving on the ground. I felt the wind blow over me gentle as it rustled over the leaves of the tree and I slowly began to whistle to myself, smiling as I carried on walking deeper into the forest.

I lost track at how long I had been walking down the pathway, it must have been a good few hours because the sky was starting to go orange, meaning it was getting late and the shadows the trees were giving had gotten bigger.

Stopping by a tree for quick break I scratched my chin as I tried to think on what to do next, I gave my body a glance over and an idea popped into my head.

“Wonder if I have any kind of benefits as a Gargoyle…” I thought aloud.

I tried to remember what I read about Gargoyles in my dungeons and dragons monster manual, I then remembered that they had a natural armour bonus.

“So… I might be able to withstand some damage?” I wondered.

I gazed up around me before spotting a small cliff rising above the tree line not too far from where I was resting; a smile formed on my face as I quickly strode towards it. As I reached the base of it, I looked for any place I could grab onto and climb the cliff side. I crouched down and leapt up as high as I could, which was surprisingly higher than I was expecting, and latched onto the side.

I grunted as I used my claws to dig into the earth and climb upwards, soon reaching halfway. I looked over my shoulder and swallowed hard.

“Alright… here goes nothing!”

And with that I let go and plummeted towards the ground, I shut my eyes tightly just as I collided into the ground with a loud boom, sending some dust and earth into the air. I coughed as I got to my feet and rubbed my back, as I though, it didn’t hurt me as much as it would've if I was still human. I couldn’t help but grin as I dusted myself off, I looked over to a nearby tree and another idea came into my head.

“I wonder how strong I am…”

I walked over to the tree and run my hand over the bark, getting a good feel of the tree before pulling my fist back and clenching it. I let out a roar as I slammed my fist as hard as I could into the tree, the tree cracked inwards slightly and buckled as I pulled my hand back and shook it rapidly, wincing as some pain shot through it.

“Ok… fairly strong then.” I muttered as I rubbed my hand with the other. “So I can take some damage… still feel some pain and I have some strength in me… cool!”

I blinked as the last word came out of my mouth.

“What the hell am I thinking? This is just a coma induced dream… but… it is pretty cool for a dream I guess…”

I looked behind me as I stretched out my wings and retracted them and I grinned again, looking up to the top of the cliff and back at my wings a third idea came into my mind.

“Well… if I have wings might as well see if I can fly.” I grinned, getting a little excited at the idea.

As I began to climb up the cliffside again, I don’t know why but I could feel myself getting more and more excited, I eventually reached the top and stood up and I couldn’t help but gasp at what I saw.

I gazed over the landscape and felt my breath being taken away at the beauty of it; it looked like something out of a game or from a fantasy novel. As far as I could see was a sea of green that reached up and covered mountains, to my right I could see the forest coming to an end and what was either a lake or the ocean with the sun hanging what seemed to be mere feet about it as it was setting. I felt a tear come to my eye as I looked over the landscape, watching some birds fly past and towards the distance. It was nothing like I had ever seen before, I didn’t know how I hadn’t noticed it before but I could smell the smell of the trees as a cool breeze rushed around me.

“For a dream… it is beautiful…” I muttered.

“Focus, none of this is real, remember?”

“I know, still, nothing wrong with enjoying the sight.” I chuckled.

I wiggled my toes in the grass as I stretched my wings, I didn’t actually know the basis of how birds fly but I figured it was just a simple case of flapping my wings up and down, using the wind and what have you, shouldn’t be too hard.

Right?

Besides, I’ve always been curious what it would be like flying towards dusk. The air felt warm and I let out a sigh, giving my wings a test flap.

“Well… here goes nothing!” I declared.

I jumped off the cliff and began to flap my wings, at first it was working as I began to glide down wards and I let out a shout of joy as I arched up into the sky and flapped my wings.

“HOLY FUCK!” I laughed. “THIS IS INCREDIBLE!”

My joy was short lived however because when I had flapped my wings, something had gone wrong as I arched downwards and plummeted to the ground at speed. I frantically flapped my wings as the ground came closer and closer.

“SON OF A-“

I crashed into the ground with a loud thud that echoed around me, more dust and earth was sent into the air as I loudly groaned. I got to my feet, coughing as the dust settled around me.

“Ok… so I know how to glide but not fly… perfect.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Shut up… wait… why the fuck am I arguing with myself?”

I didn’t get a reply - Well, how can you reply to yourself after asking yourself a question like that? - I sighed and shrugged it off as I looked up to the sky.

“I should find somewhere to sleep soon…” I muttered.

I looked around to see whether or not there were any signs of civilization nearby, as luck would have it I thought I saw some smoke rising in the distance. I quickly clambered up a tree to the top and looked over the horizon and I grinned seeing a small pillar of smoke rising to the north – or at least I thought it was north – and quickly jumped down to the ground.

I began to briskly walk as quickly as I could in the direction the smoke was coming from, getting a little excited at what civilization my mind had created for me in this dream world.

I just hope they don’t freak out too much over my appearance…

As I kept walking, there was suddenly a loud growl and I looked around slightly alarmed thinking a predator was nearby or something before realising it was actually my stomach making the noise, after chuckling to myself I decided that I should first find something to eat first before meeting whoever it was near the smoke, after all my grumbling stomach might frightened them into believing I was going to eat them. I quickly looked around trying to find anything in the surrounding area, keeping my eye out for any kind of fruit or berries on the trees and bushes.

It seemed luck was favouring me this time, as not soon after deciding to look for some food I came across several bushes that had blackcurrants all over them, I licked my lips and began to devour all the ones I could find. After about ten minutes of eating, I couldn’t find anymore and my stomach growled once more, clearly not full or anywhere close to being satisfied.

Grumbling to myself as I searched the nearby area for any other signs of food but came up short handed, I let out a huff of irritation as I climbed up a nearby tree to spot the smoke once more, seeing it nearby I quickly clambered back down and began to head in its direction. I suddenly stopped though as a familiar scent suddenly invaded my nostrils and I inhaled deeply.

Roast, pork.

I sniffed the air as I tried to lock onto the delicious smell and soon locked onto a rough idea of where it was coming from.

It was coming from where the smoke was.

Licking my lips as I fought back the urge to drool I began to head after the smell, looking forward to eating some meat and actually meeting someone in this world. As I walked though, I kept grumbling with my hand on my stomach as it refused to stop growling in hunger, I had found a few more berry bushes along the way I was going and hungrily devoured them, still resulting in me feeling hungry though. I came to a rough conclusion that in this new form that vegetation wasn’t going to fully sate my hunger, which meant I would have to resort to hunting for meat, something I had no knowledge about.

As I came closer to the smell – judging from that fact I could hear a fire crackling – I remained hidden in the trees, using the shadows to my advantage, by now the sun had completely gone down and the moon was in the sky, giving a beautiful soft glow over the land and just as I had suspected, I was able to see perfectly in the dark, albeit for a certain distance.

I crept as quietly as I could, trying to keep my body low as not to spook whoever was in the camp. As I carefully leant against a tree with my back and peered to the side I was shocked to see just who the camp belonged to, but soon felt the same rush of excitement from earlier when I was trying out my new abilities.

It was definitely like something from a game, like dungeons and dragons, in the camp were creatures that kind of reminded me of the Gnolls, like them they were humanoid in the sense they were standing on their back legs and wore basic clothing, and whilst they looked like they were hyenas, they had a different shaped head that was more canine like in appearance. I made a note that several of them were carrying weapons such as swords, daggers and spears, which made me question how I should approach them.

My stomach struggled with the urge to growl once more as I spotted in the dead centre of the camp a roaring fire with a large boar being cooked over a spit, surrounded by a few of the Gnoll like creatures who appeared to be feasting on it as well as drinking from crude, wooden looking tankards. I could hear them cackling like hyenas would which made me wonder if they were aggressive or not, I could clearly tell from the look of the camp that this was not a small community but rather a camp for scouts or something, meaning the main bulk of these creatures probably resided a fair ways from here.

My stomach growled softly as I gritted my teeth and looked around, I needed to find a way into the camp without startling the Gnolls – deciding that I’d call them Gnolls for the time being untill I found out there actual race name– and causing them to attack me, whilst I knew that in this body I was probably stronger than they were, I was outnumbered, unsure if I could take them all on in combat given they had swords and I really only had my claws. I decided the best way was to find a way to either single them one by one and take them out that way, or try negotiating my way in.

“This is like Dungeons and Dragons…” I chuckled softly to myself.

“It is a little bit… but just remember, you need to figure out a way and fast, and you CAN die in a coma you realise?”

“Yeah, yeah, get in and out without dying, I get it.” I muttered with a dismissive tone, my eyes never leaving the boar.

“Are you listening to me!?” My mind shouted at me. “This is serious you know!”

I ignored my inner thoughts for now, as I had more important things to consider, namely my dinner. I looked left and right at the camp trying to find a way in and decided the best thing to do was to sneak around the camp to get a better understanding of its layout.

I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter III - First Blood.

Gargoyle.

Chapter III First Blood.

Keeping my body as low as I possibly could to the ground, I carefully began to make my way around the right hand side of the camp, all the while keeping my eyes sharp for any sudden movements from the Gnolls that may hear my movements.

‘So far so good…’ I thought to myself.

I came to a stop by another tree after making a full semi-circle of the camp, from what I could gather, there must be at least seven Gnolls, judging from the number of tents they had set up. I also caught a glance at a Gnoll that was significantly larger than the others who was sitting on what looked like a makeshift chair, drinking heavily from a tankard.
Didn’t take a genius to work out he was the leader.

“Ya know what boyz?” I heard him say, “I fink dis calls for anotha’ round of ale!”

The others gave a roar of approval as I heard the sounds of barrels being opened and the sounds of liquid being poured into tankards.

“To da Hobolls! Da bestest race in the world!”

Another roar of approval rang out throughout the camp as I struggled not to burst out laughing at the name.

‘Hobolls… really?’

‘Focus, ´ my mind said, ‘remember we’re here to try and get some food without offending them.’

I nodded to myself as I began to try and find a way around the camp again, after a little while longer I had to hold back a groan of frustration as I couldn’t find a clear way of walking into the camp from the side I was hiding without startling the Hobolls.

‘Alright… doesn’t seem to be anyway I can get in from this side… what about the other?’ I wondered.

Like before, I kept my body as low as I could and began to sneak round to the other side of the camp, my body froze as I stepped on a twig which snapped loudly, louder than I’d of liked it to. I practically flattened myself to the forest floor and kept as quiet as I could, listening for any sign the Hoboll might have heard the twig.

“What was dat noise?”

“Go looks, ya waste of fur!”

‘Damn, now what?!’ I cursed to myself.

As I heard the sounds of at least two Hobolls coming closer, I glanced around and saw a fairly large-ish stone and quickly picked it up, with as little movement as I could so I wouldn’t get noticed, I chucked the stone towards my right deeper into the forest. The stone smacked into a tree from the sounds of it and I held my breath as I could feel the Hobolls presence nearby.

“Hmmm, musta been animal.”

“Long gone now, we go drink now!”

I waited till I heard the Hobolls move away and let out a sigh of relief and slowly lifted myself back up from the ground as I crept to the far side of the camp, looking from the forest floor to the camp as to avoid any other incidents like earlier, I grinned to myself.

“Guess my sneak roll was a perfect twenty this time.” I chuckled to myself softly at my little joke.

I soon came to the direct opposite side of the camp without being detected and I mentally gave myself some experience points, leaning against another tree I peeked my head out and glanced around at the camp, I saw a small section between two tents that looked like a good way to sneak into the camp and I closed my eyes, trying to focus on hearing sounds around me.

Like in an action film or something.

My eyes opened suddenly as I heard the sounds of… crying? Who on earth is crying?

I changed my position and looked in the other direction of the camp from my hiding place and I stopped myself from gasping at what I saw.

How I managed not to see that was beyond me.

Near to where the leader was sitting was a fairly large cage that was sitting on a platform on wheels, inside the cage was at least a dozen… small horses? Ponies maybe?

Some of them were visibly shaking, from what I don’t know but most likely fear, from what I could see I gathered that the majority of them were mares and foals.

Wait foals?!

I blinked as I confirmed what I saw, along with the mares there were at least five small foals, all with dirty coats and messy manes and were crying as they clung desperately to what I assumed was a parent.

“What on earth…?” I whispered.

‘I think… I think they’ve been captured.’

“Well no shit Sherlock,” I muttered, “questions is why though.”

‘I don’t know, food maybe?’

“I doubt it… I mean you saw the size of that boar… so maybe…”

I stopped mid-sentence and stiffled a gasp when one of the ponies spoke up.

“Mummy... I’m scared.”

“It’s ok Lilly Song... It’ll be ok...”

I let out a low growl, my mouth forming into a snarl as I quickly worked out just exactly what they were for.

“Slavery…” I growled softly, “it has to be slavery...”

‘I think you’re right...’

“HA HA HA! Great haul boyz! Da master is gunna be chuffed wiff dis haul!”

I snapped out of my growl as the leader let out a disgusting cackle along with the other Hobolls, I watched as he swigged from his tankard and look over at the cage of sniffling ponies, their eyes widened as he snarled loudly at them.

“QUIT CRYIN! YUR RUINING ME ALE!” He barked at them.

He threw his tankard at the cage, the wooden tankard smashing on impact and coating the ponies in the contents. The ponies whimpered as the Hobolls laughed at them, I could feel my anger boiling up inside of me and my body began to shake slightly, I let out a low growl and was about to make a move when I noticed a Hoboll walk over to the cage.

“I should help them.” I whispered

‘What, are you crazy?! You can’t possibly take that risk, you CAN die remember?”

“But I can’t just do nothing…”

‘Look, I know this looks bad and trust me that it’s a sad scene. But this is just a dream, remember? Nothing more, nothing less. They aren’t real.”

“Oi, boss. Can I take one of dese ponies and ‘ave some fun?” He asked looking to the leader.

“Whatever, just don’t kill da bitch.” The leader shrugged as he was given a new tankard.

The Hoboll grinned as he opened the cage and violently pulled out one of the ponies, a mare with white fur and matching mane. She had wings on the sides of her body but they were tied down with rope preventing her from being able to fly away.

“N-no please!” She cried.

“Mummy!” The little foal I had heard speak cried out trying to run after her.

“Let her go!” A stallion cried.

“QUIT YUR CRYIN!” The Hoboll shouted, shoving the foal back into the cage into the stallion who held onto her tightly.

He slammed the cage shut and locked it, and grabbed the mare by her front hoof and started to drag her away.

“SNOW WING!” The stallion shouted as the foal began to cry.

I’d seen enough.

I had to do something, dream or not.

Against the protesting in my mind, I quickly made my way back again around the camp, all the while hearing the poor mare screaming for the Hoboll to let her go, I could feel something inside of me burning up alongside my anger and I didn’t notice I was growling lowly as I quickly made my way across the camp. I watched as the Hoboll strode into the tent with the crying mare behind him and close the tent flap, seeing that there was no other Hobolls about I moved out of the trees and quietly to the tent.

“N-No please… please don’t!” I heard the mare whimper.

“Shut it!” The Hoboll barked back.

I heard a loud slap and the mare let out a cry of pain, gritting my teeth and letting out a low snarl I slipped into the tent carefully. I could feel my anger boiling up inside me, all concerns of being overwhelmed by the Hobolls or being attacked by them had practically gone, leaving anger in its place. The Hoboll had his back to me and was towering over the mare who, from her point of view, didn’t see me.

“I’m gunna enjoy dis…” The Hoboll laughed.

I slowly stood up behind him, my height slowly towering over his, the mare saw me and her eyes widened as she stopped whimpering and stared at me with shock and fear.

“What you lookin’ at?” the Hoboll asked turning round.

The Hoboll’s eyes widened in surprise and before he could let out a sound, I grabbed his head and violently twisted it, snapping his neck with a sickening crunch as his body gave a sudden twitch and went limp.

I growled as I tossed the body into the side of the tent, letting out a snort of disgust.

‘What the hell are you doing?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I started to tune out my thoughts, I didn’t need to hear them at the moment.

I was only interested in dealing with one thing and one thing only at that moment, the Hobolls.

I looked down at the mare as she lay there on her back simply staring at me with her shrunken pupils and began to slowly shake in fear, I saw she was about to scream and quickly placed a hand over her mouth, muffling her.

“Shh… stay here…” I whispered to her.

She nodded silently and let go of her mouth, I turned and was about to leave the tent when I glanced back at the corpse of the Hoboll and an idea came to mind. I grabbed the body and slipped out of the tent quietly and back into the tree line, carefully making my way away from the tent.

I placed the body on the ground and looked towards the camp, looking for a perfect spot to start my plan. With a sick grin I grabbed the body by the neck and hurled it towards the camp, I watched as it sailed through the air and crashed into the ground beside the group near the fire, startling the life out of them.

I could feel a rush of energy flow over me as watched the panic within the campsite.

As cries of panic ran in the air as the Hobolls tried to work out what the hell just happened, I silently made my way to another part of the tree line near the camp and waited.

“FIND DA ONE WHO DID DIS, NOW! I WANT DER ‘EAD!” I heard the leader bark.

I smirked at his tone, although it was confident I could hear just ever so slightly a hint of fear. Some of the Hobolls began to head towards the edge of the forest, with two remaining by the cage of ponies. I watched as two of them started to come towards me, as they came closer I had a strange sensation fill me as my body warmed up and I felt myself start to salivate lightly. Ignoring it for the time being I climbed up into a tree and using the shadows to my advantage I was able to hide, my back against the tree as I looked downwards.

As the Hobolls slowly walked past, I shot my tail down when the one furthest away from me looked away and wrapped it around the neck of the one closest tightly preventing him from making any noise and hoisted him into the tree, where my hands quickly found his head and like the first Hoboll, I quickly snapped his neck.

I watched the other as I held the limp form of the Hoboll in my grip; I chuckled softly at the stupidity of the Hoboll when he suddenly heard a faint snap noise and noticed that he was now all alone. The Hoboll looked around trying to see where his friend had gone, his ears lowered as a soft whimper left his mouth.

‘No sense keeping them apart…’ I growled.

With a soft grunt I flung the corpse from the tree at the Hoboll, he spun round when he heard the grunt I made only to have the corpse slam into him and catching him off guard, causing him to fall to the ground. Quick as a shot I leaped from my hiding place and outstretched my wings for intimidation, the Hoboll shoved the body off and saw me and let out a yelp of panic as I landed on him, the weight of my body crushing his chest with a crunch as a spurt of blood shot from his mouth. His eyes widened before his head slumped to the side as the blood leaked from his mouth, I inhaled deeply as the blood pooled around his head and smelt something I couldn’t put my finger on.

But it smelt good.

I heard the other Hobolls barking and the sound of footsteps rushing to where I was, I figured they had heard the yelp as I had thrown the body at the Hoboll. I quickly grabbed the sword one of the dead Hobolls was carrying and quietly went into the bushes, careful to keep my body as low to the ground as I could and once more waited in the shadows. The strange smell was getting more and more intense and it was making me more alert, my limbs feeling lighter and my eyes began to sharpen in the darkness letting me see more than I normally could. Soon after, three more Hobolls appeared.

“WHAT DA FUCK!” A Hoboll cried as he looked over the two dead ones.

“I dun like dis…” Another muttered.

“Spread out! Dis fing can’t be too far!” One barked.

I held back the urge to chuckle again at the blatant stupidity of the Hobolls; I waited till they had begun to spread out before I made my move, I lashed out with my tail at the closest one who fell with a startled yelp as I tripped him, before letting out a cry of pain as I plunged a sword into his throat. The two others turned to see what happened and froze upon seeing me, seizing their temporary paralysation; I charged at the one closest to me and tackled him to the ground and plunged the sword into his throat as well.

It gave a choked cry of surprise as it spluttered blood from his mouth but I suddenly hissed loudly in pain, the other Hoboll had snapped itself out of its temporary paralyzation and stuck his spear into my right shoulder blade and although I heard the spear snap as the toughness of my skin prevented the tip from fully sinking into me, I did still feel the sharp sting of pain as it cut into me.

The Hoboll gave a confused yelp as the crude wooden pole snapped and its eyes shot open as I suddenly twisted my body round and pounced him, growling loudly as I sunk my teeth into his throat and began to tear into him, the blood spraying all over my face as I continued to rip apart his throat. The Hoboll gargled and choked on its own blood as it flailed helplessly, trying to push me off him to no avail. As blood rushed down my throat I happily drank it down, the feeling I had earlier after smelling the strange smell overtaking me again when I realised what I was experiencing.

Blood lust.

I raised form the body of the Hoboll, blood dripping from my mouth as I licked my lips and wiped the remaining blood off my face. That’s when I felt myself calming down slightly, and then I saw the body of the Hoboll and my eyes widened slightly.

“Did... did I just do that?” I whispered to myself, slightly disgusted.

I stared at the body for a few more moments, just processing what I actually just did.

I’d never killed anything before in my life, in fact, I’d never acted like such an... animal before. I looked at my hands which were covered in blood and I gritted my teeth.

I was brought out of my shock by the sound of the Hoboll leader’s.

“WELL? ‘AVE YOU FOUND EET YET?”

I felt my anger boiling up again at his voice, I don’t know what it was about it but it just hit a nerve and my sudden shock was quickly overwhelmed by the smell of the blood flowed into my nostrils again and I turned towards the camp.

“Six down…” I growled. “Three to go…”

As I grabbed the legs of the two corpses I heard something whisper to me. I stopped momentarily as I looked around me, wondering if I had made a miscalculation on how many Hobolls there actually were. Waiting for a brief moment and hearing nothing, I turned around to start heading into the camp.

‘Calm...’

I heard the whisper louder this time, but it didn’t feel as if it was coming from around me, and it didn’t sound like the usual voice in my head either. I shook my head and chose to ignore it for now as I had other things I needed to focus on. I slowly began to make my way towards the campsite, dragging two of the bodies with me as I walked. I remained in the shadows between two tents, looking over at the leader who was tapping the side of his makeshift throne impatiently.

“Where da hell is they?” He growled.

“Maybe dey is dead boss? We did ‘ear a cry…”

“Serves dem right fer being weak den, guess I better go sort it out...” he grunted and stood up, “you two stay ‘er and keep an eye on da prisoners!”

“Right boss!”

I chose that moment to make myself known, with a grunt I threw both corpses, one after the other, into the middle of the camp watching them as they rolled on the ground. The Hoboll leader looked up slowly from the corpses in my direction and his eyes widened slightly as I slowly stepped into the clearing. The ponies were silent save for a few gasps as I emerged, the light from the flames danced over my body adding to the intimidation factor, I knew the leader could smell the blood on me because he began to growl lowly.

“You da one dat killed me boyz?!” He shouted.

“Yes.” I growled in response, more deeply than normal.

“DEN YOU IS DEAD!”

He suddenly charged at me on all fours the speed of which took me by surprise; he tackled my midsection and sent me hurtling to the ground with him on top of me. I growled in pain as I felt his teeth sink into my neck but thanks to the added toughness of my skin they didn’t fully go in, only grazing it which confused the leader, I gripped his sides and brought my leg up and with a mighty push I flipped him behind me before scrambling up to my feet and standing in a defensive position.

He snarled and tried to rush me again but I managed to sidestep at the last moment and brought my fist into his stomach, winding him as I spun on the spot, gripping his fur in my hand and hurled him into his makeshift chair, smirking as it smashed on impact.

He got out with a low growl, spitting out a glob of blood from his mouth and slowly rising from the wreck of his chair. He looked to his right and grabbed a spear that was nearby before charging me again, he let out a roar as he tried to stab me with it but I again narrowly sidestepped and swung my tail round into his stomach, he let out a pained howl as something inside broke and he crashed to the floor, rolling a few feet.

I growled and swished my tail waiting for him to make his next move; as he got up shakily I could see the anger in his eyes as he bared his teeth and roared again.

“YOU TWO, GET ‘IM!” He roared at the two Hobolls guarding the ponies.

Up until that moment, they had been watching the fight with open mouths, unsure as to what to do but as soon as they heard the leader roar at them they snapped out of their shocked states and rushed me, both armed with spears.

I growled deeply and braced myself and as the closest one tried to stab his spear into me, I ducked down and grabbed part of the pole and forcibly pulled it towards me. As the Hoboll stumbled off balance my fist connected into its side causing it to howl in pain and drop the spear, I quickly took a small jump back as the second Hoboll rammed his spear towards me, the tip of it just catching me in the arm I used to punch the first.

I hissed as I felt some blood trickle down my arm and snarled at the Hobolls, the leader smirked as the second Hoboll went for me again. I blocked his spear with the one I had taken from the other and pushed him back slightly, he stumbled a bit before falling to the ground as my tail swung round and swept him of his feet. Taking the opportunity I plunged the spear I was wielding into the Hoboll’s chest, eliciting a pained howl as I felt the spear go straight through him and embed into the ground below.

The first Hoboll shakily got to his feet and jumped at me, catching me off guard and latched onto my arm, trying to sink his teeth into it.

The Hoboll must of gotten a weaker part of the skin as I felt some of his teeth sink in and I let out a pain roar, I brought my fist down onto his head repeatedly as I tried to get him to let go. Finally the Hoboll let go with a whimper and I brought my knee up into his chest hard, knocking the wind out of him before grabbing his body and with all my strength I threw him onto the fire.

The Hoboll screamed out in pain as it got up on fire and rolled on the floor trying to put itself out but to no avail, I suddenly heard a soft whistle sound and turned round before I cried out in pain as a spear slammed into me and embedded itself into my chest. I looked up to see the leader reaching for another spear, I roared out and charged at him, ripping out the spear from my chest and holding back another pained cry and tackled him into the tent that was behind where his throne had been. As we collided with the tent it collapsed around us and we struggled amidst the fabric of it, I managed to find his neck under part of the tent that was covering his head and wrapped my hands around it and squeezed.

As the leader choked and let out gasps and tried to breath and push my hand off him, I stared down at him and growled as I felt a familiar energy wash over me again as he thrashed about.

“Calm yourself!”

My head snapped up as I heard the whisper again, I shook my head trying to ignore it as I applied more pressure to the Hoboll leader’s throat.

“Scott... calm down!”

My eyes widened in surprise, I wasn’t expecting the voice to know my name. I suddenly became aware of what I was doing just at the moment I felt the leaders hands, which were trying to push mine off, go limp and he let out a last breath.
I stood up slowly from the body breathing in deep, shallow breaths as I took a couple of steps back.

I couldn’t believe what I just managed to do, I looked at my hands which were shaking slightly. I just killed another creature, and several others all within the space of an hour...

… and I liked it.

But that voice in my head... it was something that concerned me, unlike the other voice in my head I had argued with ,it didn’t sound like me. It was more deeper and slightly darker, yet it had the tone of wisdom in it.

Shaking my head as I clenched my fists, I quickly strode over to the cage with the ponies in it - who were now backed as far as they could against the bars in fear- and inspected the lock silently.

I chuckled softly to myself at the utter simplicity of the Hoboll lock and easily ripped it off the door, I then grabbed the door itself and ripped it off the bars and threw it aside, leaving a very large gap in the cage. I took a few steps back to allow the ponies to get out and I smiled at them.

Big mistake.

“EVERPONY RUN! HURRY!”

They all screamed and burst out of the cage and began to run away from the camp, I realised that my grin might of given them the impression I had wanted to take them as my meal or something else. I turned around quickly looking after the disappearing bodies and tried to speak but blinked as my vision became slightly blurry.

Stumbling to my knee I winced as I felt myself feeling weaker and weaker and looked down at my body, where the spear from the leader had thrown at me was blood, but mixed in that blood was an orange looking liquid.

It didn’t take a genius to work out it must of been some form of poison.

I winced as I clutched the wound and fell onto my back and began to pant, my eyes feeling heavier as the world around me began to fade into black.

Author's Note

[Edited version to com/] Any errors, feel free to let me know ^_^

Chapter IV - Nightmare.

Gargoyle.

Chapter IV - Nightmare.

I groaned softly as I rolled my head, the first thing I noticed was that my head was resting on something... soft, like a pillow. As I tried to open my eyes I became aware something was covering them and I began to panic but stopped when I felt something on my hand.

“Easy, Scott... you’re fine, you just need to remain calm ok?”

The voice was female and... soothing.

“W-what’s going on?” I asked nervously.

“You’re in a hospital, Scott, you were in a car accident and have been unconscious for a couple of days, remember?”

I tried to think what she meant but nothing came to my mind.

“I... I don’t remember.”

“That’s ok, but I will need you to calm down ok?”

“W-why can’t I see anything?”

“Because, you have a bandage over your eyes, you received a few nasty cuts to your face in the accident.”

I felt her gently tug at something on my head - most likely the bandage- and soon the darkness slowly gave way to light as the bandage was taken off me. I blinked and groaned as I tried to get used to the light before my vision began to focus, I looked around and saw a nurse smiling down at me.

“So... it was all a dream...” I muttered under my breath.

“Your family is outside, Scott. Would you like me to send them in?”

“YES!” I shouted happily, perhaps a little too happily.

The nurse chuckled as she left the room, as she did I took in my entire surroundings. I saw one of those large clocks on the wall that displayed the date and the time.

October 9th 2010, 10:15 pm it read.

I saw that I was connected to one of those heart machines and watched the line do the whole beep thing which you’d see on those hospital shows like Casualty or something. It was then that I noticed I was in my own room, no other patients were with me which I found a little odd at first but remembered that I had just come out of a serious accident and people who get hurt - as I assumed I had- that bad were placed in secure rooms, figured I’d get moved later on a bit.

The door opened and I looked over to see my mother and little sister literally rush in, my mother had tears in her eyes along with the biggest smile I’d ever seen. My little sister gasped and ran over to me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug to which I cried out in pain.

“S-sorry, Scott...” she apologised.

“It’s... ok, Jessica.” I winced as and gently laid myself back into the bed, “where’s dad?”

“He’ll be here tomorrow sweetie, he’s flying back from the business trip in the States to see you,” my mother replied as she came over and kissed my forehead.

“So... what actually happened?” I asked.

“Well, according to witnesses you apparently crossed a road without looking and a lorry crashed right into you. The doctors say its a miracle... that... you’re...”

She choked back a sob and began to cry as she gently pulled me into a hug as I stroked her back, as I did so images flashed back to the accident.

“I remember... I didn’t bother looking when I crossed that road,” I groaned to myself.

We spent about half an hour or so just talking - most of it being my mum going on about how she was so afraid she’d lost me and me keep telling her that it’s ok now - but something was really bothering me, I was covered in a few bandages and I could see visible cuts and bruises but nothing was broken, literally no bones were broken and it bothered me slightly.

There was a knock at the door to the room they had me in, the nurse who was looking after me opened it two police officers walked in.

“Hello, Scott,” the first one, who was a man, said, “how’re you feeling?”

“Been better, can’t really complain,” I replied with a shrug.

“That’s good, we’d like to go over what happened if that’s alright with you?”

“That sounds ominous,” I said raising my brow.

“Well, some witness accounts and the drivers account claim you walked in front of the lorry without looking. Whilst some others say the lorry driver didn’t stop-”

“Look officers, there’s no need. I didn’t look before I crossed, simple as that. I’m really sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused,” I interrupted, “I’d just like to move on and forget all this if that's alright with you.”

“Are you certain?”

I nodded, knowing it was entirely my fault I ended up in hospital.

“Alright then, guess we better go tell the lorry driver the good news,” the officer replied as they started to leave.

“Wait!” I said, “how... how is the driver?” I asked.

“A fair bit shaken up, he was convinced the accident was his fault,” he replied.

I felt my heart sank as the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks, I let my mind race to thoughts of that driver. How was he truly coping with this? Did he have a family and was he terrified of going to prison over this? How would he cope with driving again? Would he be terrified of something like this happening again?

I nodded to the officer and laid back into the bed again and shut my eyes, my mum could see I was upset and gently squeezed my hand.

“Do... you want some time alone?” She asked.

I didn’t answer, I only nodded as she smiled and kissed my forehead again. I listened as my mum and sister left the room leaving me on my own with the nurse, she took a few readings or something from me - I wasn’t really paying much attention anyway - and gave me a couple of pills to take to help with the mild pain I had.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked.

“What’s that Scott?” She replied.

“It’s something that’s bothering me, I was hit by a lorry which I’m guessing was going fairly fast, and was curious as to why I have got no broken limbs,” I paused briefly before nervously chuckling, “don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased as punch I don’t but it just doesn't seem right you know?”

That’s when I noticed something else that was odd, the nurse gave me a blank stare but had a pleasant smile on her face. It seemed like hours passed before she finally spoke up and replied to me.

“The doctors just said you were lucky that’s all, now, you need to get some rest.”

And with that, she abruptly left, not telling me how to call a nurse or doctor. What was weirder and a little heartbreaking was that my family didn’t come back in either, I pushed it aside deciding that they probably ushered my family away so I could rest and they’d be back tomorrow morning.

“...”

My eyes shot open as I jolted up in the bed, wincing softly in pain as I scanned the near blackness of my room. I had heard something, like a whisper right beside my ear and it had scared the shit out of me. With my heart pounding furiously I looked all around the room, I saw the clock on the wall, the digits were illuminated and told me it was just after one in the morning before trying to see if anything was out of the ordinary.

Nothing...

I sighed and shook my head and rested it once more against the softness of the pillow.

“...”

My eyes soft open again but I kept my head on the pillow, I heard the whisper again. Very slowly, I sat upwards, keeping myself as quiet with my breathing as I possibly could whilst trying to see if something was there.

Then something stranger happened, I caught a whiff of something cooking... something familiar and delicious.

“Roast pork?” I whispered.

“Why are we helping it?”

“Because it saved my life, our lives.”

I put my hand over my mouth to stifle the whimper that was trying to escape from my lips, I heard another whisper for the third time but this time it was clearer. My brow began to sweat as my breathing became rapid, something was in the room with me.

I could hear my heart beating rapidly in my ears, I slowly let go of my mouth and remained staring into the blackness for any kind of movement. I noticed on the clock that it now read.

October 10th, 2:30 am.

I let out a sigh, I’d wasted a good hour or so on simple noises and decided it must have been nothing but a side effect from the medication.I yawned loudly and settled down to sleep again.

But that didn’t last very long either.

I let out a startled whimper as I shifted in my bed quickly and pressed up against the backboard, looking around as I gripped the wooden metal backboard with both my hands. Something had fucking brushed my head...

“Good morning, Scott, just seeing... oh my you don’t look too good.”

It was about seven in the morning and the nurse had entered the room carrying a tray with her and she looked at me in surprise, I was still leaning against the backboard - although not with so much awareness as I was sleep deprived - and had bags under my eyes, my hair was messy and I felt sticky from the sweat of the night. I yawned and rubbed my eyes as I finally relaxed for the first time since waking up and stretched.

“Yeah... rough night that’s all.”

“Well anyway, I brought you some toast and water for breakfast, and your family will be coming soon along with your friends I’m told.”

I smiled at her and thanked her for the food, as she left I became aware that there was a tv mounted to the wall. Confused as to why I hadn’t noticed it before I shrugged it off and dug out the remote for the thing and turned it on.

“Welcome to the show, now my first guest-”

“Oh hell no,” I changed the channel the second Jeremy Kyle began talking.

“And now children, we carefully check for easter eggs-”

I changed the channel again from a rerun of a kids easter cartoon special.

“This is the fastest sports car... in the world-”

As much as I liked Top Gear, I wasn’t in the mood for it.

I changed the channel and eventual groaned in frustration finding nothing good on the tv at all and turned it off, finishing off my toast, I was kinda perplexed as to why I couldn’t taste it or the butter that was on it. Shrugging to myself, I leant back into my pillow as I allowed boredom to overcome me.

About an hour or so of being bored out of skull, the nurse had come in a couple of times to check up on me as well as a couple of doctors who again reminded me of just how lucky I was to be alive. My friends eventually showed up, happy for the company and something to do at last.

“So man, how you feeling?” Sam asked me.

“Like crap,” I yawned, “kinda had a rough night.”

“Well duh, you were hit by a lorry.” Luke grinned.

“Shut it.”

We all joked and laughed for a good full hour before the door opened and my mum and sister came in along with my dad, he came over to me and offered me his hand. I couldn’t help but grin and give him a hearty handshake, much to my mother’s annoyance.

“How you doing, Scott? He asked me.

“Not too bad,” I replied with a stretch, “sorry you had to come back early.”

“Damn right you should be sorry!” He glared at me.

Everyone was silent as they stared at him in shock, I, however, slowly grinned along with him. We would occasionally pretend to get into an argument, something we enjoyed doing to wind my mum up. After we both received a verbal telling off from my mum, my parents sat down and we all began to chat once more, talking about what I had missed in the last couple of days, which wasn’t that much to be honest. Mum had rung work and told them I what had happened and apparently during my unconscious, they had visited the day before I woke up and I made a mental note to pop into work to say hi to the guys. Soon ,a doctor came into the room with a clipboard and some paper attached to it.

“Alrighty, Scott... it would seem you can go home this afternoon if you so wish.”

“Y-you’re serious?” I asked, completely taken by surprise.

“Mhm, you’ve been very lucky and walked away with only a few cuts and bruises, though I do recommend plenty of rest.”
I nodded to the doctor as he left, I was completely speechless as were the rest of us. Soon my mum had to leave to take my sister to her friends house and my dad had to go to his office and drop something off, Sam then decided to flick through the channels on the tv as me and Luke talked.

“So what do you want to do today then?” Luke asked, “we could have the guys round if you want?”

“Today on house fancy-” I heard the tv changing channel in the background.

“Sure, sounds like a plan,” I looked over at Sam who was engrossed in channel surfing and lobbed a pillow at him,” hey, Sam you and Alice fancy coming over tonight?”

“Yeah,” he replied keeping his attention on the tv as he changed the channel, ignoring the fact a pillow had hit him.

“You slept with HER BOYFRIEND-”

Sam changed the tv thankful off Jeremy Kyle which was being shown again on a different channel for some reason. I looked at Luke who looked at me with a grin.

“You’re an arsehole with a tiny dick, Sam,” Luke said to him.

“Yeah,”

Me and Luke stifled our childish snickering as the tv changed channel once again.

“My little pony-”

“Pass,” Sam grunted.

“So it’s decided!” Luke declared, “drinking and video games tonight it is! Well maybe just video games for you Scott.”

I rolled my eyes and leant back into my pillow as Sam groaned in the same frustration I did being unable to find anything interesting.

Much to my protest and to my friends amusement, I was being wheeled home in a wheelchair and was powerless to get out of it. I secretly enjoyed it but I wasn’t planning on tell them that, before we had left Sam rang his sister to see if she was able to make it over tonight.

I slapped my forehead when Sam remembered that Alice was going out of town after the weekend, as we approached the flat I got out of the wheelchair and went up to my room first. With a loud sigh I flopped into my bed and smiled to myself, I was back home.

But... I was still bothered by that dream world I was in, not to mention the fact I was virtually unscathed in the entire thing, I mean surely I would of been in a full body cast or something? And then there was last night... with the whispering and the smells and the... touching thing that touched me, something felt wrong.

Letting out a sigh of frustration I decided to forget about it for the time being and head downstairs, when I got downstairs the other two had already set up the Gamecube and has loaded in Mario Kart Double Dash into it and I picked up my controller.

After an hour or so playing and generally enjoying myself, I felt myself getting more and more tired and decided to call it a night. I put my controller down and stretched with a yawn.

“Alright guys.. I’m gunna hit the hay.” I yawned as I walked to the stairs

“Ok dude, sleep tight.” Sam replied.

“Don’t dream about the Hobolls tonight!” Luke chuckled.

“Nah I won’t, they only existed in-”

I froze on the spot, how did Luke know about the Hobolls? I hadn’t told anyone... about my dream...

“Luke... how did you...?”

I turned round slowly and saw that both Sam and Luke were gone, the tv was complete static and I began to hear the sounds of wood groaning.

“Luke? SAM?!” I shouted.

I didn’t get a response, the whole room was now groaning as the walls creaked and the sound of wood snapping filled my ears. My eyes went wide in fear as I ran for the door only for the room to morph into a long corridor, the door disappearing at a faster pace than I could run before finally vanishing into shadows.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!?” I cried out.

“Scott...hurry!”

That voice... it sounded familiar, I realised it was the voice of the person who called themselves Princess Luna.

“No... no no no no NO! YOU’RE NOT REAL! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING I WAS BACK FOR FUCKS SAKE!” I shouted at the voice, covering my ears with my hands and closed my eyes.

“Scott, snap out of it!”

I opened my eyes as the new voice, unlike the other which was around me this one was in my head. It was the one I had heard when I killed the Hoboll leader in my dream.

“W-what’s...” I whispered in fear.

“Before it gets you, Scott, run! Follow her voice!”

I looked around and saw that the shadows where the door had vanished where getting closer and closer, slowly gaining speed. With a whimper, I took off and ran down the other end of the corridor, towards where a bright white light was coming.

“Hurry Scott! You’re nearly there!” Luna’s voice cried.

“It’s waking up...”

I panted as I sprinted as fast as I could, the third voice sounded familiar to me but I couldn’t think at that moment, all I wanted to do was get out of this madness. I dared to turn around and nearly screamed at what I saw, behind me emerging from the shadows were golden tendrils that led into two red eyes that glowed in the darkness, just as it was making a grab for me I threw myself into the light.

I felt a familiar sense of light headedness as a low hum echoed around me, I tried to cry out but my mind went blank and I passed out.

I let out a loud roar as I sat bolt upright, eyes wide and heavily panting as I quickly looked around at my surroundings. I was in some sort cave, I could feel the heat of a fire nearby as it crackled loudly, I cast my gaze to my left and saw that it was nighttime and I closed my eyes and rubbed my head. My eyes widened as I felt the same stone like texture from before in my dream and looked at my hands.

I was a Gargoyle again.

I groaned in frustration and I buried my head in my hands.

“What’s going on...” I whispered, “why am I back in this dream...?”

I looked out to the night sky again and let out a long, deep sigh.

“Guess I’m stuck here for the time being...” I muttered, “fantastic...”

I felt something touch my arm and looked over to see the same white mare I had rescued from being raped, behind her were several of the other ponies who were in the cage including the foal and the stallion. She had a look of sadness on her face but her smile showed a level of caring.

“It’s ok... you're safe now,” she whispered with a smile.

“W-what?”

“You were poisoned...” the stallion spoke up, “when we ran from the campsite, my wife came out of the tent and ran over to your body.”

I looked down at my chest to see my wound had been bandaged and I was lying on a makeshift bed of leaves, I also saw by the fire what appeared to be some meat cooking.

“The roast pork...” I whispered, remembering the smell from the hospital.

“After we tried to get her to run with us,” the stallion continued, “she told us what you did for her and convinced us to help you. Although some refused to and ran back to their villages, we stayed and helped you into this cave where Snow Wing did her best to remove the poison and gave you an antidote.

I nodded as I kept my eyes fixated on the pork, my stomach growled and I laughed nervously.

“Can... I have some of that? I’m really hungry...”

“Sure, we kept some of what the Hobolls were cooking just in case you were hungry and you know, tried to eat us...” he laughed nervously back, “no offence.”

“None taken,” I shrugged as I was handed the meat, “thanks.”

I happily took a large bite from it and began to chew on it, moaning in delight as the flavours hit my taste buds, I realised I was making the ponies nervous so I calmed down and swallowed.

“So... where’re the rest of you?” I asked taking another bite.

Snow Wing looked to the stallion who looked back at her with a face of concern before she looked back at me.

“Well... when we brought you to the cave, the others wanted to just leave you there.”

“Ungrateful little buggers...” I muttered.

“They claimed that, because you had killed all the Hobolls in the camp, they were not going to be able to report back to the main camp where they came from. Thus, making the Hobolls send a patrol, larger than the one at the camp to come and see what had happened.”

I slowly nodded as I continued to eat the succulent meat, starting to see where they were going with this.

“And seeing that they had been killed... the others were worried that they might kill the other prisoners they have captive in revenge...”

I stopped eating and looked at her, swallowing what’s in my mouth I mentally sighed and turned to look out of the cave. I figured that if I was stuck in this dream, I might as well go to Equestria like Princess Luna had suggested, where I probably would find the answers to all of this. But I didn’t want to just up and abandon these ponies dream or not, there was a long silence before I finally broke it.

“Do you know where the main camp is?” I asked.

“We think it’s north of where you met us... why do you ask?” Snow Wing replied.

With a grunt and one final bite of the pork, which I chucked into the night, I stood up and flexed my arms, legs and wings before walking out the cave.

“W-wait, where’re you going?” She called out after me.

“I’m going to get your families,” I replied.

“What the HELL are you doing?! We don’t have time to play hero!”

I ignored my mind as I kept walking, Snow Wing and the others quickly ran after me and came along beside me.

“Can you at least tell us who and what you are?”

“My name is Sco-”

I stopped walking and turned to look at them, an idea dawning on me, if this was a world I had created and I was stuck here for the time being... I might as well have some fun.

‘I could call myself after my Dungeons and Dragons character...’ I thought to myself with a chuckle.

“You’re seriously not suggesting you call yourself Vault after your fighter... are you?”

‘Why not? Vault was a protector of the innocent and was strong, besides, real vaults are strong and sturdy, this Gargoyle body is strong and sturdy so why not? Also... I owe it to these ponies anyway,’ I argued with myself.

“WE owe them nothing, you’re being ridiculous. Let’s just concentrate on getting to this Equestria place and find some answers.”

I ignored my mind again as I gave the ponies a reassuring grin.

“I’m Vault the Gargoyle... and I’m going to get your families back safely.”

I turned around and carried on walking, leaving the ponies behind. I couldn’t help but smugly grin at how badass I thought I had sounded.

“You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?”

“Oh shut up...” I muttered before disappearing into the tree line.

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter V - A Stone Gargoyle is in the base.

Gargoyle.

Chapter V – A Stone Gargoyle is in the base.

‘Face it... you’re lost.’

I grumbled as I pushed a branch out of my way, hearing it snap back into its original position as the leaves on its end rustled. I had been walking for what seemed like hours and had yet to exit the forest and arrive at the main Hoboll campsite. During my walk I had been in a constant argument with my mind about what I had decided to do for the ponies I rescued.

“I am not lost.”

‘Yes, you are, they told you it was directly north of that cave! How the fuck do you get lost GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE?!”

“Correction,” I said, “they said they thought it was somewhere north. Ergo, not my fault I’m lost.”

“So you admit it then? You are a complete and utter moron...”

“Also, isn’t calling me a moron, technically calling yourself a moron, given you’re my mind?”

There was a brief pause of silence as I continued to walk through the forest, waiting for the response my mind would give me.

“Shut up...”

“I’m counting that as a win,” I grinned.

“Anyway, why are we doing this exactly? I thought you said the best thing to do is go to Equestria and find some answers to this whole thing?”

“I know, but I can’t just stand by knowing that because of me, their families most likely will be killed or worse.”

“What... what is worse than death exactly?”

“Well, what would you rather. A life of harsh and painful slavery coupled with beatings, being raped, never being able to be free and see the ones you love, or being dead?”

“I’d rather be alive and stay that way, you know, like a sane person?”

“Well tough gonads, I’m going to help them.”

“This isn’t real, just remember that...”

“Yeah yeah...” I muttered.

I eventually decided that it might be a good idea to try and climb into a tree and get a better view of my surroundings, using the fact that I could see fairly well in the dark as a Gargoyle. Judging from from where the moon was in the sky, I figured that it was almost dawn and that the sun would soon start to rise. Seeing no indication that I was going in the right direction at all I let out a low sigh before climbing down from the tree, giving a little leap just before coming to the ground I landed with a light thud.

“Ok... so where to from here?” I muttered softly.

Looking around at my surroundings, trying to see any sign of a pathway or any indication that something had recently walked by here. My body froze on the spot as I heard a bush nearby rustle and I immediately retreated into the shadow of the nearest tree, pressing myself as tightly as I could against it to hide my form properly, squinting my eyes to try and pinpoint where the rustling was coming from I heard something emerge from the bushes near the tree I was beside but couldn’t get a proper view without revealing where I was hiding.

‘On the count of three...’ I thought to myself.

I listened as the sounds of footsteps got closer and closer, from the sounds of it there was at least two of them.

‘Hard and fast, knock whatever it is out and determined if they’re friendly...’

As the footsteps got closer I breathed in quietly and mentally began to count to three, as soon as I got to three I quickly shot out from my hiding spot, wings wide open and fist ready to strike. I stopped in my tracks and blinked in surprise and confusion as Snow Wing looked up at me startled and slightly terrified and gave a sudden scream before realising it was me.

“Oh... it’s just you,” I said rubbing the back of my head, “sorry about that.”

“I-It’s ok,” she started trying to regain control of her breathing.

“Thought you were something else and... wait, what are you doing here exactly?” I asked looking at her.

“Well... I wanted to help you, like you’re helping us but by guiding you through the forest instead,” she replied.

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no,” I said crossing my arms, “aside from the fact that this is dangerous, you have a kid who would be devastated if anything happened to you.”

“And I’LL be devastated if anything happens to you, given I kinda NEED you to be alive for me to be alive!” My mind shouted at me.

I ignored it as I raised my eyebrow at her, she lowered her head and kicked the ground with her hoof sheepishly.

“I know... it’s just... why are you doing all of this for us?” She suddenly asked me.

“Because he’s a complete and utter moronic bastard with bollocks for brains,” my mind quickly said.

“Because... actually I don’t honestly know,” I replied ignoring my mind again, “I would feel bad if because of me, others will die or became slaves. Where I come from, slavery is seen as inhumane.”

“In-hu-what now?” She asked tilting her head.

“Uh... a really bad thing,” I said.

She gave me a look of understanding before an awkward silence loomed over the two of us.

“So... as I was saying,” I finally said, breaking the silence, “you need to go back home.”

“I know but... I really want to properly pay you back, for everything you’re doing for us,” she lightly stomped the ground with her hoof.

“You can repay me by going home and being with your family,” I said with a stern tone.

she was about to protest when I raised my eyebrow at her like a mother would telling off her child, she let out a deep sigh and smiled sheepishly at me before turning around and started to walk back.

“Ok... just... take care of yourself ok?” She said turning her head to look at me.

“I will, you ok to get back by yourself?” I asked, realising she’d be walking back by herself.

“Mhm, don’t worry about it.”

I nodded and watched her disappear into the bushes before my eyes went wide and I smacked myself in the forehead realising something.

“WAIT! Can you give me any indication on which direction I need to go!?” I shouted as I ran after her.

??? POV

I watched as that monstrosity ran after the small white pegasus before taking my leave, thanking the great ones it hadn’t noticed me although it was interesting to see that unlike last time... it seemed different. Sliding through the bushes silently, letting my tongue dart about to guide my senses in the dark I soon slipped into a shadow of a tree and reappeared in another shadow outside the large entrance that led to the long, winding tunnel which led into the large underground fortress that was the home to that idiotic Hoboll Alpha and his pack.

Slithering silently and in the shadows once more and reappearing somewhere inside the fortress, I passed by a row of chained ponies that were being led down one of the tunnels. Chuckling to myself lightly at their misfortune I came to the entrance of the Alpha’s room, the two Hoboll guards noticed me and pushed open the door for me. I slowly made my way into the room as the doors behind me closed, I sneered in disgust at the scene in front of my eyes.

That disgusting scum of an Alpha was sitting on a makeshift stone throne dotted with the bones of what was either his dinner or some poor bastard he had killed, beside him were three mares, each one puffy eyed with tear stained cheeks and were silently whimpering in the corner as their chained collars rattled lightly , I could smell the damn scent of the Alpha coming from their groins.

“Must you keep your whores in the same room?” I hissed as I slithered into the centre.

“WHO SAID DAT?! Oh... is jus’ you,” the Alpha muttered.

“Watch your tongue, worm!” I snapped.

The Alpha snorted at me as he eyed the mares again and grinned at them, they whimpered as he let out a hearty laugh and slapped his hand on the throne hard.

“Do you wan’ a go with dem? Dey be young and is very tight!”

I sighed as he let out another infernal laugh.

“No, and if you can pay attention for one second which I know is difficult for a creature with your intelligence.”

“What was dat?” He growled.

“We appear to have a problem, an old... ‘acquaintance’ of our Lord is nearing us,” I continued, ignoring his growl.

“So?”

“It means, you flea ridden whelp, that we need to prepare for his arrival,” I hissed, “my powers are still weak and I won’t be able to fight him fully myself-”

“Cos you is a weak snake,” he snickered, “unlike a Hoboll!”

As he laughed again I sighed and a brilliant gold fire engulfed my body.

“Then maybe I shall revert to my true form...”

I didn’t have my full power back yet but I had enough to revert to my true form, which I was going to save for when the abomination arrived, but I needed to beat some sense into the Alpha. The Alpha and the mares watched with wide eyes as the fire grew and suddenly vanished revealing my true self.

“Now...” my voice boomed throughout the room as I loomed over him, “you’re going to do exactly what I say...”
The Alpha nodded quietly as I let a small smirk form on my lips, my forked tongue darting out and licking my lips as I walked over to him, my hands twitching with magic.

Scott/Vault POV

“O-kay...” I started, resting my hands on my hips, “now we’re getting somewhere!”

I overlooked a large open plain of long grassland with a lake near the centre, smirking to myself in triumph after successfully making my way out of the forest. Snow Wing had shown me the direction I needed to head to get out of the forest and it was now up to me to find the Hoboll’s camp by myself, as she and the other ponies didn’t know where it was.

“Now... where to go from here?” I wondered aloud.

I looked up into the sky and shielded my eyes from the sunlight, the sun had risen about an hour or so ago and I made a rough guess that it was around sevenish in the morning, I was also thankful and puzzled that the sunlight didn’t turn me into a full stone statue - not that I was really complaining about it - before taking my first step into the grassland, loving the feeling of the grass between my toes.

The only problem I had now was dealing with the lack of any form of cover, the forest had opened into the grassland which rested before another small section of forest that surrounded a mountain, where I reckoned the camp was situated. I scanned the area, trying to find some form of cover but to no avail. Sighing to myself as I scratched my head, even though I was slightly concerned that there might be something hiding in the grass, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and I started to walk towards the mountains, all the while scanning my surroundings for any sign of movement.

I felt a shiver go down my spine and something inside of me was feeling wrong, I glanced around my surroundings trying to see if there might of been something there.

Nothing.

But... something still didn’t seem right to me.

Then I saw it, just briefly, a small movement coming from the tall grass to my left. I tried focusing my gaze on the area to try and see if I could see anything, but irritatingly I couldn't. Suddenly a rustle to my right caught my attention and my head darted to the sound, only to once again see a bird shoot out of the grass and fly away. The second my head had turned I heard the sudden sounds of something running with speed to my left, I spun round just in time to have a large cat like creature launch itself from the grass at me, claws out and mouth open with a roar.

I quickly rolled to my right just in time as the beast landed where I was not a second earlier, I growled at it as it growled back at me. Now that I had a quick chance to see what was trying attacking me, I was slightly surprised and oddly enough I was somewhat giddy with excitement.

It was about the same size as an adult male lion and had the same similar appearance, fur, tail, paws with claws and a tuft of fur around its neck. The only major differences were that its fur was green to match the grass around us and even more oddly, its head was a large canine skull - which confused and annoyed me how I hadn’t seen the colour of the skull against the green grass- with two yellow glowing eyes.

“Don’t even try it...” I growled.

I flexed my wings out suddenly and let out a roar, flexing my hands and felt something extend from my fingers, stealing a quick glance I saw that I had claws jutting out from them and smirked again. The beasts growled back at me but kept their distance, seemingly judging me to see if it was worth it. As it circled me I began to circle it back, never once taking my eyes off of it. After what seemed to long, it finally roared and lunged at me, quick as a flash I side stepped to give a punch to its side. I was shocked that my fist connected with its side, it immediately jerked its body and latched onto my arm with its claws and mouth, taking me completely by surprise.

I tried to punch it off with my other arm but the damn thing refused to let go of me and I cried in pain as its teeth finally sunk into my arm, roaring loudly, I slashed with my claws over and over trying to get it off me as I felt my rage building up again. During the slashing I lost my balance and fell, managing to twist my self to land on top of the beast, hoping my weight would cause it to let go.

Thankfully, it did. It yelped in pain and I felt its jaws release from my arm and I immediately retaliated by grabbing it with both hands, ignoring the pain and tossing it away from me a fair distance with a loud grunt. It rolled on the ground before getting up, but soon its back leg faltered and it fell slightly and I noticed the blood leaking from one of my attacks and smirked at it. The beast looked at me dead in the eyes and I looked back, both of us daring the other to make a move.

“Bring it on, Skull Dog...” I growled, deciding to give my foe a name.

The Skull Dog growled and began to charge me, albeit with less speed the previously due to the injury on its back leg, this gave me more time to brace myself for the incoming attack although with my right arm slightly buggered from the earlier bite I had to be careful. I braced myself and waited as the Skull dog’s speed increased and crouched down slightly, the Skull Dog tried to pounce me again but the second it put extra weight on its rear leg it yelped in pain and stumbled to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity I quickly ran over to the Skull Dog with a roar, grabbed its head and raised my claws up above my head and was about to slices its throat when I caught the gaze it gave me in its eyes. I saw no fear in his eyes, he looked up at me with recognition that I was stronger than it was and was willing to accept its fate, but there was something else behind its eyes, something that made something inside of me stirr, my rage suddenly dropped and I felt my body getting slightly colder.

“I can’t do it...” I whispered.

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! You choose NOW to of all times to decide NOT to kill something dangerous? Yes, you can fucking kill it! It tried to kill YOU first! NOW KILL IT!”

“No... I can’t, I can’t keep doing this as a first reaction.”

“But why? It’s just a dumb beast.”

I looked at the Skull Dog again, it saw the hesitation in my eyes and tilted its head in confusion, yet didn’t attack me. I sighed and let go of his head and it immediately sprang to its feet and watched me with curiosity and caution.

“Go... better luck next time, eh?” I chuckled offering a smile and a nod.

The Skull Dog to my surprise nodded back to me before limping away towards the forest line, I watched it disappear before falling back onto my arse with a sigh.

“So... any reason why you just did that you moron?” My mind asked me, “it was just a dumb beast.”

“First off, it wasn’t a dumb beast. There was something... different about it, and as to why I did it... I... I don’t know, just something in his eyes... I couldn’t bring myself to finish him off, he wasn’t like the Hobolls... I can’t just kill things as a solution.”

“You do realise that because of your stupid self doubting, it will probably just come back and finish us off later? And probably bring its little buddies with it.”

I ignored my mind and sighed again, wincing as I stood up and glanced over my wounds. They didn’t look as bad as I thought they were, although the Skull Dogs teeth had punctured my skin, the bite marks didn’t look too deep. I looked around and began to head towards the lake in order to clean myself and to have a drink, as I got there I knelt down and dipped my arm into the water and began to clean out the wound.

“Was it really a mistake to let that Skull Dog go?” I asked aloud.

I knew it wasn’t called a Skull Dog but I liked the ring of it, I ignored the shouting my mind was giving me which I had expected from it after asking such a question and looked up the the mountain. Now that I was closer to it I could see a small pillar of smoke from the far side of it, just dark enough to be visible and I grinned to myself. I took a few large gulps of water with my hand, not caring it wasn’t purified before standing up.

“Well... better get a move on,” I said standing up.

I looked at my injured arm and flexed it, wincing slightly as the pain throbbed through it, I muttered to myself as I began to head to head towards the mountain, keeping my body low and my eyes and ears alert for any signs of other Skull Dogs or Hobolls.

“KEEP MOVIN’, SCUM!”

A Hoboll kicked a pony that was faltering, he cried out in pain and fell to his side before being yanked up to his hooves by his mane. I growled from my hiding spot and gripped the branch of the tree tighter, wanting nothing more than to leap down there and strangle the living daylights out of the Hoboll.

I had managed to get through the forest undetected and had followed a travelling slave party of several Hobolls and more than just ponies and foals in cages, there was also a couple of griffons - which I had to stifle a gasp of excitement about - another odd looking dog like creature with a small vest on and another three creatures whose appearance I was amazed by. To put it frankly, they looked like black bugs on legs, with holes missing from the legs. They had bug wings and a crooked horn and visible fangs, in a separate cage, weighed down with chains and with more guards around it were two minotaurs that were struggling in their bonds. When the had gotten to the end of the pathway they were all lead out of the cage, chained in a line together.

“‘Er boss!” The Hoboll shouted, “we got’s anotha’ load of slaves!”

“Right, open dat gates!” Another shouted back.

I looked up as the sound of heavy metal scraping against the ground, watching as two huge metal gates - surprised I hadn’t noticed them before - slowly opened up, leading into the mountain. I debated whether or not to just simply leap down and try to infiltrate my way in through the front door, but that was suicide.

“This is going to be more difficult than I thought...”

I decided that the best thing to do was to wait for the opportune moment to leave my hiding spot and enter the fortress, coming up with a plan to try and get the slaves freed and possibly fight back against the Hobolls, although that idea was extremely risky as most of the slaves that had just been brought in - minus the minotaurs- didn’t look like they were in any shape or form to fight let alone hold a weapon.

But I would be greatly outnumbered and alone if I didn’t get any kind of back up in there, regrettably, I decided that convincing the slaves to rise up was the best plan I could do if I wanted any chance of this being a success. As I waited, thinking in silence, my caught some movement in the corner of my eyes and looked up near the top of the gates just catching the body of a Hoboll disappearing into a side passageway. I smirked as I slowly made my way down from the tree and crouched low.

I’d found a way in.

Slowly making my way to the edge of the tree line, I scanned the area in front of me for any sign of guards and sighed a sigh of relief seeing none. I quickly darted out from my cover, keeping my body low, and rushed to the edge of the mountain wall before quickly climbing up it. As I got to the top, I found another path that was hidden just behind the wall I’d scaled that led to a secret door to the side of the mountain. As I slowly slinked my way towards the door, I froze as it began to open.

If they caught me now, it was game over.

Panicking slightly, I saw a small hole in the wall and slammed myself against it, keeping my body as flat as I could and closed my eyes, praying for some kind of miracle.

“What are you doing?! They’re going to see you!!” My mind screamed at me.

My heart beat rapidly as I waited for the inevitable, not noticing the odd tingle around my body.

“So wot you reckon on dem new slaves?”

“Dey is alright I guess, see dem pointy horns? Lotta’ muscle on dem!”

“Yeah! More muscle mean more work to make it do!”

The two Hobolls laughed as I heard them walk past me and down the pathway, once I was certain they were gone I opened my eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

“That was to close...”

I crept from the small hole and looked glanced at my arm which was slowly turning back from brown to grey, my eyebrow raised as I looked at the brown wall then back at my arm before a grin formed on my face.

“No wonder they didn’t see me... I can hide in plain sight against stone! Though not sure how I did it but still, that’s so awesome!”

I clamped a hand over my mouth as I cried out in happiness, listening and looking around to see if I had been heard at all. Thankfully I hadn’t and I made my way slowly approached the door, opening it carefully and slipping inside into the darkness.

---x---

“This place is a bloody maze...” I muttered in annoyance.

I had been wondering around the underground tunnels for a good while now, I had worked out how to activate my blending in plain sight power and every now and again I had hid against a wall as a party of Hobolls would pass by me or waiting as a bunch of slaves were marched to their tasks, again making me want to just step out and rip the guts out of the Hobolls.
Currently, I was hanging from a wall looking for any indication of going in the right direction. I had also learned that if I was careful enough, I could crawl along the walls whilst blending in and without being detected. I had, though, on more than one occasion nearly been caught and I swear, if I could shit bricks I would have.

As I was looking around, I heard a shout coming from one of the tunnels nearby. Curiously, I decided to go and investigate it and slowly crawled my way along the wall and down the tunnel. I soon came to a large open area which had several cages contained in it, each one holding a large number of ponies, griffons, minotaurs and the weird bug pony things. One of them in particular caught my eye, it was taller than the others and looked different to the others, from where I was I think she had reptilian eyes.

Carefully, I crawled down off the wall and circled my way around the area, keeping to the shaodws behind the rocks. In the centre of the cages surrounding a medium sized campfire were three Hobolls, all laughing and drinking from tankards.

“Why do da others complain ‘bout guardin’ dese slaves? It’s da best job!” One laughed.

“Sittin’ ‘ere, drinkin’, eatin’ and fuckin’, what’s not tah like?” Another said.

My blood boiled at that last part, I growled quietly as I made my way up towards the centre of the ceiling, my claws digging into the roof hard to prevent me from falling.

“Anyways, I gotta bleed da lizard,” the third Hoboll said, standing up and walking away from the group.

As he got up, I chose this moment to quickly make my way up to the group and take them out by surprise, but as I came closer I couldn't resist the opportunity of a lifetime. I made a clicking sound with my mouth and wiggled my fingers before coughing, and in the best french accent I could muster.

“Gentlemen.”

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter VI - Over Encumbered.

Gargoyle

Chapter VI - Over encumbered.

“WOT DA FUCK-”

Before the Hoboll could even finish, I sliced my claws across it’s chest, eliciting a howl of pain as blood sprayed over my body. I quickly grabbed the sword from his belt and plunged the blade into his throat making him cry out and gurgle, using my tail I swung it as hard as I could into one of the other Hobolls who were still in a state of shock.

One of them grunted in pain as my tail collided with him and sent him hurtling into one of the cages and fall onto his front with a whimper, as I turned myself around I cursed seeing the third one trying to make a run for it - obviously trying to alert the others - and I charged after him.

“OI LADZ COME QUICK, DER IS- ACK!”

Just as he shouted he let out a gasp of air as I tackled him to the ground suddenly, covering his mouth with one hand and my other arm firmly around his throat slowly crushing his windpipe. I growled lowly as I heard his whines and gasps for air as his arms and legs flailed helplessly about, trying to pry me off his neck.

With a smirk, I wrapped my arm tighter around his neck and slowly pulled him back into the darkness of the room, a low chuckle escaping my lips as I felt his body go limp. Looking over towards the fire, I saw the one I had hit into the cage slowly get up, shaking its head as it groaned. Grinning like a madman, I slinked my way around the shadows and waited for him to move forward slightly/

As he stumbled forwards, I quickly rushed him and grabbing the back of his head, brought it down hard onto my knee with a loud, sickening crack as he let out a howl of pain before I roughly turned his head to look up at me.

“W-wot are you?” He whimpered looking up at me.

I answered him by snapping his neck with a loud snap as he went limp, tossing the body aside I stood up and looked down at my body seeing blood over it..

“Wonder if blood can camouflaged...” I muttered.

It was then that I noticed the looks I was getting from the cages, slowly turning around I nervously chuckled seeing that the majority of the slaves looking at me, backs to the cage walls, in absolute terror.

“Uh... hi?” I said with a small wave.

I cringed as several of them screamed loudly, who were quickly shushed by some of the ones who weren’t screaming.

“Shut up!” the slender looking bug pony hissed, “you’ll alert the other guards!”

“B-but w-what i-is that thing!?” A mare cried.

“I’m a he, not a thing,” I replied crossing my arms in mock hurt.

“I don’t care!” She shouted back, “what are you?”

“My name’s Vault, I’m a Gargoyle,” I replied giving a nod.

“Crystal,” the slender bug pony replied.

I noticed that Crystal was a lot taller than the other bug pony things, she looked like her head would come up to my chest at least.

“Iron Heart,” a minotaur grunted. “Gargoyle eh? Can’t say I’ve heard of your kind before...”

“He looks scary...” a little foal whimpered.

“He looks SO COOL!” Another one cried, staring at me in awe.

“Is not!”

“Is to!”

“Will you stop arguing?!” A bug pony hissed, “there’s more important matters at hoof here!”

“Like how he’s going to eat us?” a pony said from another cage.

“What? I’m not going to eat anybody!” I replied turning to look at the one who had spoken.

“Lies! You only killed the guards just so you could have us to yourselves!” The pony shouted.

“Look, can you just calm down? I don’t want the guards to hear us,” I hissed.

“He has a point kid,” the other minotaur said, “we need to keep calm and quiet.”

“OI, WOTS WIFF ALL DA SHOUTING?”

I froze as we heard the sounds of Hobolls approaching, I quickly dashed to a wall, ready to blend in until a second voice shouted back.

“NUFFIN, WE WAS JUS’ MESSIN’ WIFF DA SLAVES IS ALL!”

We all looked to see one of the bug pony was now a Hoboll, I blinked in confusion as the disguised Hoboll looked at me and winked. There was a flash of green from the other two bug ponies who transformed into Hobolls as well.

“YEAH, WOT ‘E SAID!”

“WELL... KEEP IT DOWN THEN!” The Hoboll shouted from the tunnel entrance.

I held my breath as the sounds of footsteps faded into the distance, letting out a sigh of relief as the bug ponies flashed green again and reverted to their normal forms.

“Ok, it’s official. You now are the coolest creatures in this dream,” I grinned at them.

“What dream?” One of them asked.

“Not important,” I replied, “but I would like to know what you are, I think calling you bug pony things would be insulting in some way.”

“Yes, it would,” one of them glared at me before chuckling, “we’re Changelings.”

“And you can turn into anything?” I asked.

“That’s right,” Crystal replied, “it helps us acquire love.”

“What do you mean love?”

“Well... we feed on love.”

I opened my mouth and raised my hand, ready to ask just exactly what the hell she meant but nothing came out. I shook my head in confusion and decided to ask about it later.

“Look, I need to ask you guys some questions, first... and what’s with the look?”

I tilted my head at one of the older ponies, he had an aged face and his old eyes glared at me, like he was examining my every movement.

“You’re a strange one ain’t cha?” He chuckled, “you’d think a creature with that deep voice and-”

“I have a deep voice?” I interrupted, “it seems normal to me...”

“Well son, to me its a very deep, powerful voice.”

I saw several others nod in agreement and I stroked my chin, I hadn’t thought about it too much as I hadn't noticed anything change in it.

“Never really noticed it...” I muttered to myself.

“Anywho, what do you plan on doing with us?” The stallion questioned.

“Well...”

I paused to think on what I really should tell them, deciding it was best for the time being, like with Snow Wing, to not actually yell them the full truth.

“I came from the south of here to free you, I promised a pegasus called Snow Wing I’d help after-”

“Did you say Snow Wing?”

I looked over to see who had interrupted me, it was a white male pegasus who looked strikingly like Snow Wing.

“Yeah, I rescued them from a small group of Hobolls the other day, why?”

“What did she look like?” He asked, his eyes glowing with interest.

“White mane with matching and fur, two snowflakes on a wing tattoo thing on her butt and ice blue eyes.”

“Don’t listen to him!” A stallion hissed, “he’s trying to trick you!”

“I’m not!” I protested.

“He isn’t lying...” the pegasus said softly, “he knows my sister.”

“She’s your sister?” I asked.

“Twin,” he replied with pride, “best fliers this side of New Port!”

I nodded as the slaves began to murmur between one another, I caught whispers such as ‘Can we trust him?’ and ‘Why hasn’t he eaten us yet?’

“Look, I’m going to get you all out of here. I promise.” I said with a reassuring smile.

“And how, pray tell, do you intend to do that?” The stallion who accused me of wanting to eat them asked with a sneer.

“I’m... working on it.” I replied

“In other words, you have no idea,” he smirked.

“Jackass...” I whispered.

‘Well he is right, you NEVER know what the hell you’re doing.,’ my mind replied.

Ignoring it, I stroked my chin as I tried to think of an idea. I fell back into the original idea of getting the slaves to arm themselves and nodded to myself.

“Right... do any of you know if the Hobolls have an armory?” I asked, looking to each of the cages.

There was a small pause before one of them spoke up.

“I... think I heard them say that they have one, but nopony has seen it as far as I’m aware.”

“Bugger... means I need to try and find it myself...” I muttered.

“I’ll help you.”

I looked up to see Crystal smile at me, determination in her eyes.

“How?” I stupidly asked.

“Really...?” She replied, raising her eyebrow before changing into a Hoboll.

“Oh yeah... forgot about that,” I chuckled sheepishly.

“How could you forget?!” The stallion spluttered, “You only just got told.”

I scowled at him before shaking my head and returning my attention to the others.

“Right... this is my plan...”

??? POV

“What will you have me do, my master?” I spoke in my mind.

My hand firmly grasped a staff with an orb on top that swirled with golden flames, illuminating the room I was residing in, all around me heavy whispers of my kinds language softly filled the air, audible only to those who could understand the ancient words.

“Patience my loyal friend... your powers are still weak, you must focus on the task at hand and resurrect your brother from his prison,” a booming voice echoed in my mind.

“And what of the Gargoyle? He’ll soon be here,” I asked.

There was a silent pause as the voices suddenly vanished leaving the room deadly silent, just as soon as they vanished, they returned as a booming, dark laugh filled the room and my mind.

“Burn him... burn him in my glorious hellfire...”

“It will be done... my master...”

The orb slowly extinguished as the voices faded away leaving me holding the staff with the now black orb residing on top, I let go of it and it vanished in a blast of golden fire as I left the room and headed back towards the Alpha’s throne room, changing back into a serpent to conserve my energy.

As usual, no one dared stop or get in my way which elicited a soft chuckle from my mouth as I slithered my way to the door and was once again let in by the same guards. Unlike earlier, the Alpha was sitting quietly on his throne, his eyes wide and was visibly shaking softly. His whores were still there but they whimpered the second they saw me and backed up against the wall as much as their collars and chains would allow them to.

“W-what do you want?” The Alpha growled.

“We have work to do...” I chuckled with a flick of my tongue.

Vault/Scott’s POV

“This plan... is going to get us all killed...”

“Shut it Crystal.”

I grumbled as I carefully made my way along the walls of the tunnels, beside the disguised Crystal who was walking along as a Hoboll armed with twin swords.

“I still think this is a bad idea...” she said in her normal tone.

“Look, unless you have a better idea, we’re doing this. There’s no way everyone can get out without some of us fighting to give them the chance.”

I didn’t like the plan I had come up with, it wasn’t foolproof and everyone knew it. However, everyone had agreed upon it. The minotaurs, changelings, the three diamond dogs and a few of the ponies along with myself were going to arm up and buy some time for the others to break free, guarded by a few of the other captives. This plan would result in some of the captives dying and I was dreading it, but it was the only thing I could think of at the time.

So far, we had successfully made our way throughout the vast tunnel system without being detected by any of the Hobolls, they were quite stupid creatures indeed. All Crystal had to do to fool them was to put on a growl like voice and speak in bad english, very bad english.

She had also managed to get the location of the armory from one of the Hobolls, when she had been questioned by one of them, she simply said that she had drunk then location out of her head and, like the stupid creatures they are, they bought it hook line and sinker.

“So... why are you a different size to the other changelings?” I asked out of nowhere.

“Uhm... I just am?” She replied, “and besides, it’s rude to ask a lady a question such as that!”

“Alright alright, don’t get your knickers in a twist.”

“My what now?”

“Nevermind.”

We remained in silence as we continued to make our way through the tunnels and began to hear the increase of chattering and other various sounds such as metal being banged together, roaring laughter and what I think must of been some form of songs. We came out into a large open area, all around us were several basic buildings made of wood. In the dead centre wa sa large roaring camp fire with the smoke rising up and exiting out of a small hole I could just about see in the ceiling, all around the fire and buildings were dozens of Hobolls, all oblivious to us.

It looked like a small village, there were cooks and blacksmiths, even what appeared to be a trader of sorts. I crept down slightly and motioned Crystal to come closer before whispering to her.

“So which way from here?”

“Well.. it’s right down that tunnel,” she replied, nodding to the furthest tunnel directly in front of us.

“Ok... well I’m going to have to go along the walls so I’ll have to meet you there in a moment, you going to be ok?” I asked in concern.

“I’ll be fine... just... take care of yourself,” she replied.

I nodded before making my way carefully out of the tunnel and up along the wall, high enough so it would be harder for any of the Hobolls to notice me.

Crystal’s POV

I gulped nervously as I looked over at the large area and bit my lip, I had pretended that I was ok to Vault in order not to show how scared I actually was. If I was caught then it wouldn’t end well, they’d wonder how I got out and they’d soon find the guards all dead and not only would I suffer but so would the others, several whom I had befriended during my travel from where I was captured a week ago to here.

Swallowing my nervousness, I strode into the clearing figuring that if I looked confident I wouldn’t attract attention. As much as I despised - no loathed- the Hobolls, it was fairly interesting to see their society in this way. When I was brought here, I only saw them as bumblin, sadistic, moronic beasts with no good bone in their body. My opinion on them still remains the same but it was interesting nonetheless to see they did have some form of a culture.

“So I saids ‘DATS NOT ‘OW YOU DO IT!’ and I smacked the bitch to the ground!”

I looked at a group of Hobolls sitting in a circle, drinking from their filthy tankards as they continued to talk about their disgusting past exploits to one another. As I walked past I felt something roughly yank on my arm, nearly forcing the disguise off me as I was caught off guard.

“Sit yur furry arse down brother!” The Hoboll cackled, “here, ‘ave a drink and tells us a story ‘bout that bitch you fucked da otha night!”

The Hoboll was clearly drunk and didn’t know who I was, as I fell to my rump I began to panic slightly as I had a tankard thrust roughly into one of my hands and I looked down at the vile liquid inside it.

“Go on, drink!”

I looked up to see the other Hobolls looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to take my first drink. I knew that if I refused, it would raise suspicions but I didn’t want to drink a lot as I knew from the week long travel that the Hoboll’s drank a very, very strong ale which would happily get a minotaur, one of the races with the best fortitudes, to get drunk quite quickly.

I slowly raised the tankard to my lips, smelling the ale properly and holding back the urge to void the contents of my stomach. Just as I was about to take my first sip, a Hoboll walking past bumped into me, spilling the entire tankard and its contents down my front.

“Oi, watch it!” One of the Hobolls sitting down with me barked.

The Hoboll that had walked into me stopped and turned around glaring at the other.

“Wot was dat, you little prick?” He growled.

I nervously glanced between them as a circle formed around them as they squared off at one another, I started to back into the ring as the chants of ‘fight! fight!’ rang throughout the area. I glanced up to try and spot Vault but I couldn’t see him anyway.

‘Damn his camouflaging ability...’

“I’LL KICK YUR ARSE FOR DAT!”

“TRY IT, YOU FURRY LITTLE BITCH!”

I looked down just in time as the Hoboll who had bumped into me received a fist to his nose, causing him to howl and stumble backwards before being pushed back into the fray by the others in the circle. As he was pushed back in, the other Hobolls who had been sitting down and were on the inside of the ring watch decided to join in and gang up on the other.

“Dat’s not fair!” The Hoboll growled,” boyz!”

Several Hobolls barged their way into the circle and stood beside the Hoboll that had called them, grinning at the others as they cracked their knuckles. There was a long pause and a deathly silence as the chanting stopped and everyone just looked at each other, then all of a sudden, one of the Hobolls roared out and the two sides slammed into each other, fists, legs and whatever they could grab from the floor were swung about violently as the crowd cheered on the two sides.

I began to panic again as I could see no clear way out of this situation, trying my best to keep my back to the circle and not get involved with the fight.

“WOTS ALL DIS?! BREAK IT UP YOU WORTHLESS SCUM!”

The crowd stopped cheering and shouting as they looked to see a large Hoboll make his way onto a nearby rock and glare down at the spectacle.

“I LEAVE FER ONE FUCKIN’ MINUTE AND YOU DUMB MORONS START FIGHTIN’? WOT DA FUCK DID DA ALPHA TELL YOU GITS?!”

There was several murmurs as they grunted and looked away, annoyed. I gathered that they had been forbidden to start fighting with one another for the sake that, a wounded Hoboll was a useless Hoboll.

“Now... get back to doing whatever it was you woz...”

The large Hoboll stopped as his eyes fell upon me, I froze up as he glared at me with his eyes and I could feel them staring into my very soul. Suddenly his eyes went wide and he leapt down from the rock, heading towards me.

He knew.

Quickly, I shoved the nearest Hoboll into another one with all my strength, sending them both to the ground, within seconds they had begun fighting each other unaware I was the one who had pushed them into each other. As they rumbled, the two Hobolls from earlier locked eyes and growled before tackling each other and crashing into another bunch of the Hobolls.

Like a moth to a candle, the whole room erupted into a massive free-for-all, seeing the large Hoboll being slowed down as he violently made his way through the fight, I quickly ducked down and made my way to the far side of the room behind some of the wooden shacks.

“I SAID, BREAK IT UP YOU MORONS!”

I could heard the large Hoboll roaring over the sounds of the fight as I quickly darted and made my way over to the tunnel and slipped into it, leaning against the wall and panting heavily as I waited to see if I had been followed or not. Thankfully I hadn’t and I let out a sigh of relief and slid down the wall slightly.

“So... did ya have fun?”

I jumped up and forced myself to stifle a surprised scream, my disguise dropping, as Vault’s deep voice whispered into my ear and I turned around and glared at him.

“Not. Funny.” I growled.

“I beg to differ,” Vault grinned at me, “nice distraction by the way.”

“Thank you,” I huffed, once again donning the disguise.

Vault/Scott’s POV

As Crystal and I made our way down the tunnel the sounds of the brilliant fight she had started began to die down, once again I was crawling along the walls as she walked beside me in her Hoboll disguise and soon the only sounds we could hear were the sounds of her footsteps on the earth below her feet.

“How much further?” I whispered to her.

“Just be patient,” she hissed at me, “we’re nearly there.”

I let out a huff of annoyance as we made our way down the tunnel, my arms -and generally my whole body- was starting to get tired from the wall climbing and crawling I had to do. We soon came to a new open area that oddly enough had no guards or anyone in it, instead what we saw made me let out an impressed whistle.

Unlike the small blacksmith set up in the main area, this whole area was just one great big smithy, complete with row upon row weapons hanging from hooks that were fixed into the walls. There were long swords, short swords, daggers, great swords, a couple of one handed warhammers and a few dozen crossbows.

It was a classic looking dungeons and dragons treasure room, minus the actual treasure.

“It’s... it’s so beautiful...” I whispered.

I walked over to the walls and examined the weapons, it was clear from some of the designs that several of these weapons hadn’t been crafted by the Hobolls by judging from what I had already seen of their weaponry. It kind of reminded me of goblins from some of the dungeons and dragons quests I used to do with my friends, finding a race with inferior weapons hoarding the weapons of other races most likely for the high ranking Hobolls to use.

I gripped a hand axe in my hand firmly and I felt utterly giddy, giggling slightly as I swung it around me to see how it felt. Crystal was watching me with an expression of annoyance, curiosity and concern.

“What?” I asked innocently.

“Nothing...” she sighed as she came over to join me.

We began to select weapons from the racks judging by who was actually going to be fighting, we took two warhammers and a greatsword for the minotaurs, several swords to give to the ponies, some hand axes for the diamond dogs and Crystal selected several daggers and short swords for the changelings. Placing them in a pile on the ground carefully, I rested my hands on my hips as I looked down at our collection with a big grin.

“Wish I had a bag of holding...” I muttered.

“A what now?” Crystal asked.

“Magical bag that can hold a large amount of items, I’ll explain later.”

Crystal went to say something but sighed and shook her head at me, as I giggled again over the collection of weapons, I felt something poke my side and I noticed Crystal was beside me with a slightly concerned look on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

“Vault... I’ve been meaning to ask you something...” Crystal began.

“And that is?”

“Well... it’s just that...”

“What?”

“How do you plan on getting these weapons back to the others?”

I blinked as I looked at her, then at the weapons, then back to her. I opened my mouth to reply but stopped, then opened it again as a low gasp left my lips before closing it again and looking at the pile of weapons. There was a long silence as I tired to think of something, I saw Crystal’s eyebrow raise out of the corner of my eye and slowly looked back to her.

“Hang on, Crystal... I’ve got a great idea.”

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter VII - Prison Break Part I - All hell breaks loose.

Gargoyle
Chapter VII - Prison Break Part I - All hell breaks loose

“And that, dear Crystal, is my plan!” I said with a grin.

Crystal stared at me in disbelief, her mouth was open and I could see her eye clearly twitching.

“So… what do you think?” I asked.

“Let me get this straight… you want me to disguise myself as a Hoboll, head out into the cave and somehow get them all to leave the cave so you can just waltz back to the holding cells with the weapons.”

“Uh.. yes?”

“I have a better idea, why don’t we just shove them up your arse and carry them that way!” She growled at me.

“Alright, alright no need to get stroppy…” I muttered, “there has to be an easy way to get the weapons out…”

I stroked my chin as I tried to think of another plan, in Crystal’s defence my original idea was a bit harsh on her. She had told me that she had almost been caught by one of the Hoboll leaders and maybe suggesting she go alone to be the bait was a bit too much, I sighed as I placed my hands on my hips.

“I got nothing…”

“You’re an idiot, Vault. You know that?” Crystal sighed.

“Least I’m thinking, you got any ideas?” I asked her.

“Well.. we could always-”

She stopped as we heard the sounds of someone approaching, quick as a flash, Crystal doned her disguise once again. I panicked and looked around trying to find something that could hide the pile of weapons when I spotted a large tarp nearby and quickly grabbed it, covering up the weapons before running to the wall in order to blend in. The second I had blended in, three Hobolls appeared in the armory.

“Wot you doing down ‘er?” One of them grunted.

“Jus’ chekin’ da weapons.” Crystal replied.

I had to give her credit, she mimicked the Hoboll voice perfectly.

“Well stop fukin’ around and git to da cave, boss wants all available Hobolls dere now.”

“Why, wot da fuck is so important?”

“Some of dem slaves broke through into a chamber, da one we bin looking fer all dis time.”

I felt my curiosity peak at the mention of the chamber, I thought that the Hobolls lived here but from the sounds of it, this chamber is the reason why they were here. I suddenly realised the predicament we were in, Crystal would have to go with the hobolls by herself.

Alone.

Crystal looked slightly nervous but managed to keep her cool and began to follow the other Hobolls out of the armoury, she gave me a glance before disappearing from my view.

“Be safe, Crystal…” I whispered.

I was concerned for her safety, but something told me in my gut that she would be alright. Either way, I had to get the weapons back to the others. Crawling along the walls, I made my way after her and the other Hobolls and eventually came to the entrance.

I watched with curiosity and confusion as every single Hoboll that had been in the cave began to head into a different tunnel, leaving the entire area abandoned. Seeing this as an opportunity that shouldn’t be wasted, I quickly made my way back into the armoury and gathered the weapons up in the tarp and began to head back to where the prisoners were, stealing one last glance down the tunnel where Crystal and the other Hobolls had gone down.

As quick and as quietly as I could, I returned back to the tunnel that lead to where the others were, tarp full of weapons safely secured to my back. When I arrived back there, I saw that the two other changelings were standing around disguised as Hobolls and I had also noticed that the three bodies of the dead Hobolls had been moved out of the way.

“You’re back,” one of them said, stating the obvious.

“Yeah, was fairly easy actually. Apparently something big’s going down and practically every Hoboll in the cave went down a tunnel,” I replied.

“We know, a couple of them came down here and told us that we should remain guard, they also left one of them here with us,”

“So… dare I ask what you did with it?” I asked, raising a brow.

The disguised changeling pointed behind him to a large blood stain that was against a boulder, only visible if you were standing where we were and not if you were by the entrance into the area.

“Iron Heart decided he needed to stretch out his limbs and… well… pretty much ripped the poor bastard apart.”

I glanced over to where Iron Heart was in the cage, he was covered in blood and had a satisfied grin on his face, I also noticed that a lot of the others had given him a wide berth. Not that I blamed them.

“I see… well I got the weapons like I said I would.”

“Vault… are you sure this idea will work, I know you said there probably would be complications…” the changeling asked me.

“I-”

Before I could finish, the whole area shook as if an earthquake had suddenly struck followed by a sound that made my entire body go cold.

A loud, deep, demonic roar.

Looking around trying to figure out what the hell was going on, I saw that the look of fear on the faces of many of the prisoners especially the foals.

“We need to move, NOW!” I shouted,

??? POV

I was growing impatient with these wretched curs, looking over the reports from the latest excavation from several of the new tunnels I hissed in anger as I incinerated them in my hand. With a curse under my breath, I made my way out of the room and quickly fell into my snake form and made my way towards the Alpha’s throne room once more.

I was going to have a few words with him…

Unlike the rest of the flea ridden scum I was forced to use as minions, the Alpha and a couple of his whores where the only creatures that had gazed my true form as it used a lot of my power to maintain, power that in my weakened state since my escape four months ago.

Arriving at the throne room, I slithered my way in and quickly regained my true form before the Alpha could utter any sentence. Upon seeing my true form again his eyes went wide and he wisely remained silent.

“I grow tired of the lack of progress your pathetic pack is showing…” I growled.

“D-Dats not my fault, it’s dem s-slaves!” The Alpha gulped.

I tutted as I shook my head at him, suddenly lunging forwards and grabbing his throat tightly eliciting a startled gasp from him.

“No, you don’t seem to understand,” I hissed into his ear, “as a leader, when one of your underlings or all of them screw up... It is entirely your fault… if I don’t see any sign of improvement in our search… well then…”

I chuckled as I let go of him and slowly reverted back into my snake form, smirking to myself as he gasped for breath.

“You know what will happen to you and your pack…”

“I-I’ll speak wiff da boys den,” he spluttered out.

“Good… I’ll take my leave-”

The door to the room suddenly burst open and a lone Hoboll ran in, looking worn out and a stupid, infuriating grin on its face.

“Boss! We found it!”

I stared at the Hoboll in disbelief, it apparently didn’t notice me at first and when its eyes met mine I could see it freeze up slightly as I let out a chuckling hiss. Looking back to the Alpha with a smirk who immediately gulped and nodded, knowing what I wanted.

“W-well go find it den! AND ‘URRY UP ‘BOUT IT OR I’LL GUT YA!” The Alpha commanded.

The Hoboll whimpered slightly before nodding and running back out of the room, I began to slither out of the room a few minutes after it with the Alpha in tow.

‘Finally… after all this time, we can be reunited at last...dear sister…

I couldn’t believe it, I truly couldn’t. After spending three months in this accursed mountain with this flea infested scum I had finally found what I was looking for and soon, soon I would be rid of all of them.

Oh sure, I promised to the Alpha he and his pack would be spared if they delivered what I needed to me but… it’s not my fault the don’t recognise a lie when they hear one.

As I slithered my way through the tunnels with the Alpha and two of his guards following close behind me a loud roar echoed throughout the cave causing me to stop in place. The Alpha looked around in alarm trying to determine the sound’s origin as his pathetic guards whimpered slightly, but that wasn’t what bothered me the most about the roar.

I had heard it before somewhere.

I tried to think of every possible creature I had encountered in my years, trying to determine the sound when it struck me. I hissed in anger for being this foolish and not expecting this to happen and quickened my pace towards the end of the tunnel, stopping as I saw Hobolls running full pelt towards where I was, fear etched on their faces and I quickly reverted to my true form in order to prevent being trampled on, cursing that I was forced to reveal myself fully to more Hobolls then I had wanted to before it was time.

The running Hobolls saw me and stopped running, eyes widened in even more fear as my tongue flicked from my mouth and the Alpha slowly came into their view, obviously in a vain attempt to try and reassure them.

“Wot the fuck is goin’ on?!” He barked.

“W-we found da room b-but den…. den…”

A loud roar behind the Hobolls caused them to whimper and yelp before taking off again, ignoring the Alpha and myself and ran past us. I smirked seeing the anger in the Alpha’s face from being ignored like that but I knew why they had done so, I also knew that if I wanted any chance of being free from this mountain with my prize I was going to have to summon as much of my power as I could.

After all, even if I drain myself I will still be able to rely on sister to deal with this wretched vermin.

Chuckling to myself as I calmly made my way down the tunnel, past the Hobolls that were rushing past me and being followed by the Alpha by himself, I felt my magic crack around me.

“It has been far too long since I’ve killed one of your kind…”

Vault POV

“Come on, lets move it, move it, move it!” I shouted.

Another roar rumbled throughout the tunnel, small bits of rocks fell from the ceiling as I watched the prisoners make their way as quickly and carefully as they could towards the exit. ALong the way we had come across some other prisoners being led back by two guards towards us and after a short scuffle with two, we had managed to free them making the grand total of prisoners with us to fifteen.

By this point, Iron Heart and his friend, Iron Horn, were leading the group towards the exit of the cave both wielding one of the warhammers and the great sword we had swiped. The two changelings, who I learned were called Meta and Morphosis, had taken two swords and volunteered to scour the remainder of the cave system in order to try and find the other prisoners as I had been informed before we made our run for it that not every prisoner was accounted for.

I took an estimated guess that in total there was at least twenty three prisoners, a thankfully much smaller number than I had originally thought.

Flanking the group were Border and Boxer, the two diamond dogs now wielding the hand axes as well as several of the ponies including Snow Wing’s brother, Ice Wing, who had taken up the swords and in my possession was the final warhammer.

Which I had to admit, felt just right for me, albeit the hammer was a little on the small side.

As another roar rumbled we could now start to hear the sounds of Hobolls screaming as we ran down another tunnel, I recognised the tunnel as being the one that had led to the one I had initially took to get into the mountain and silently thanked whatever God had been watching me, that we had managed to make it this far with little trouble and were nearly home free.

“We’re nearly there!” I shouted, “keep going!”

Just as Iron Heart and Horn ran on ahead to make sure the path was clear in order to make sure it was safe, they ran straight into two armed Hobolls who appeared from a different tunnel that I had somehow missed when I slipped in.

‘You HAD to jinx it...’ my mind complained.

Growling to myself, I ran as fast as I could to the front just in time to stop one of the Hobolls from tackling one of the prisoners at the front when he had slipped by Iron Heart. Tossing the Hoboll back and flaring my wings out I let out my own roar which seemed to temporality work on stopping the two Hobolls in their place.

“Walk away… and you keep your lives…” I growled deeply.

I could feel the question looks from the others peirce me without even looking at them and I kept my gaze firmly locked on the two Hobolls, they nervously gulped as their terrified eyes caught my own and started to back away. Smirking to myself as I took a step forward to emphasise my point, it was short lived as we all heard the sounds of more Hobolls approaching. The two looked behind them, then back at us with their own smirk and charged at us.

Cursing under my breath, I intercepted the sword blow from the one closest to me and brought my hammer down on its head.

Hard.

I heard a crunch as something clearly broke and the Hoboll dropped to the ground, dead, just as the others arrived. I turned my head behind me to the prisoners who were wide eyed with fear and roared at them.

“GO! WE’LL HOLD THEM OFF!”

Border and Boxer along with the armed ponies quickly usher out the prisoners as Iron Heart, Horn and myself stood our ground, rising to our full heights to try and intimidate the Hobolls slightly. I counted at least eight in the group - well seven, now that one of them was dead- and immediately lunged forwards, hammer raised high ready to strike.

The Hoboll brought his sword town towards my left, trying to catch me off guard. As quick as a flash I managed to grab his arm mind swing and yanked him forwards, startling him before my hammer met his face and sent him crashing to the floor howling in pain. Suddenly, a pain rang through my body as a spear embedded itself in my back and with a quick smack of my tail, the Hoboll weilding it was sent crashing to the floor leaving the spear in my back. I winced as I yanked it out and side jumped out of the way of an axe that was swung at me, hearing Iron Horn chuckle.

“Watch your back, Vault. These little bastards can surprise ya!” He smirked as his great sword down, slicing the head off of a Hoboll and laughed as blood sprayed all over him..

I snorted and turned round, just in time to ram the spear into the gut of a Hoboll that had stabbed me with the spear when my back was turned. Wasting no time, I spun round and was able to just block another blow from a sword with the hammer before bringing my leg up and kicking the Hoboll directly towards Iron Heart who saw this and in perfect timing, swung his hammer at the Hoboll, scoring a direct hit and sending him speed into another Hoboll.

The poor bastard didn’t get up.

Iron Horn let out another great roar as I heard his blade clang into another before a yelp of a Hoboll made me spin round to see said Hoboll was now on the floor, dead and missing his arm which I assumed had been holding the sword which I saw was now in two pieces.

“Nice job, guess you could say… he’s ‘armless’ now right, Iron Horn?” I grinned.

Iron Horn gave me a glare that I couldn’t help find funny as I swung my hammer downwards and into the skull of the Hoboll I had first attacked, killing him instantly.

“I was just complimenting the way you...’disarmed’... him,” I grinned again.

“Vault, with respect, shut up,” Iron Heart grunted

I looked around to see the last Hoboll was fighting Iron Heart, and credit where credit is due, the little bastard was not put off by the size difference between him and the minotaur or the fact he probably hadn’t noticed he was the last one left. Me and Iron Horn watched in amusement as the little guy swung his sword madly at Iron Heart before Heart had apparently grown bored of the Hoboll and proceeded to deliver a shark and quick kick to the Hoboll’s groin, making me wince as the Hoboll let out a high pitched squeak of pain which was silenced by Heart smashing the poor bastards skull in with his hammer. As I looked over the bodies with a satisfied smirk, something caught my eye which caused me to panic slightly.

There was only seven corpses.

“There’s only seven…” I whispered, “where’s the other one?”

Iron Heart and Horn noticed this as well and looked around to see where the Hoboll had run off to before realising that during the fight, he had slipped off and had most likely gone to warn the other Hobolls.

“You two go back to the others and help them escape, I’ll go after him and meet backup with Crystal, Meta and Morphosis as well as the other prisoners and try to re join you,” I said turning to them.

“Alright, you sure you want to go alone?” Iron Heart asked me.

“Don’t have a choice, I’m not leaving them here to die and I’m not abandoning Crystal,” I replied.

They nodded and were about to take off before Iron Horn stopped in his tracks.

“Where should we meet up again?” He asked.

“There’s a cave to the south of here, just in the woods beyond the plains,” I replied, remembering where Snow Wing and the others had kept me, “I’ll meet you there.”

“Very well… good luck, Vault,”

“And to you, now go!”

I began to run down the tunnel after the Hoboll, hoping that I’d be able to catch him in time just as another loud roar echoed in the cave followed by a rumble as the earth shook and a might boom came from behind me. I came to a stop and looked back, slightly concerned what it was that had made that sound but shook my head, trying to remain focused on catching the Hoboll before it was too late and to try and get to others and Crystal before their covers were blown.

“I’m coming Crystal…”

Crystal’s POV

It was taking all of my willpower to not lose my cool as I was essentially herded down the corridor with the other Hobolls, I had absolutely no idea what was going on other than that these bastards had found something of importance to them, I was also getting tired of the excited chatters of the Hobolls and tried to drown our the noise. After what seemed like hours of marching through tunnel after tunnel seeing slaves being marched back towards where the others were being held - and where Vault was hopefully helping them escape by now - I had hoped that these slaves would be able to escape with us as well.

Eventually, we came to the end of a tunnel which had stopped at a wall which had a large hole in it, large enough for at least four Hobolls to walk though in a line and had to be at least ten foot high. After making my way in I could see why the Hobolls were acting all excited, we were now standing inside a large cave, large then the one where the Hobolls had been living in and large than anything I had ever seen.

But that wasn’t what was so impressive about the cave.

Directly in front of us, slightly submerged in water was a large ruined building that looked like a temple of some sort. The architecture was completely lost on me as I had never seen anything like it before however it did slightly remind me of buildings I had seen on visits to the far east of the world.

The temple had three sections that were each separated by a roof that increased in size from the top to the bottom, the way the tips of the roofs curved at the ends was breathtaking, each corner holding a small statue that kind of reminded me of a mini Vault forcing me to stifle a laugh at the thought.

That was when I noticed it.

It was a slight shine that was reflected by the water on the ground that had caught my attention, peering closer at the temple I held back a gasp of amazement.

The temple was made of pure gold.

I couldn’t believe it, whoever had constructed this temple clearly had good taste as well as the money to build such a place. As I let my mind wander to who could have possibly lived here, I was dragged out of them by the bark of the Hoboll that was leading us who was standing on a boulder in order to oversee everyone.

“Alright boyz!” He barked, “we ain’t got long, der’s only a few Hobolls left guarding da slaves and watching for intruders so lets find dis bloody box fing and find it fast!”

The Hobolls cheered as I wondered what he had meant by a box, suddenly, all the cheering stopped as I noticed the Hobolls freeze up and stare towards the ceiling behind the leader. As I followed their gaze I saw exactly what they were looking at and I felt my body go cold with fear.

“Wot you morons gawking at? We got work… to… do?”

The leader had turned around to see what everyone had been staring at and his jaw dropped, staring right back at him was the large, glaring head of a very angry looking dragon.

A stone dragon.

“Oh… fu-”

Before the leader could finish his sentence, the dragon let out ferocious roar that made me shake with fear. And before he could do anything, the dragon lunged its head forward and with one almighty snap of its huge mouth, grabbed the Hoboll and tossed him into the air.

I watched as the body of the leader flailed in the air, screaming as he did, before falling down into the open mouth of the dragon who ate him whole before turning its attention to us. There was a brief pause before it roared again.

And that’s when all hell broke loose.

All the Hobolls began to run about in blind panic, trying to get out of the chamber but because of the sheer amount of them trying to all escape at once, the exit was blocked making everything easier for the dragon. Seeing no way out of the blocked exit and not wanting to become dragon shit, I barged my way towards the right side of the mass as I heard their cries and screams of Hobolls being smacked, crushed and eaten by the Dragon.

I thanked the ancestors that stone dragons were unable to breath fire or I would've been roasted already and ran around the side, looking for somewhere to hide. I curled up behind a boulder, dropping my disguise, and shut my eyes tight and slowly began to shake, I’d never felt this much fear before and as hard as I tried I couldn’t drown out the screams of the Hobolls and the roar of the dragon.

“Vault… help me…” I whispered, a few tears sliding down my cheeks.

Chapter VIII - Prison Break Part II - Battle of Titans.

Gargoyle
Chapter VIII - Prison Break Part II - Battle of Titans

“Get back here!” I roared.

The Hoboll let out a yelp as he ran, continuing trying to evade me, but he could only go so fast with his short legs and soon I had caught up to him. Try as he might to extend the gap between us, fate wasn’t on his side as he tripped and tumbled to the ground with a surprised yelp.

I quickly launched at him, hammer raised high and a grin on my face. The last thing the Hoboll saw was my hammer colliding with his face.

Taking a look at my work with satisfaction, I looked around to see where I had chased the little bastard and realised we had reached the main chamber again. I also noticed the several dozen Hobolls looking at me with a mixture of shock and confusion, staring back at them as a awkward silence reigned over us.

“Wot… da fuq… is dat?!” A Hoboll cried in alarm.

“Dun matter, KILL IT!” Another barked.

“Son of a…” I grumbled and readied myself.

Three of the Hobolls instantly charged me, swords drawn ready to strike down at me. As quick as I could, I rushed the one closest to me and brought my hammer down on his sword-arm causing him to scream in pain before grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and with a might throw, threw him at one of the other Hobolls.

The third one, after dodging his two fallen comrades, lunged for me and brought his sword down. Raising my hammer up, I was able to deflect the blow and drove my foot into his gut, winding him. Taking the opportunity, I brought my hammer down hard on his skull, receiving a delightful loud crack as part of his skull shattered.

The Hoboll whose arm I had hit, held it in pain and whimpered and grabbed his sword with his other hand, trying to stand up and fight through the pain coursing through his body.

‘Credit earned where credits due...’ I thought.

He charged again, as the Hoboll I’d throw him into started to get up. With a grin I crouched down, using my wings for a boost as I leapt up into the air over his blade only to grasp my hammer in both hands, bringing it down with a crunch on his right shoulder, hearing it shatter over the sound of his screaming. I looked up at the other Hobolls who were now looking back at me with slight fear.

This confused me slightly.

Up until now, Hobolls seemed to be brutes who would fight till the end no matter what, like at the campsite and earlier on when they were faced with two minotaurs and, well, me. I tried to think why but was interrupted by another loud roar that rumbled through the caves and tunnels, followed by what sounded like a large explosion.

The Hobolls whimpered and without warning, took off down a tunnel. I merely stared down the tunnel they had run down in utter confusion, a second roar being what brought me back from my thoughts as I tried to hone in on the direction it was coming from. I don’t know why, but I had a gut feeling that wherever Crystal had been taken along with the other Hobolls, that was where the roars and explosions were coming from.

Even though I was slightly scared of what was making that noise, I couldn’t abandon her.

“Hold on just a little bit longer, Crystal,” I roared before charging down a tunnel.

Crystal POV

It was horrifying… truly horrifying…

I’ve heard tales from my father of the ancient times, tales that were simply meer legends to the ears of changelings, ponies and everyone else on this world. But… this thing was nothing like anything I had ever heard or even seen…

The dragon had been roaring and continued to kill the Hobolls stupid enough not to get out of the way when the sound of a magic blast exploding echoed in the cave, I thought that maybe Vault had arrived with some of the ponies and were fighting the dragon to reach me and I rose from my hiding spot, ready to signal where I was when I saw… it.

It was bipedal, like Vault, only its skin was a beautiful golden colour, almost as if it was made of the precious metal itself. It seemed to have short pointed ears that pressed against the sides of its head. I couldn’t help stare at the creature’s robes.

Just like its skin, they were a beautiful gold with the most bizarre stitching I’d ever seen on clothing before, they appeared to be runic markings of sorts and I noticed a few symbols that appeared to be in a language that was completely unknown to me. The creature seemed to have short hair that was tied back behind its head that seemed to flow down till it was near the ground, it shined like a gem would if the sun hit it at just the right angle and I couldn’t help but feel at peace and calm staring at this beautiful creature. Maybe it was here to help me?

That’s when I actually looked at its face…

I hadn’t noticed on my first glance, I had been too distracted by the beauty of its soft, smooth looking skin to notice it.

Two, purple eyes, each one having a black cross with no pupil, stared back at the dragon. I had thanked It wasn’t looking at me.

Just a glance at its eyes sent pure terror through my body, it felt as if I was staring into the darkest pit of Tartarus itself and I could feel my chest heaving as my breathing got heavier and heavier, my eyes widening slowly the longer I stared at it.

I was able to pull myself from looking at it when the dragon let out a low rumble as it spoke in a heavy, deep, thundering voice.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for ten thousands of years…” the dragon chuckled.

“Has it really been that long?” The creature chuckled back, “then you know why I am here…”

“You seek to reclaim your sister… your Master’s general…”

“That I do… are you going to stand down, dragon?”

“You would be dead before you could even lay your eyes upon it… demon.”

“I was hoping you would say that… I’m going to enjoy this…”

I held back a scream as the golden creature let out a demonic laugh as its body suddenly transformed into something I would never forget…

Vault POV

“Oh come on! This is like the seventh damn tunnel now!”

I roared in frustration as I smashed the hammer into the tunnel wall, I had gone down the wrong tunnel now seven times and I was getting angry. I could still hear the sounds of explosions and the dragon roaring coming from every direction, echoing in this damn maze.

“Come on Vault… focus…”

“You’re actually calling yourself that?” My mind snorted at me

“Not now…” I growled.

“Fine, be that way. I was just going to tell you which way to go,”

“How the hell would you know where to go when I don’t? We’re the same mind!”

“Uh… internet?”

“Sure, okay sure. Let’s say I believe you, where the fuck do I go then?”

“Take the next right, then the left and it’s straight on.”

“Something doesn't feel right…” I muttered.

“Hey, just trying to help. Sooner we get this done, sooner we get to Equestria and wake up.”

“True… alright then, onward!”

With new found vigor, I charged down the tunnel, my hand firmly grasping my warhammer as I took off to the right.

Crystal POV

I was terrified, absolutely terrified.

Within seconds of roaring, the golden creature had grown triple in size towering over the Hobolls and myself. Even though it wasn’t as tall as the dragon, it was more intimidating.

The majestic robes it once had were now gone, instead its entire upper body was bare and displayed the creatures muscles in clear detail, its legs had morphed with loud sicking crunching as the bone was forced to shift into a new structure and formed into a long, twisting serpent's tail.

It’s eyes had changed to a soulless black and where the crosses once were was a glowing red dot, I could feel the evil energy radiating from it as it stared at the dragon with a wicked grin on its face. Two long fangs protruded down out of his mouth as a forked serpent's tongue darted out and tasted the air, it flexed his hands as claws emerged from the tips of its fingers as it hissed loudly.

With a sicking tear, two large, golden horns ripped from its forehead and curved backwards above its head followed by several spikes ripping out of its shoulders and down its back. I held back the vomit that threatened to leave me as its long golden hair began to engulf in a bright golden blaze, the flames dancing upwards. It let out a loud roar of laughter that echoed on itself.

From its hand, a large sword appeared decorated with chains, the blade itself being serrated. Suddenly, the sword itself burst into flames, matching the creatures hair as it raised the sword to the dragon and growled in a low rumbling voice.

“One last chance, Dragon. Surrender what is my Masters and I will make your death quick…”

I silently prayed the dragon would do as the creature demanded, I prayed it would end right there and then. But I was wrong.

The dragon responded by letting out its own roar and slammed its front into the ground, the cave shook violently as a large column of stone burst downwards, rumbling as it shot towards the creature. The creature snarled and pointed his blade towards the impending column of stone and the second it touched the burning blade, it exploded into thousands of small pieces. The Hobolls that had remained as well as the larger one, which I assumed earlier on was the Alpha, whimpered in fear as they looked for any sign of cover.

“SO BE IT!”

The second it said those words, the dragon roared and slammed one of its powerful legs downwards, causing the ground around the demon to suddenly burst upwards in thousands of shards in an attempt to cut the demon into ribbons. In the blink of an eye however, the demon had used its coiled snake tail as a spring and launched itself upwards at the last second, rotating its sword below its body deflecting the shards of stone as it flipped over and landed before shooting towards the dragon at great speed.

The dragon roared in frustration as it continued to move its body in different ways, each movement causing the stone around it to be manipulated around it. As the demon sped towards the dragon, it dodged countless attacks that the dragon launched at it from every possible direction, each stone projectile rivalling the size of a building as they exploded upon crashing into the ground. The dragon swung its massive hand and struck the demon full on, sending it bouncing along the floor and into the wall on the far end of the cave.

I could see from where I was that the demon was… smiling?

Undeterred, it quickly shot towards the dragon again, its sword behind it as once more it began to dodge the attacks from the dragon. However, when one large projectile came close to colliding with the demon head on, it stopped in mid air and was thrown to one side with force that crushed another boulder where I heard the sudden yelps of some Hobolls that had been hiding that were quickly extinguished. I saw the dragon look surprised at this but didn’t falter in its attack, it rose up on its back legs before slamming down its front legs into the ground, causing the cave floor to violently shake as a tidal wave of rock surged upwards and towards the demon, raising with every second.

I was thankful for my hiding place as I was hiding just behind where the dragon was so I was unaffected by the attack. The Hobolls however, were not.

I shook in fear as I heard their pained cries be suddenly silenced, holding back my tears as I forced myself to watch the fight.

A loud explosion disrupted the tsunami of stone as the demon burst through the centre of it, the stone around him being turned into golden flames and into ash. A twisted grin etched on its face. I think the dragon hadn’t expected this and had unknowingly let its guard down.

And the demon knew this.

The demon raced towards the dragon and before the dragon could react it was already racing up its front leg, dragging its blade behind it as it cur into the powerful scales of the dragon. The dragon roared as it tried to throw the demon off its back but to no avail, the demon sunk its blade into the shoulder of the dragon which let out a loud and pained cry as I watched in horror.

The area around the entry point began to turn a dark gold colour that son started to travel along its entire body as the dragon cried out in pain and struggled to keep up. The demon roared in laughter a sit made its way towards the head slowly, making sure to swing its blade into the scales of the dragon further making the strange golden colour cover more of it before it drove the blade into the back of its head.

It gave a mighty roar of pain as it arched its head back and slumped to the ground with a loud rumble and rapsed weakily.

“H-how… how are you t-this powerful?” I heard the dragon growl.

“We’ve waited for thousands of years for this day, dragon, do you not think we would be prepared? And besides… your kind are weak, you always have been,” the demon chuckled in response.

“You w-won’t succeed… he has returned… you will be stopped again… Invidia…”

The demon chuckled as it slithered down the dragons now golden front leg and smirked at it in triumph.

“Touching… you know who I am… pity it didn’t help you at all, Alpha! Come you worthless wretch!”

I watched in awe as across the cave, emerging from a pile of ruble was the Alpha, injured but alive.

“B-but me boyz…” he began.

“NOW! I WILL NOT BE KEPT BACK FROM MY MASTER’S PRIZE BY YOUR DISGUSTING RACE!”

The demons roar echoed in the cave as the Alpha reluctantly followed it, it slowly began to revert back to the form it was in as it had entered the cave before chuckling and looking at the dragon.

“So nice of you to leave the temple door open for us… and soon… that corruption will take over your entire soul and you will belong to my Master.”

The demon laughed as it entered the temple followed by the Alpha, my hoof on my mouth to stop me from crying out as I tried to process everything that had just happened. In that entire fight I could feel the magical energy the dragon was using against that demon but… apart from the sword I felt nothing from it, no magical power at all.

It was holding back.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as the cave grew quiet, the only sounds were my heavy breathing and the dragons soft breathing and occasional pained grunt. As I slunk back out of view, I had wondered how I had not been seen by the dragon or the demon itself.

“You… can come… out now… little changeling…”

I froze hearing the dragon speak. How in tartarus did it know I was there?

“Do not be afraid… I am a friend… I could sense your companions life force on yours the moment you had entered… and I used as much of my power as i could to keep you hidden… from Invidia..”

Nervously, I stood up and began to approach the dragon from the front, it had a warm smile on its face despite the obvious pain it was in.

“Why?” I finally asked.

“Because… just like before… he had allies and friends he relied on…” he chuckled before groaning in pain, “I was one of them… and it seems… you are to…”

“What do you mean before? What’s going on?”

“The prophecy… the return of the stone warrior…” he groaned.

Before I could reply, I heard the sounds of running behind me and turned to see the one creature on this world I was truly happy to see.

Vault.

There was a brief silence as we stared at one another until he spoke.

“What the fuck happened here?!” He exclaimed.

I didn’t answer, I merely ran as fast as I could towards him and threw my front legs around his neck and hugged him tightly, burying my face into his neck as a I broke down sobbing.

Vault POV

Okay… I was clearly missing something.

After my mind had given me somewhat correct instructions on how to navigate the caves, granted I had to fight a few more Hobolls that I had stumbled upon, I found the pathway to where I figured thousands were coming from. Thats when all hell seemed to break loose.

It was like something from a war, the ground shook violently several times as the sounds of explosions, cries of pain and what even sounded like landslides echoed all around me. It had left me disoriented and caused me to collapse to the floor as my legs had given way, leaving me nauseous as I had tried to force myself to venture on, Crystal’s safety being the only thing important to me at that moment.

When the sounds of fighting had finished, I had heard a couple of booming and low voices talk before one of them had let out a roar at another before silence remained. As I had entered the chamber slowly I saw something that forced me to resist squealing in delight..

A huge. Fucking. Dragon.

I then noticed Crystal was in front of it and was… talking to it?

That’s when she noticed me and turned to face me, a short silence reigning over us with the only sound being the dragon’s grunts.

“What the fuck happened here?!” I exclaimed, breaking the silence.

Crystal then suddenly broke into a sprint towards me and before I knew it, she had wrapped me in a tight hug and had begun crying. Blinking for a couple of seconds in confusion before I returned the hug, slowly stroking her back trying to calm her down.

“Hey, hey… it’s okay I’m here now…” I whispered.

“I was terrified, Vault… I thought I was going to die…” she whispered.

“I’m not going to let that happen… I promise” I replied.

“Don’t make a girl a promise you can’t keep…”

I ignored my mind, as always, as I continued to hug Crystal close to me. There was a brief pause before the dragon chuckled.

“I see… so she’s your partner as well… as a friend…”

I could feel my cheeks warm up slightly and despite her dark shell, I could clearly see her cheeks flush as she quickly pushed herself off me and coughed.

“H-he’s not my partner! H-he’s a friend!” She said.

“Y-yeah… what she said…” I muttered.

“Come… no need to hide your feelings from your old friend… Gaius…”

Me and Crystal looked at him in confusion, I’d never heard of that name before. Come to think of it, I was wondering why the dragon was being this friendly to us in the first place.

“I’m not Gaius…” I started, “My name’s Vault…”

The dragon looked at me in confusion before laughing to himself, clearly trying not to move more than he should.

“Always were the joker, Gaius… even now…”

“He’s not joking… his name is Vault,” Crystal added.

The dragon looked at her then to me, its eyes squinting as it seemed to look into my very being.

“You are not lying… shame… I would have liked to have met him… one last time…”

“Wait, who is this Gaius? Why did you think he was me?”

Before the dragon could answer, we all heard a loud angry roar coming from within the temple.

“WHERE IS IT?!”

The dragon chuckled before opening up one of its hands, we watched in amazement as a small golden box appeared, floating gently. The box slowly floated over to me and dropped in my hand, as I grasped it I could feel a warm energy radiate from within it.

“Where I failed… you must keep it… safe… do not let… Invidia get it… prevent the prophecy… now… go… flee this place… I am sorry...”

I didn’t ask who Invidia was, I gathered it must be whoever was shouting in the temple. Crystal didn’t need being told twice, she began to run out of the cave but not before thanking the dragon one last time with a sad smile, I was about to run after her when I noticed the gold was slowly about to encase him. Before I could ask him what was happening to him, I felt my mind seize up and I blacked out.

Crystal POV

I watched in concern as Vault fell to one knee and quickly ran over to him, just as I got to his side as was about to ask him if he was alright, he slowly stood back up without a single word and smiled at the dragon. However, something was different about him, his eyes had changed to the purest white I had ever seen and dozens of scars now riddled his body, three going over his face. With a soft gasp I took a couple of steps back out of shock and slight fear as he suddenly spoke in a low booming voice.

“Hello Edar… my old friend...”

“Gaius…” the dragon whispered.

I wanted to speak but I couldn’t form any words and just simply stared, this was Gaius? But… it was using Vault’s body.

“What are you?” I whispered in slight fear.

I didn’t get a reply, instead I felt a strange tiredness wash over me and struggled to keep my eyes open as my legs began to wobble slightly.

“I’m sorry… but it is not yet time for you and Vault to know the truth…”

I wanted to protest, focusing my will and energy into staying awake. I tried to bite my leg to snap me out of this odd feeling, I tried willing myself to attack whatever it was that had possessed Vault but I couldn’t. I simply fell to my side and began to slowly fall into unconsciousness.

“Will she be alright, Gaius?”

“She is strong… as is her heart, but they do not need to hear of their destiny and the prophecy… not yet… now hold still, I may not be strong enough in his reincarnation to stop the curse… but I can end it now for you and save your soul from his control...”

I murmured something as I slowly closed my eyes and fell asleep.

I awoke suddenly and with a gasp I shot my head up looking around at my location, I was no longer in the cave that had the dragon called Edar, in fact, I was in a different section of the mountain altogether. I suddenly heard a groan beside me and saw Vault who was slowly sitting up right and rubbing his head.

“What happened? I remember the dragon saying something about… Gaius? A prophecy? God my head hurts…”

He winced and rubbed his head softly, I was trying to also remember what had happened but everytime I tried to focus my thoughts my mind went hazy.

“I remember that you fell to one knee… then something happened and your voice changed and then… nothing, just a blur…”

“Strange… maybe we should-”

Vault was interrupted as a scream of frustration echoed down deep within the mountains.

“IT’S GONE! FIND THE GARGOYLE! BRING ME HIS HEAD AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND!”

MY eyes widened as I recognised the roar. It was Invidia, and he didn’t sound happy at all. Vault then blinked and realised he was still holding the strange golden box that Edar had given him.

“I think that’s what he’s after…” I whispered.

“Well then…” Vault began, a grin forming on his face, “better hold onto it then. Come on, we need to meet up with the others, hopefully they’ve gotten to the rendezvous point in the forest.”

I grinned back at him as we stood up fully, before we began however, I placed a hoof on his arm and he turned to look at me.

“Thanks… for coming back…”

“I don’t abandon my friends, dream or not,”

“What?”

“Nevermind, long story,”

I sighed and shook my head. Another Vault moment. A second roar down the tunnels indicated to us that it was time to go, with the box in hand we started to run down the tunnel we were in.

‘As soon as we’re safe,’ I thought to myself, ‘I need to find out what this ‘prophecy’ is...’

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know.

Chapter IX - Prison Break Part III - They weren't always like this...

Gargoyle

Chapter IX - Prison Break Part III - They weren’t always like this...

Vault POV

Crystal and I ran down what appeared to be the six tunnel now and we couldn’t see any signs of us getting out. The tunnels that had any sort of vague familiarity for me were either caved in - my guess from the loud battle Crystal told me about - or I’d simply couldn’t find them again.

“Vault, do you have any idea where we are going?” Crystal asked.

“Not exactly,” I replied.

“Fantastic,” she said with sarcasm.

“Look ,right now I’d rather just keep running and wing it then stop and try to think. Lest you forget the thing chasing us!” I snapped back.

Crystal huffed but didn’t reply. Weather it was fate or just pure dumb luck, we hadn’t run into the Alpha or the one called Invidia.

“Look on the bright side,” I started, trying to cheer the mood up, “at least were not being chased by—”

“DER DEY GO BOYZ! AFTER DEM!” a Hoboll shouted.

“You just had to say that!” Crystal groaned.

I couldn’t help chuckle which only further annoyed her as we darted down a tunnel that turned left and slightly deeper into the mountain. After a while I began to feel the weariness of the running catch up to me and leant against a wall to catch my breath, Crystal also used this as a chance to catch her own breath and fell onto her rump panting softly.

“Think… think we lost them?” she asked.

“I think so…” I replied.

Whilst we caught our breaths, I looked around the tunnel to see if I could see any indication of familiarness about it to try and pinpoint where we were and hopefully find a way out. The tunnel, however, was completely new to me and it even looked… abandoned.

I squinted into the darkened tunnel and tried to focus on anything and could just make out in the distance a fork. I knew I was supposed to be trying to find a way out for us, but something inside of me was wanting to explore the two paths. Besides, maybe it could lead to a way out.

“Hey, Crystal,” I said.

“Yes?”

“Rekon one of those paths could take us back outside?” I asked, pointing down the tunnel.

She followed my finger down the tunnel and I watched her glare slighty.

“Well, the left one leads to more tunnels and the right one… seems to lead to something that looks like it was actually built as opposed to natural formation.”

“Wait, you can see down there? I can only barely make it out.”

“All Changelings can see in the dark,” she replied with a shrug, “it’s common knowledge.”

“I’m not from around here, remember?” I grumbled.

“Where exactly are you from anyway?”

“Brighton.”

“And where’s that?”

“Long story, I’ll tell you another time alright?” I quickly replied.

“Alright…” she replied with a suspicious look.

“Anyway, let’s just see where the right one goes. Shall we?”

“Okay, I’ll lead if you want. ‘Cos I can see better then you,” she replied sticking her tongue out.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered.

I stretched my back and flexed my arm, giving my warhammer a twirl as I followed Crystal down the tunnel.

Invidia POV

I let out a roar of anger as I blasted a nearby chair in a pillar of golden fire. The Hobolls that were in the room with me shivered with fear but I couldn’t give a damn about them right now.

“So… you lost him,” I growled at them.

“Y-yeah.. we’re sorry boss! We didn’t—”

I ignored his apology and grabbed his face with my hand and proceeded to incinerate the scum, the screams were like a childs laughter to its mother. Beautiful. I smiled in satisfaction as I dropped the charred, smoking corpse to the ground and slowly turned my attention to the other Hoboll who right so, was shaking with terror.

“Find… him… or I will kill every last one of your kind…”

“Y-yes sir!” it whimpered.

I watched as the wretched cur fled the room as quickly as it could before the Alpha entered.

“What… do you want,” I hissed.

“Some of the boyz reckon d-dat they might have gone into the old c-city…” he mumbled.

“Then get after them!” I shouted

“B-but the old city.. n-no Hoboll who ‘as gone der ‘as ever returned…” he gulped, “it’s cursed!”

“I don’t give a flying damn if the black dragons themselves were in there, FIND THAT GARGOYLE AND BRING ME THE BOX!”

The Alpha gulped and quickly left the room, shouting orders at some nearby Hobolls. The second I was on my own, I groaned in pain and clutched my stomach. Doubling over and falling on my hand, propping myself up shakily up on the desk.

“I used to much power against that dragon… I need time to re-charge,” I coughed.

With a loud grunt I forced myself to stand up right, wiping the sweat from my brow and slowly reverted into my snake form as I cursed the dragon for his deception.

“Your deception has only delayed the inevitable dragon… I will have my prize…”

Crystal POV

As we walked down the tunnels, I felt a mixture of feelings wash over me. Curiosity, fear, nervousness to made a few. There was something about the tunnel that just didn’t seem to sit right with me, at all.

“Hey, Vault?” I asked.

“Yeah?” he replied.

“Do you get the feeling that we’re being watched?”

“Not really, why?” he asked.

“Nothing… probably just my imagination,”

Vault seemed to be fine with that answer and simply carried on walking beside me. In truth, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that we were in fact being watched. We proceeded through the tunnels without any more sound save for the echo of my hooves and his feet hitting the stone floor.

We came to the end of the tunnel and my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Vault saw me suddenly stop and my jaw drop and poked my head.

“Hey Crystal…. you alright?”

I heard him, but didn’t acknowledge him. I was simply too dumbstruck by what I was seeing. Right in front of me was a vast city, and I mean vast. It was carved into the mountainside itself and easily was triple the size of a Changeling hive.

Some of the buildings seemed to just reach up and beyond the caverns ceiling,some spires stopping halfway. Bridges connected buildings together with beautiful and almost impossible looking arches that seed to descend into the abyss far below them forever, despite the lack of light allowing me to see any form of colouration of the buildings, I could tell they had taken a long time to create.

“Amazing…” I whispered.

“What is?” I heard Vault ask.

“Can’t you see?” I asked him.

“See what?” he grumbled, ”not a Changeling, me no see in the darkey. Remember?”

“It’s a city… a huge stone city…”

“You mean… there could be dwarves?” Vault asked, a hint of excitement in his tone.

“What’s a dwarf?” I asked.

Vault sighed loudly and looked a little disappointed as he waved a hand at me dismissively.

“Oh… nevermind,” he grumbled, “you want to go and explore?”

“Sure, a little digging around can’t hurt I guess. See if you can find something to make a torch with.”

He nodded as we headed down a stone staircase that led towards the nearest building, the feeling of being watched getting stronger with each hoofstep.

Vault POV

As I followed behind Crystal, I was trying not to let my disappointment of the fact my psyche hadn’t created dwarves get to me.

“Man… having a dwarf as a companion would have been fun, all the laughs we’d have… the fighting, the drinking, the playful banter…” I thought to myself

How would you know? I heard my mind say, you’re only going by how our friends have played them in dungeons and dragons!

“Actually… I was thinking more along the lines of Gimli. He fits those traits.

… Good point.

“When do I not have a good point?”

Are you really asking me that… I have a twenty page list of reasons why you never have one—

Aaaaand ignoring you now.

I began to hum a loud song inside my head to drown out the enraged voice who was angry at the fact I had interrupted him. We soon entered the nearby building and I grumbled to myself as the darkness got more intense.

“I’m pretty certain Gargoyles can see in the dark…” I muttered internally.

They can, you can’t because you suck.

“I think I’ve already told you this, insulting me is insulting yourself because we’re the same person.”

…

“Exactly.”

I smirked to myself as my mind decided to keep quiet and let my thoughts drift off to wondering who used to live in this city. Could it have been long extinct dwarves? Or maybe a figment of my imagination made real by some weird space ray?

Because I wasn’t paying attention, I didn’t notice Crystal had stopped walking and accidently kicked her butt.

“H-hey!” she squeaked and blushed, “watch it!”

“Sorry!” I apologised, “was miles away.

“Whatever, I see an old torch mounted on the wall up. Reckon you can pull it off?”

She pointed to the torch in question and I reached up, easily yanking the thing off the wall mount. Her horn lit up and she fired a small blast of magic onto the end and ignited it. I stared at the flames as they danced about and blinked slowly.

“Vault?” Crystal asked.

“Crystal… why do we need a torch? Surely you could’ve just used your horn.”

She opened her mouth to answer but quickly closed it as no words came out. She scowled at me and walked on ahead with a loud ‘hmmph’, I chuckled and followed behind her and looked around at the walls.

I had to admit, she was right.

The carvings and etchings that had been put into the design of the interior was breathtaking. Everywhere you looked there was some form of intricate design, from what appeared to be a depiction of whoever lived in this city too simplistic - yet stunning - patterns.

As I continued to marvel at the etchings, I became increasingly aware of some of the recurring images and suddenly made the connection.

“Crystal,” I said.

“What is it now?” she huffed.

“I think I know what used to live here…”

“What?” she asked looking back at me.

Before I could reply, we walked into a large room and this time both our jaws dropped at the scene. It appeared to be a home that clearly belonged to a wealthy family but that wasn’t the reason why we were shocked. The reason why we were shocked was because of two statues in particular.

Statues of Hobolls wearing armor that was similar to a knight’s armor.

“What in the…” I muttered.

“I don’t believe it… the legends are true.

“What legend?” I asked.

“Well… legend says that the Hobolls weren’t always ruthless barbarians,” she started.

“Really?” I asked in genuine surprise.

“Mhm, its said that about five thousand years ago, the Hobolls were a proud race of warriors who had their own culture, cities and even a language. But something happened and over the years they devolved into dumb, mindless savages.”

“Interesting… wonder what caused it,” I replied.

“Same here… my historians argue over whether or not this claim is true because no record of their culture survived, as Hobolls tend to live underground.”

“Now we know why there was no evidence,” I chuckled, “I highly doubted anyone was able to get deep enough into Hoboll territory to find something like this and get out again.”

“True, but this is pretty amazing, Vault,” she said, a clear happiness in her voice, “think about it, we’re going to be the first in ancestors know how many years to be able to actually see what Hobolls used to be like!”

“History nut then?” I chuckled.

“Sort of, father always insisted I was taught by the very best and I just happened to have a keen interest in the subject,” she replied.

“Oh? Who ‘s your father.”

“Let’s just keep looking around, we won’t get another chance like this.”

I figured it must be a touchy subject for her, weather it was general father issues or something worse. I decided to drop it and continued to look around the room.

The search reminded me of Dungeons and Dragons so much. Each time I looked inside a drawer. I would roll a D20 die inside my head and pray I found something good, though today it appeared my rolls were doing me no favours at all.

But not for Crystal.

As I kept finding old clothing or other various generic household items locked away in boxes, she would take them and place them on the large wooden table that rested in the middle of the room and examine them. The only things I found of any worth, was a leather pouch that I fastened to my belt and bunch of jewelry which I put inside the pouch. I also placed the cube that the dragon had given me inside it as well and was surprised they could all fit, albeit the pouch was bulging slighlty.

One item in particular caught my interest. It was a golden ring that had a strange insignia on it in the shape of a sword with two eagles wings coming out of its side and I figured it must be some form of coat of arms that the ancient Hobolls had and decided to hand it over to Crystal, who let out a happy squeal and examined it carefully. I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

As I searched the area, I came across an old tattered curtain that was hanging on something which I assumed was a painting and pulled it down off the wall.l. I coughed as the dust washed over me and blinked a few times, finding myself looking at large painting that hung on the wall. What was on the painting itself was amazing.

“Whoa… check this out,” I called out to Crystal.

“What is it?” she asked as she came over.

“This,” I indicated the large painting before me.

She stood beside me and we both studied the painting. As I focused my attention on it, I suddenly noticed something I hadn’t before. Judging from the gasp Crystal gave beside me, I figured she’d spotted it to.

“You seeing what i’m seeing?” I asked.

“The fact that the painting is of the Hobolls themselves in battle with some form of large furry creature?”

“Yeah.”

“Then yes, I see it to.”

It was incredible, there had to have been at least thirty Hobolls in the painting. They were all wearing armour that seemed to be like the ones we’d been fighting were wearing, only cleaner and looked in better shape. From the looks of how the painting had been done, the Hobolls were losing to the large creature they were fighting.

“I wonder what the hell that thing is,” I said, “certainly doesn't look like a Hoboll…”

“What’s this?” Crystal asked.

I looked over to see her squinting at a small, bronze plaque that was fixed at the bottom of the painting. I leaned down to try and get a better look at it but I couldn’t make it out, which surprised me, given this was my dream and so far everything had been in english.

“That’s weird… I can’t read it,” I huffed.

“How could you? No one can read ancient Hobolian anymore.”

“Guess we will never know eh? Though… I do wonder—”

“The demon had no name, no origin, it just was. The scourge of our noble race, laying waste to any and all Hoboll clans who dared to capture this wild beast… the very sound of it’s roar was enough to drive any Hoboll insane.” Crystal read out loud.

“Of course you can read it… well, maybe my psyche just allowed you to after I complained,” I said.

“... What?” she asked, giving me a confused look.

“Nevermind.”

“You and your Vault moments…” she giggled.

I ignored her and focused my attention back on the painting. I couldn’t help but admire the large creature. It had some similarities to a Hoboll but it was larger and looked like it shared some traits with a diamond dog, but with a more wolf like head. The creature was clearly built to handle itself and combat even without armor. The artist had taken great deal to paint in the red eyes that had what seemed to be red mist flowing from them - more to add dramatic effect and further implant that this thing was an evil demon or something I figured - as well as a surprisingly good amount of detail on its dark fur.

I let my eyes wander over to what it was holding seemingly produly in its right paw. A huge, fuck off hammer made of a shiny looking material.

“Wonder that that hammer is made of,” I mumbled.

“It looks like… crystal?” Crystal replied.

“Doubt it, it looks nothing like a Changeling,” I smirked.

“No I meant— oh har har,” she giggled, “very funny.”

“But yeah, I think you may be right…”

Crystal started to wonder off to go and look at other things in the room as I focused on trying to determine what the hammer was made of, something caught my eye. Something… that honestly really surprised me and caught me off guard.

“Uh… Crystal?” I asked.

“Yes?” she replied, looking at me and walking back over.

“Does… does that hammer have a moustache?”

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter X - Prison Break Part IV - Beware the Shadows.

Gargoyle

Chapter X - Prison Break Part IV - Beware the Shadows.

Vault POV

The journey through the old city had been… oddly insightful.

You know the phrase, don’t judge a book by its cover? Boy, does it play out a lot here…

Everywhere we had looked was ruins of what clearly was once a great people… dog… whatever the hobolls are. It was quite saddening really to see how far these creatures had fallen, I nearly felt sad for them.

Nearly.

The reason for why I only nearly felt sorry for them was, we were now being chased by them. We had just left the room where we found the strange painting with the moustached weapon when we heard the sounds of at least six of the bastards behind us.

I ditched the torch I was carrying and picked up Crystal, carrying her carefully on my back avoiding my wings and used her as a makeshift sat nav in the darkness of the ruined buildings. Something she had initially protested about but had eventually clammed up about it when I had to remind her. Twice. I was blind in the dark.

“Remind me again why we are running?” she asked me.

“Correction, why am I running, your riding on my back. And the reason is, I can’t exactly fight well in the dark when I can barely see can I? They have the advantage.”

“Fair enough I suppose, but, do you have any idea where we are running?”

“Away from them,” I replied with a smirk.

“Har har.” she said sarcastically, boping me on the head. “But seriously, do you— TAKE A LEFT!”

I did as she said and gasped when I noticed I had nearly run right off a walkway and into the abyss below. “Fuck that was a close one…”

“Yeah… but it would've been okay. We have wings, we just need to—”

“Actually…” I interrupted her as I ran, “I can’t fly…”

“What? Why not?” she asked, seemingly dumbfounded at my statement.

“Dunno, never learned how to, haven’t had these wings long.”

“What do you mean by that?” she asked.

“Long story, tell you all about it when I got the time!” I said, singing the last line.

“... You’re weird, Vault,” Crystal sighed.

“That may be, but you love it,” I grinned as I leapt down some stairs, landing with a thud.

“I have to admit, it is entertaining.” she giggled. “Okay, I see a turning to the right up ahead as well as to the left. What one do we take?”

“Let’s go with right, I’ve had a bad experience going down left tunnels… fucking 173,” I muttered, shuddering at the thought of the monster.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, how far away are the hobolls?” I asked.

As we reached the turning, she cocked her head back and stared into the darkness.

Crystal POV

As I looked into the darkness, I could see the hobolls gaining on us. But that wasn’t what had my attention, I don’t know why but, I felt as if there was something behind them. Something following after the hobolls.

I continued to stare into the darkness, trying to see if I could see anything when I heard Vault let out a grunt of annoyance.

“Earth to Crystal, do you see them?” he asked.

“Yeah they’re gaining, we better…” I looked back into the darkness, but was unable to see anything more other than the hobolls.

Vault quickly ran down the corridor and I returned to looking ahead, however this time it felt different. I was starting to struggle to see anything and it was unnerving me a little bit.

“Vault,” I started, “something doesn’t feel right…”

“What do you mean?” he replied.

“I can’t shake this feeling that we’re being followed, or that something around is… I don’t know, off,” I muttered, nervously looking around.

“I don’t feel anything, it’s probably your mind playing tricks, given how dark it is and deep underground we are.”

I nodded slowly and clung tighter to him, “I guess you’re right…”

Vault nodded as he continued to run into the darkness, but the feeling still hung onto me. Filling my mind with uncertainty.

Hoboll PPOV

The hobolls came to a stop as they reached the turning and the leader sniffed the air, trying to catch the scent of their quarry again.

“Anyfink?” one of them asked.

“Not yet… dat gargoyle ain’t got ah smell on ‘im, but da bug,” he inhaled deeply, “she got ah smell on her! Down the left boys!”

The hobolls nodded and started to run down the left corridor, chasing after the smell of the changeling. With each step, they all started to feel as if something was wrong, but they put this down to simply the darkness of the tunnels and carried on running.

Eventually the hobolls came to a large clearing in the cave that had two exits in front of them. The leader raised his head in the air and began to start sniffling again, growling in annoyance as he lost the scent.

“I lost da scent… fuck.”

“Da alpha ain’t gunna be happy if we don’t get dat box…” one of them whined.

“I’m more worried ‘bout da snake guy…” another muttered.

“Same ‘er, you seen da way he makes the alpaha—”

He was interrupted as the leader of the pack came over and smacked him with the hilt of his sword, causing the hoboll to let out a pained yelp.

“Shut it! Dun talk bad ‘bout da alpha, or yur gunna get yurself killed!” he growled.

The hoboll he struck whimpered and nodded his head as the leader snorted. “Now, dey can’t ‘ave gotten far…”

He turned around to look back to the two exits then quickly turned back when he heard a light whoosh sound and noticed there was only four hobolls behind him as opposed to five.

“Where da ‘ell ‘as he gone?!” he barked.

“Dunno, boss. One second ‘e was here, den—”

“I didn’t ask where he was, ah wanna know—”

A pained yelp alerted the group to something above them and the looked up.

Just in time to see the missing hoboll’s body crush into itself with a loud sickening crack as its spine, ribs and other bones snapped that echoed in the area and be violently pulled into a small hole. Blood rained down onto the group below as it split from the body of the hoboll before it vanished.

“WOT DA FUCK WAS DAT?!” one yelled.

“ARE WE UNDAH ATTACK?!” another cried.

The leader looked to the exit and saw them move, forming into one shadow which darted to the right, hiding in the shadows of the wall.

“IT’S AH TRAP!” he shouted, “BACK DOWN DA TUNNEL!”

The hobolls didn’t need being told twice.

Whimpering with their tails between their legs, they made a beeline for the exit. The leader came to a screeching halt when the darkness of the tunnel they had come from suddenly engulfed his pack and he heard them scream in terror and pain, followed by gurgling sounds, the crunching of bones and the splash of blood before the shadows parted. The color in his cheeks went pale as he vomited onto the floor.

Where his pack had been was nothing more than a pile of mutilated corpses, most of the blood had been drained from the bodies and stained the floor, walls and ceiling. Bones stuck out, ripped through the flesh and snapped as organs lay splattered against the floor, walls and ceiling.

He started to back up, whimpering as the shadows formed in front of him to show a small humanoid creature, with two white eyes that appeared in its head. In a blind panic, he threw his sword at the creature, and cried out in terror as the creatures head split apart to allow the sword to fly through it and clatter to the floor before forming back into a head.

“S-STAY BACK! P-PLEASE!” he pleaded.

His plea fell on deaf ears, the sounds of his screams echoed all throughout the tunnel systems before they were abruptly silenced.

Vault POV

I came to a halt as a low scream echoed down the tunnel before coming to an abrupt stop. I looked around and could feel Crystal was looking around

“Did you hear that?!” I whispered in alarm.

“Y-yeah, it sounded like a hoboll…” she whispered back.

“Can you see them?” I asked.

Crystal stared into the darkness and shook her head, “No I can’t.”

“At least… that’s good?” I said meekly.

“I guess… we should keep moving,” she replied.

I nodded as I held onto her legs and started to walk instead of run, deciding it would be smarter if I conserve my energy for the time being. However, I now was having the same niggling feeling that Crystal must’ve been having earlier on as I could literally feel as if something was off in the air. I took a deep inhale and something hit my nostrils that smelt wrong, I couldn’t describe it.

It just smelt wrong.

“The air smells off…” I muttered as I took a couple of deep breaths. “Really off, I don’t like it.”

“What are you talking about it?” Crystal asked.

“... Nothing, it’s nothing. Lets just keep going.”

I could feel that Crystal was a bit confused, but she didn’t say anything and we carried on down the pathway in silence

Crystal POV

Vault was starting to worry me.

I know I was saying that I felt as if someone or something was watching us earlier, and even thought I had seen something behind the hobolls when they had chased us. He hadn’t seen or noticed anything out of the ordinary.

But ever since we heard that scream, he started to act a little edgy. And it was worrying me.

I jolted on his back as he stopped for what seemed to be the tenth time in less than five minutes and span round, glaring into the darkness behind us.

“Vault, what is it this time? Seriously, you're acting really nervous right now.”

“Hmm?” he replied, not really paying attention.

I bopped him on the head and scowled, “Pay attention. What’s wrong?”

“Ow…” he grumbled and rubbed his head, “I don’t know okay? Everytime I take a breath something smells wrong. I don’t know how to explain it more than that, and now I can’t help but feel we’re being followed by something.”

I looked back and stared into the tunnel, trying to see if I could see anything but like the last time I tried, I couldn’t see a damn thing.

“Look, Vault,” I started.”I’m worried about you, I can’t see, hear or smell anything.”

“What about earlier, when you asked me if I felt like we were being watched?” he asked.

“I think it was just my imagination, because there was only the hobolls. And I think now, your imagination is playing tricks on you because of that scream,” I replied.

Vault sighed and rubbed his head, I gave him a soft squeeze-hug to reassure him and he placed on of his hands on my hoofs and gently squeezed it.

“I guess you’re right. Thanks… needed that,” he said softly.

“Anytime,” I smiled.

“So… shall we carry on?” Vault asked.

“Of course, not sure where to go though… it’s just a straight corridor,” I muttered.

“Well, it’s got to lead somewhere, right?” he chuckled.

I smiled warmly as I settled myself again on his back and he started to walk, I could feel the emotions he was giving off and it was frankly nice. Not like some of the emotions ponies would give off. I couldn’t really explain it, he just felt… different.

As we continued to walk we did eventually come to the end of the tunnel and I couldn’t be happier to see it. Even though changelings make their hives inside of caves or old ruins, it was nice to finally come to the end of this damn area.

I was highly mistaken…

We walked out of the tunnel and into a large open area that was a bit lighter than the tunnels we had been going though and had several pathways jutting off in front of us. I groaned and laid my head on the back of his as he let out a deep sigh.

“Whelp… any idea which way we should go?” he asked, resting his hands on his hips.

“I’m not sure… give me a second…” I replied.

I hopped off his back and walked forward a few steps, looking down each individual tunnel to try and see if I could get any kind of emotion trail from them. The second to last on the right had a—if very faint— trace of anger coming from it.

“Okay… I think we should go down the second to last on the right,” I started, “but I can feel a lot of anger coming from it.”

“... Huh…” Vault blinked.

“Changelings can detect emotions, I already told you this,” I deadpanned.

“Oh yeah… sorry forgot,” he replied with a sheepish grin.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?”

“What can you do, eh?” he grinned. “I’m one of a kind!”

I giggled and rolled my eyes as I started to head down the tunnel followed by Vault. I could hear him walking behind me and figured that since he hadn’t asked me to ride on his back again he was okay with me leading him through the tunnel, I kept my eyes open though, looking to see if anything was out of the ordinary as well as making sure I could see what the anger was coming from before it could find us. I figured it might probably be a hoboll, given they desperately needed whatever was in that box if the golden demon was to go by. I cast my head back slightly, still keeping my eyes forward.

“Just a heads up, you may have to fight something in a minute, Vault,” I said. “I really don’t like the feeling I’m getting.”

No answer.

I rolled my eyes again and turned my head round, “Vault, did you—”

My eyes widened in alarm when I saw that Vault had vanished, and instead a shadow was standing behind me. Its two white eyes staring at me almost manically.

“W-what the—”

It interrupted me with a loud screech as its head ripped open revealing hundreds of razor sharp teeth.

I screamed and ran down the tunnel, not giving a damn if I ran into a hoboll or whatever, I just wanted to get away from whatever the fuck that thing was. I could hear it running after me, my heart pounded as I tried to make as much distance as I could from it when I ran into an open cavern again, looking around to see if I could see another tunnel.

There wasn’t one.

Fearfully, I spun round and started to back away as the creature slowly emerged from the tunnel. Charging up my horn I blasted a beam of magic at it, hoping to deter it. It screeched as the brightness hit it and it retreated back into the shadows.

I let out a sigh of relief that was short lived as I could hear it shifting around in the darkness.

I looked down the tunnel and saw nothing except darkness, before two white eyes floated in the center and a wicked grin soon after.

I was trapped. And it had all the time in the world.

I growled and stomped my hoof, “No… I’m not freezing up again!”

I charged as much magic as I could on my horn and charged at the creature, it shrieked as I got closer and closer and I ran as fast as I could down the tunnel ,the shadows parting as it desperately tried to avoid the light.

I had no idea where I was going and I didn’t care, I need to find him. I needed to find Vault.

I needed to find my friend.

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter XI - Prison Break Part V - Welcome to the boss level.

Gargoyle

Chapter XI - Prison Break Part V - Welcome to the boss level.

Vault POV

“Crystal? Where are you?!” I shouted.

Nothing.

Nothing but an eerie silence greeted me.

I have no idea what happened. One second, I was following Crystal down the tunnel and the next.

Gone.

I was left in complete darkness and a really odd silence.

You know how when you wake up in the middle of the night, and it’s quiet but not the normal kind.

The kind of quiet where you’ve just fallen asleep after brilliantly staying up till the wee hours listening to creepypasta stories on YouTube and what have you, then start to let your paranoia take over. The kind where you wake up after doing all that and the air feels heavy and you think you saw something move out of the corner of your eye.

That kinda silence.

The darkness didn’t help as I couldn’t see a damn thing. I was using the wall as a makeshift guide and shuffling my feet along the floor like an OAP so I could feel if a hole or something in the ground.

“Come on Vault… keep it together. Don’t panic,” I muttered.

‘Are you really calling yourself that? I just got over the fact you’re telling others to call you it but now you’re calling yourself it?’ my mind sneered.

“Oh you’re still here… wonderful,” I replied with a sarcastic tone.

‘Of course I am you moron, I’m a part of you. Now, stating the obvious aside, have you figured out a way out of this mess you’ve gotten us into?’

“Not yet… kinda hard to see—”

I paused mid-sentence as I felt a cold air blow over me from behind. Out of instinct, I gripped my warhammer tightly and quickly spun round and slammed it into whatever was behind me.

Only to hit the side of the tunnel with a loud ‘thunk’.

“The fuck?” I whispered as I pulled my weapon away.

‘It’s the darkness,’ my mind started, ‘you’re letting it get to you, just focus on finding a way out of here.’

“I need to find Crystal first.”

‘Must you? She isn’t real, it’s a dream and—’

“Shut up, leave me alone for once!” I shouted.

As my voice echoed down the tunnel and slowly faded away, I heard someone reply.

“Vault?”

“Crystal!”

My heart soared as I heard her voice in the darkness. I immediately ran towards it, panting as my heavy footsteps echoed all around me.

I soon regretted it.

I tripped over something that sent me tumbling to the ground hard. I cried out as I rolled down what appeared to be a very long slope, before free falling several feet and slamming into the ground. As I came to a stop I groaned and slowly got myself to my feet, looking up to see a speck of white light in the distant.

“Okay… two reasons behind the light. One, a way out. Two… I’m dead,” I muttered.

“Vault?!”

I heard Crystal calling me again. And to my dread it was coming from where the light was.

“I’ve seen a couple of horror movies that end like this…” I muttered to myself again, “but I don’t really have a lot of options…”

‘We’re dead.’

I ignored my mind as I slowly made my way to the light, my hands gripping the warhammer tightly. I darted my eyes to and fro trying to see if I could spot anything, now that I had some light to use.

Surprisingly enough though, nothing happened.

I went through the light and ended up in a fairly large open area of the tunnels. And for once I could see, thanks to some light trickling in from the ceiling.

“I guess… I’m near the surface now… but how? We were—”

“Vault!”

I turned round with a relieved grin upon hearing Crystal’s voice. I sighed as she slowly approached me, her wings fluttering slightly.

“Thank god… I was beginning to think I’d never find you,” I chuckled.

“Vault,” she replied.

I blinked as I cocked my head to the side, “Yes?”

“Vault,” she repeated, tilting her head to mimic me.

I blinked and sighed, slapping my forehead as I remembered one of the most important rules of dungeon crawling when playing dungeons and dragons, or any RPG.

Nothing is ever straight forward.

“You’re not Crystal… are you?”

‘Crystal’ blinked, before grinning wickedly, displaying dozens upon dozens of sharp, needle like fangs before her body dissolved into a large mass of shadows. Two white piercing eyes and the teeth remaining in the dead centre of the mass.

“Of fucking course…” I grumbled as I backed away slightly, “nothing is ever this easy.”

The creature screeched loudly, making me grit my teeth as the sharp sound assaulted my ears. To my horror, the screech carried on down the tunnels and was soon replaced with dozens of the same sounds, indicating other creatures where nearby.

I then heard a scream. Her scream.

“I’M COMING CRYSTAL!”

Without a second thought, I charged forwards, back-handing the creature, who appeared to be somewhat stunned at my sudden advance, with my hammer and sending it aside as it screeched in pain. I pelted it down the tunnel, my ears burning as I heard the sounds of magic being used and the screeches of the creatures. I suddenly took a left and headed down another part of the tunnel.

I somehow knew where I was going, despite not being able to see.

As if I’d been down here before, and was only just remembering it from a long time ago.

I soon saw another light down the end and raced towards it, soon coming into another clearing where I saw Crystal looking in front of her with fear. I then noticed who she was looking at.

The alpha…

And a man in golden robes.

Crystal POV

I panted as I blasted another shadow, making it hiss and screech at me.

After running down what seemed like countless corridors, I eventually returned back to where I had originally attacked the shadows. Realising they were manipulating the space around me and confusing me, or anyone who ventured down here.

The perfect hunters, trapping their victims in a never ending cycle of cat and mouse.

I could feel my magic levels slowly diminishing as I shot another blast of magic at the shadows, backing up more into the cavern wall.

“I-I can’t… die like… this,” I panted.

As the shadows came closer, I summoned as much magic as I could and in one final blast of magic, I created a dome of light that expanded in the cavern, eliciting pained screeches from the shadows.

I screamed in pain as my head throbbed from oversing my magic and I struggled to stand. I raised my head and my eye widened in fear as I saw the alpha again.

And the golden demon

Invidia POV

I growled softly as I led those miserable hobolls through the darkness, there pathetic alpha beside me nervously looking around every ten seconds. In fact, they were all doing it.

And it was beginning to irritate me greatly.

“What is the matter with you sniveling cowards?” I growled, “It’s just darkness.”

The alpha swallowed, still looking around him, “I-It’s not da darkness we don’t like… it’s wots innit dat scares us…”

“Whatever are you babbling on about?” I sighed in annoyance.

“W-well… dese used tah be hoboll cities… back in da day.”

I rolled my eyes at such nonsense. Hobolls were nothing more than barbaric, uncivilised, rotten wastes of flesh and only good for use as a means to an end. Ever since my release, I’ve never even heard of such a claim. Even back in the golden era there was no mention of hoboll cities they were just as they were back then.

Mindless slaves to my master.

But… could they have evolved since then?

No, they couldn’t have. They were mindless, pathetic, worms.

Nothing more

I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind as the alpha continued to talk.

“Dey say dat… ages ago we used tah have kingdoms undah dah mountains… and had one chieftain ruling us,” he said. “but den… something happened and we abandoned da cities for da surface. Dey say something lurked in the shadows… something not from dis world.”

“I’ve never heard of such ridiculousness in all my life. Your race is nothing. Just mindless and pathetic” I hissed.

“Watch it!” The alpha suddenly snapped as the others growled,.

I raised my eyebrow in mild amusement as it appeared they were about to attack me for my statement.

What fools.

The alpha grabbed my arm tightly as he bared his fangs.

“I’ve ‘ad enough of you! We hobolls used—”

I cut him off suddenly as I spun round and grabbed his throat, slamming him into the tunnel wall startling him and making him yelp in a mix of pain and surprise.

“Don’t you dare touch me! Filth!” I growled deeply, the tunnel shaking from my voice.

The alpha whimpered in my grip and choked as my hand tightened around his throat. The others backed up slightly, a little afraid it would seem.

“You are lucky I even need your service… I could easily just end you now and send you all you to my master for his… entertainment,” I gave a dark grin as the alpha’s eyes widened.

“N-no! Anything but d-dat!” he begged.

“Good… now…” I slowly cast my gaze to the rest, “move out… I want that gargoyle dead, and what is my master’s returned!”

The hobolls nodded rapidly and started off down the tunnels, albeit a little hastily. I dropped the alpha who coughed as he massaged his throat. I smirked as he glared at me before he took off after his pack.

I chuckled softly as I followed, crossing my arms behind my back as I let my mind drift to what I had planned for the hobolls once this was over. I came to a sudden stop as a series of loud screeches sounded throughout the tunnels.

“Of all places… they had to appear here,” I muttered as I quickly made my way after the hobolls who had stopped dead in fear. “GET MOVING!”

I’m not sure what terrifies them more.

The screeches.

Or the prospect of facing my master’s wrath.

Either way, it delights me to no end.

We soon reached a large cavern that was empty save for a single changeling. She looked at us in fear, clearly not expecting our presence. She appeared to be very worn down as well from keeping her attackers at bay.

The hobolls whimpered in fear as the shadows formed around the changeling again.

“W-wot are dey?” the alpha whimpered.

“The remnants of a long forgotten people. A race that escaped their doom by traveling into the void and starting a new life… but there were some who went mad, losing their minds and what little they had left in the ways of souls. They are essentially… my kin.” I replied, “demons of the shadows, fallen and banished members of the first and only race to dwell into the void.”

The alpha stared at me in confusion, obviously confused by what I had just said.

But it did not matter.

As soon as I finished talking, the gargoyle entered the cavern from a different tunnel and I met his gaze.

It was strange… it didn’t seem… right.

I could never forget his eyes, not after what he did to us yet… he seemed different.

I tried to focus my magic into a powerful spell but held back a wince as I realised just how drained I was. I wanted to kill him right there and then, but with my power level this low, I was an easy kill. I had to return to my master now or suffer a humiliating death, without my prize.

But at least I could get rid of one annoyance before I returned to regain my full power.

Before anything else was said, I grabbed the alpha and threw him in front of me as he yelped in surprise. He landed and the shadows noticed and within seconds were upon him as he started to scream in agony.

The hobolls with us finally lost whatever little they had of their courage and ran back the way we came, crying in utter terror as I watched the alpha writhed in pain.

I smirked as I turned away.

Why not let someone else get their hands dirty?

I refuse to allow that gargoyle to kill me here and now, and I can always retrieve my prize from the gargoyle’s cold, dead hands once this was all over and I was recharged.

I looked behind me one last time before I teleported out of the cavern, leaving the alpha at the mercy of the shadows.

Vault POV

Me and Crystal stood watching in fear. The alpha’s body violently twisted and contorted as he cried out in pure agony and pain as the shadows ravaged his body, ripping into his fur and flesh trying to possess him as he tried to desperately crawl away from it all.

The mass of shadows swarmed all over his body and a loudly bubbling sound echoed in the cavern, like something was boiling.

Then the smell hit my nostrils and I nearly vomited.

The shadows were literally boiling the flesh from the alpha’s body.

Smoke rose up as the mass grew larger with each passing second, shadows all around the cavern joining in as the alpha’s pained screams slowly began to fade into the sizzling of his flesh. Blood began to pool around the floor which was a sick, near-black colour and wreaked of decay.

We started to back ourselves up as the shadows began to form into a long appendage. It soon shifted into what appeared to be an arm, followed by a second on the other side. The mass rose up and we could see its long legs emerge, hoisting its body into the air as it towered a good twenty feet above us.

I could hear Crystal whimper softly in fear as the head of the creature formed. Two long, wolf-like ears emerged above its head as a long snout protruded from its face, rows of sharp needle like teeth filling the maw. Two glowing, white eyes with a red pupil formed in the center of the head as tendrils began to sprout out of its back and flail madly. The last thing to form was a glowing red gem like object that appeared on the forehead of the beast as it screeched, arching its back out, shaking the whole cavern.

“Vault… what do we do?!” Crystal whimpered beside me.

I wasn’t sure. I needed to get away from here, get Crystal to safety so I could get her wounds seen to, but I don’t think I could get her out of here unless I went through the monster. I swallowed as I looked down at her fear stricken face and something inside of me snapped.

Something deep inside of me.

“Just stay behind me,” I replied. “No matter what, stay behind me.”

Without hesitation or waiting for her answer,d I launched myself towards the monster and roared loudly, spreading my wings out and pushing myself into the air with a mighty blast. holding my warhammer back ready to strike.

The beast screeched as it shot a tendril in my direction. I spun my body doing a barrel roll over and under it as it sailed past me and I smashed the warhammer as hard as I could into the tendril. To my surprise, when the hammer collided there was a blue flash, like a lightning or a spark, as the beast roared in pain.

I had no idea why my hammer was producing lightning, and at that moment in time I didn’t feel like questioning it.

I quickly regained my focus as I dove downwards towards the beast’s head, rolling out of the way of two more tendrils that shot out at me. As I came closer I flipped in the air and swung downwards, bringing my hammer towards the gem on its head.

However, my blow never landed.

I failed to notice another tendril come at me and strike into me, sending me hurtling to the ground to my left at speed.

I crashed into the ground with a loud boom, sending rock and dust into the sky. With a grunt, I quickly rolled out of the small crater I had created, just as the beast’s foot came crashing down and slamming where I had just been.

I ran towards his leg and launched up again using my wings, giving them a mighty flap as I slammed the hammer into his leg as I flew up, over and over again.

Each time the hammer collided, sparks would shoot out and the beast roared in pain. As I came to his waist, he tried swotting at me with one of his massive clawed hands at me, but I saw it coming and flapped my wings sending me backwards and out of its way.

With another powerful flap, I launched myself towards its head, determined to kill it as quickly as I could. As I dodged its other arm swinging for me, I heard something behind me.

‘Roll to your left!’ a booming voice in my head shouted.

I didn’t question it.

I barrel rolled to my left, just as a tendril shot past me and straight hit where I just was. The beast roared loudly and several bubbles formed on its chest before they shot out as it shook violently.

I flew backwards as I watched the dozens of smaller shadows form into smaller versions of the larger beast, each one grinning wickedly at me. Suddenly, they all sprouted shadow wings that ripped from their backs and they flew towards me with speed, arms out and claws extended.

‘Concentrate, focus on your goal and take them as they come.’

Once more I didn’t question the voice, I simply closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. Then, I shot my eyes open just as one of the creatures swung for me.

I blocked his claws by grabbing his wrist with my hand and spinning my body round to throw him into the wall. Just as I let go I spun around immediately and brought my hammer down hard onto the head of the next creature, blue sparks exploding from the impact as the creature screeched in pain before abruptly stopping as his form exploded.

Smirking, I flapped my wings hard and flew as quick as I could towards the advancing swarm of shadows. Something inside of me just clicked as I swung this way and that way with my hammer, hitting each one as they came in a burst of blue light and destroying them. The sounds of their dying screeches… sounded… beautiful.

Heavenly even…

I felt my heart rate start to rocket as I continued my assault deflecting blow after blow and destroying creature after creature. Each kill making my grin grow larger and large and my thirst for their death greater.

‘Control your self, Vault! Do not let the blood rage dominate your actions fully!’

I blinked. The strange feeling I’d been experiencing for the duration of the fight lowered dramatically leaving me feeling, well, normal.

As soon as I felt myself cool down, I instantly regretted it as I was smacked across the face by a shadow’s claws, causing me to careen towards the ground as they followed in pursuit.

‘Control, it is all about control. Focus your energy and keep your mind open, do not let the cries of death fill your mind and guide your blood rage.’

I flipped and landed on my feet before launching myself backwards as the shadows crashed into the ground where I landed, piling into a large mass before separating and charging me again.

I had no clue what the voice meant by ‘blood rage’, nor where it was coming from. But I pushed it aside for the time being, given now wasn’t the right time to think about it.

I did, however, decide to take its advice.

I focused my breathing as I dodged another attack and flew around in a circle around the shadows. Letting the thirst for their deaths rise inside of me again, but keeping it in check by focusing on the end goal.

Not sure how that was working, but it was.

I quickly made short work of three more shadows as they tried to spin round to attack me. As the last couple launched at me, I spun round and smashed my tail into one of them, crushing it into the floor before I span round and whalloped another with my hammer, instantly killing it. the last one latched onto my arm and dug its teeth into it.

I roared in agony as they sunk in, it felt like hundreds of needles being stabbed into my arm all at once.

With a grunt, I painfully ripped it off before slamming it into the ground, before crushing it with my foot. I didn’t have much time to tend to my now bleeding arm as a tendril suddenly wrapped around me and pulled me into the air as I felt my air supply be slowly cut off.

‘How the fuck did I forget about him?’

As I cried in pain, a brilliant beam of light shot past my ear and slammed into the beast, causing it to roar in pain and loosen its grip on me. I focused my strength and pushed the tendril away from me and wriggled out, to look over and see Crystal shooting the beast with her magic.

Three tendrils shot past me suddenly and before I could react, they slammed into Crystal, sending her flying into the wall and to the ground.

“CRYSTAL!”

My heart pounded as I let out a ferocious roar and flew straight at the beast, wanting to hear its screams of death more than anything in the world. Taken into account with what the voice told me, I was able to control myself and dodge the attacks of its tendrils and arms and I raised my hammer up, ready to destroy the monster.

When I brought it down on its head, a might crack echoed throughout the cavern as blue lightning danced around the impact zone.

To my shock, nothing happened. Other than pissing it off even more.

The beast roared in pain and swatted me hard with one of its tendrils, sending me into the wall with a loud boom. I groaned as I pushed myself out from the wall and spat some blood out.

“How do I stop that thing?” I hissed.

‘The gem, that’s what holds it together with its host. Destroy it!’

I looked up at the glowing red gem as the beast turned to face me, raising its tendrils ready to strike again and I mentally slapped myself for not seeing it sooner.

“Of course… why didn’t I think of that? It’s like fighting Fyrus…” I muttered.

With a grunt, I bent my legs and pushed myself from the wall just as the tendrils slammed into where I was, embedding themselves into it. I looked back to see the beast being unable to remove them and grinned, seeing my opportunity I landed on the tendrils and started to run up them, using them as a bridge.

The beast flailed its body as it desperately tried to remove its tendrils, seemingly forgetting the use of its arms as I came closer and close, with each step my hammer started to glow blue as stray lightning dancing from it. As I came to the end of the tendrils, I launched myself into the air with my wings and then shot myself downwards fast, hammer raised and aiming right for the gem.

“THIS IS FOR CRYSTAL, YOU BASTARD!”

I brought my hammer down hard, the clang of metal on gem ringing throughout the cavern as the full brunt of the hammer combined with lightning struck the gem. It exploded in an instant as the creature howled in pain.

I flew myself backwards and landed on the ground, wincing in pain as I held my wounded arm and watched as the shadows began to fall in on themselves despite it trying to remain as one form.

I rose from the ground as the shadows slowly vanished, leaving nothing but the corpse of what remained of the alpha. Slowly turning around, I made my way towards Crystal who was slowly getting to her hooves.

“H… help… me…”

I turned round to see the alpha reaching out to me.

How the fuck was he still alive?

I slowly turned to face him as a growing anger and hatred rose within me. “You know… I was never much of a fan of killing… but for you…”

I grinned wickedly at the alpha, as I approached him and spoke in a cold tone, “I’ll make an exception…”

Crystal POV

I shakily got up just as the shadows retreated from the alpha’s corpse, my heart pounded as I watched Valt land in awe, his chest heaving as he glared down at the remains of the alpha. He slowly turned and walked towards me, that same look in his eyes which he had before he started fighting.

Eyes that didn’t belong to him almost.

“H… help… me…”

My eyes widened as the alpha shakily lifted what remained of his arm to Vault’s retreating form.

How the fuck was he still alive?

I watched as Valt stopped and slowly turned to face him.

“You know… I was never much of a fan of killing… but for you…” Vault said coldly as he slowly approached the alpha, warhammer crackling with blue lightning, “I’ll make an exception…”

I looked away as I heard the hammer come down on the alpha, eliciting a loud and painful cry before the hammer smashed into him again and again.

Although it seemed like overkill… the alpha deserved it and more.

In fact, what Vault did was to put it bluntly, showing mercy.

Ending the alpha’s despicable life.

I silently watched as he came over to me, then knelt down and I squeaked as he pulled me into a silent hug.

“You okay?” he asked me softly.

“Y-yeah…” I whispered as I felt my eyes water up, “I-I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything else… I know I-I’m weak and—”

He interrupted me by booping my nose which I scrunched and looked up at him. The eyes that looked down on me no longer like the ones I saw when he was fighting, but the ones I knew.

Vault’s eyes. My Vault’s eyes.

“It’s fine,” he smiled, “I don’t think any different of you, without you I wouldn’t have gotten the slaves free.”

I smiled as he wiped away the tears that filled the corners of my eyes, “Thank you…”

“Anytime, now. Let’s get out of here shall we?”

I nodded in agreement as he inspected his hammer, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s strange,” he began. “When I was fighting… I could hear this voice in my head, and my hammer was producing lightning but now. I can’t… what’s the word? Sense either of them, I guess.”

“Huh… odd…” I muttered, “we should focus on getting out first and figuring it out later, and meet up with the others.”

I winced as I tried to walk, only to have a sharp jolt of pain shoot up my leg. I blushed softly as Vault picked me up and started to carry me down the tunnel. As we walked in silence, I leant into him, simply enjoying the feeling of protection I got from him.

After a while of walking, we eventually somehow got out from where we were and doubled back to where we had originally entered. It was kinda eerie as there were no hobolls present.

They must have fled or something.

As we made our way through the deserted camp, there was one question on my mind though.

“Vault… how do you know to fly all of a sudden?” I asked, looking up at him.

Vault blinked, as if he was confused himself and in sudden realisation he was flying before. He then chuckled loudly, almost in a crazed glee.

“I have no idea!”

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Whelp, there you go. The end of the prison break arc. I hope you liked it (bar the fourth part which I'll admit I cocked up on) and hope this one is better.

Will Invidia return? What is this 'blood rage' Vault seems to have? Who is the voice in his head? Is he mad? And most importantly.

How the fuck can he fly now?

Find out next time on Gargoyle!

Chapter XII - New Companions

Author's Note

[Edited version to come.] Any errors, feel free to let me know!

Chapter XII - New Companions

Gargoyle

Chapter XII - New Companions

Vault POV

The walk outside was a welcome one, even if the sun did hurt my eyes. We’d stepped out of the main gates which—just like the entire caverns—was devoid of any hoboll life. I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell they had actually gone to. I shrugged it off as simply being there had to be another exit out of the mountain,

As we came to the base of the pathway that led up to the mountain’s entrance, I couldn’t see the others anywhere and looked around in slight panic trying to see them.

“What is it, Vault?” Crystal asked me as she looked around as well.

“I can’t see the others…” I replied. “I’ve got no clue where they are.”

“Hold on,” Crystal said as she closed her eyes.

I watched in curiosity as her horn lit up and could feel a weird tingly sensation all over my body. After a minute or so had passed, the tingly sensation stopped and she opened her eyes pointing to my right with a nod of her head.

“They’re over there, about half an hours walk.”

“How… do you know that?” I asked.

“Changeling magic,” she grinned. “We feed off emotions, therefore we’re able to detect them for a certain range. And given I’m a—”

She stopped herself mid sentence and coughed delicately into her hoof.

“Uh… specialist, I can detect emotions for longer distance than other changelings.”

“You and your little amazing abilities,” I teased. “Where would I be without you?”

She giggled and gave my nose a poke and I could’ve sworn I saw her blush as she looked away, “You’d be dead most likely, you’d be nothing without me!”

“Can’t argue with that,” I chuckled. “Let’s go and—”

I stopped as I groaned in pain, my arm throbbing as I gritted my teeth. Crystal immediately became concerned and looked up to me.

“Vault, what is it?!”

“N-nothing, I’m fine,” I lied.

I felt my blood leak from the wound I had sustained during my fight with the alpha over my arm, despite how much it hurt like a bitch. I wasn’t gunna slow down anytime soon.

“Vault, I can walk now you know?” Crystal said.

I shook my head, “No, you’re still not fully recovered from the fight, I’m carrying you and that’s final.”

I had to resist laughing as Crystal crossed her hooves and pouted in annoyance. We kept walking down the pathway until we reached the base of it, what started to concern me was the sheer amount of bodies laying around.

None of the slaves though, they were all hobolls.

“By the hive… what got these guys?” Crystal asked.

“I’m not sure… but I think we should hurry the fuck over to the others, for all we know whatever it was is still out there.”

She nodded as I slowly opened my large wings, giving them a gently flap before grunting and launching myself into the air. As I ascended higher, I would occasionally drop altitude slightly as I struggled to stay airborne

“You okay there, Vault?” Crystal asked, clearly trying to hold back a giggle.

I grunted as I flapped my wings, “Dandy, just dandy.”

“No need to be sarcastic,” she giggled. “I fail to see why you’re struggling now, given your performance in the cave.”

“Fight or flight,” I replied without a second thought.

“That… would make sense I suppose, yeah. But tell you what, when you get some rest,” she said, giving my chest a playful, yet firm prod. “I’ll teach you how to fly properly, deal?”

“Deal,” I grinned.

It didn’t take us that long—roughly twenty minutes I guessed— until we arrived at where the others were waiting for us, they had taken some of the equipment from the hobolls camp and made their own makeshift campsite. I touched down just on the outside and stumbled, flapping my wings as I tried to keep my balance.

“They’re back!” I heard someone shout.

“Our saviors!” another added.

I looked up to see the freed slaves run over to me, expressions of joy dotted on their faces. I smiled as they formed a circle around us, hearing the gratitude coming from them…

… Felt good, really good.

It wasn’t like in a video game where you’d sort of just stare at the screen with a neutral expression as generic NPC number fifty four thanked you for saving his chickens or whatever, it felt like if you grabbed a small child out of the road before a car hit them, or if you performed the heimlich maneuver on someone who was choking. Only triple the feeling.

I guess it was how firefighters, police officers and soldiers felt when doing their job and are thanked for it by grateful people.

As I was patted on the back, I winced again as my arm throbbed, the others noticing my sudden pain and rushed to my arm.

“Are you okay, Vault?” I heard Iron Heart say.

“Yeah, just got nipped. That’s all.”

As I put Crystal down, some of the ponies gasped seeing my wound. Crystal looked and was able to take in for the first time just how buggered the arm was.

“That’s not a gash, Vault! That’s a serious wound, we need to get—”

I waved her off, interrupting her as another opportunity had arisen and I seized it.

“Tis but a scratch!”

She blinked at me and scowled, pointing a hoof at my arm, “A scratch? Your arms wounded”

“No it isn’t,” I replied.

“What’s that then?” she growled, pointing again at the wound.

I looked at my arm before looking back at her, “I’ve had worse…”

“You liar!” Crystal snorted with a glare. “Now go and get that looked at!”

I snickered as I grinned at her, “Okay, okay. I’ve had my fun.”

“I can take a look at that for you, I’m a nurse in New Port,” a yellow mare said with a smile.

As I was led away by one of the mares, I couldn’t help chuckle to myself.

Totally worth it.

Crystal POV

I galred after that lummox Vault as he was led away. As I headed into the camp with the others, I felt a nudge at my side and saw a pegasus mare smiling back at me.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded, “I’m fine, thank you. Just concerned about Vault, the idiot.”

She giggled softly at that, “He does seem… strange, doesn’t he?”

“Tell me about it… he has what I like to call ‘Vault moments’, where he just acts weird.”

“Well, he is a guy,” she grinned.

I couldn’t help giggle at that as we both entered the camp, taking a seat beside the fire they had made, “So true. Although, he is a nice guy, don’t get me wrong. Just a little annoying at times.”

“Sounds like he’s a good friend,” she replied.

I looked over to see Vault inside one of the open tents, sitting on a stool that was way to small for him and looking unhappy as the mare attended his wounds—no doubt the supplies she was using were stolen from the hobolls from raids on caravans—I smiled as I saw him grumble and the mare giggle at his seemingly over reacting to a simple patch job.

“Yeah… yeah he is,” I softly said.

“Didn’t you guys just like, meet though?” she asked, tilting her head at me. “I mean, we all kinda did.”

“That’s right,” I replied. “But I’ve spent time with him, you know? I sort of got to bond with him a little bit, not to mention he saved my life. Thrice over.”

“Thrice?” she replied, blinking in confusion.

I nodded, “Down in the caves… some stuff happened and he saved my life twice, not to mention that he saved all our lives by freeing us.”

“OW! Careful!”

“Don’t be such a foal!”

“Can I at least have a lollipop when this is over?”

We looked over to see Vault pouting as his arm was wrapped in a bandage, the mare obviously getting a little annoyed with him. Again, I felt myself smiling and I heard the mare beside me giggle.

“I think you have a crush on him,” she smirked.

My cheeks went red as I stared at her wide eyed, “D-don’t be absurd! He’s my friend, why would you say that?!”

“Oh, just thinking out loud,” she tittered. “I meant no harm by it.”

I huffed and turned my head away, ignoring her stifled giggle and found myself watching Vault and again, smiling.

Did I like him more than a friend?

I shook my head of the thoughts, heavens I’d only just met the guy! I buried the thoughts away as I watched him come out, rubbing his bandaged arm.

“So, feeling better?” I asked.

He grunted as he sat down beside me, “I was, till nurse sadist here jabbed me with a needle.”

The nurse huffed from behind him and walked back into the tent as I bopped his good arm, “Be nice, she didn’t have to do it.”

“Yeah yeah, I gave her a hug anyway so shush,” he grumbled.

“Good boy,” I smirked as he scowled at me.

“You two seem to get on like a house on fire,” the mare giggled.

“Yeah, we do. She’s an annoying, trustworthy, awesome type of friend wrapped up into one,” Vault grinned. “So who are you?”

“Oh, I’m Lilly Wind. I have a flower shop in a village near New Port. I was taken by the hobolls when I went for a walk a few days ago.”

“Got anyone waiting for you?” Vault asked her.

She nodded with a smile, “My wife, I miss her so much…”

Vault gave her a reassuring ruffle on her mane, “Well, won’t be long now till you’re together again.”

“Thanks, for everything,” Lilly Wind replied as she smiled, some tears in her eyes.

She got up and walked over to Vault, giving him a gentle hug which he returned before she trotted off. Vault laid his body on the ground and rested his arms behind his head as he looked up at the sky. I joined him laying on my own back and watching the clouds go by.

“After we get these guys to New Port, what happens next?” I asked.

“I need to get to Equestria,” Vault replied.

“Equestria?” I asked. “The large pony kingdom ruled by Celestia and Luna?”

“I’m not sure who Celestia is, but Luna I do know.”

“Why do you need to go there?” I continued.

“It’s… complicated,” he started. “It’s kinda the whole reason I was brought here.”

“Brought here?” I asked, rolling my head to look at him.

“Long story, I’ll tell you about it when we head there.”

I looked at him in confusion. His eye caught mine and he tilted his head to the side slightly.

“I assume you want to come with me, right? Can’t do this without my only best friend in this world.”

I blushed slightly at that and turned my head back to look back at the sky, “W-well… I guess I could, but I need to go home first. Let my kinsman know me, Meta and Morphosis are alright. It’s on the way to Equestria, so it works for both of us. Plus, we can get some supplies and rest there to.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Vault grinned.

I smiled as we continued to watch the clouds slowly drift by, a cool breeze blowing over us as I closed my eyes, enjoying the sounds of nature and the idle chatter of the campsite.

“So…” Vault started. “About what happened in the caves… with this ‘Gaius’ thing, wanna talk about it?”

I was quiet for a few moments, trying my best to think of a good way to explain myself without sounding like a lunatic. Then I remembered I was talking to Vault, and my thoughts on the structure of my reply vanished.

“Not much to say really… after you got that box thing, you sorta fell to one knee and, well. Changed.”

“Changed?” Vault asked.

“Yeah, your body was riddled with scars and your eyes were a bright white. And your voice, it was like a thunder clap. Even deeper than now.”

“That sound’s pretty badass,” Vault chuckled. “But what’s that got to do with this Gaius thing?”

“That’s what the dragon called you, well, Gaius… you… it?” I tried to explain. “Either way, this ‘Gaius’ knew the dragon.”

“Interesting…” he muttered. “You have any idea what it means?”

I pondered the question for a moment. I thought about telling him about the supposed prophecy Edar had mentioned, but I figured it would be confusing, given that I hardly understood it at all myself.

“Not really, perhaps we can find more out on the way?”

“Agreed. So what do we do now?” Vault replied.

I cocked my head up and looked over the camp, seeing everyone chatting away and smiled, noticing that the sky was getting darker, “For now? I think we should rest here. Then make our way to New Port tomorrow.”

“That’s what me and the others were thinking of to.”

I looked to my left to see Iron Heart approaching us, carrying two bowls in his hands. He sat beside us and me and Vault sat up, hungrily looking at the food.

“Figured you two would be hungry, so I grabbed some grub for ya.”

“Thanks!” Vault grinned, taking the bowl of what was clearly meat and licking his lips.

I rolled my eyes and smiled, taking the bowl of salad Iron had brought over, “Thank you.”

“I know you changelings need love to eat, but way I heard, you can eat regular foods but it just… what was it again?” Iron Heart said before snapping his fingers. “Oh yeah, it doesn’t fill you up as much as love, or something like that.”

“That’s right,” I replied with a nod as I nibbled on a cucumber. “Where did you get this anyway? Fresh fruit and vegetables would be the last thing I thought hobolls would have.”

Iron let out a hearty chuckle and indicated behind him with his thumb, “True, but they kept a lot of supplies from their raids pretty well intact. So we figured we would… liberate them so to speak.”

I peered over seeing the dozens of carriages that had supplies on them and tittered to myself, looking to Vault who was wolfing down the bowl of what I assumed was chicken with a delighted expression.

“I guess that’s the plan then, camp here for the night then head for New Port in the morning and then go about our separate ways.” I said.

“Sound’s good, me and Iron Horn will return to our clans. Where you two heading?”

“Equestria,” Vault replied with his mouthful.

“Interesting, hear it’s lovely this time of year. My cousin Iron Will travels around there with this ‘assertive’ gimmick thing he does.

Before I could reply, I cringed when Vault belched loudly beside me and let out a sigh of contentment.

“God that hit the spot…” he smiled.

I bopped him on the back of his head and shook my head, “You have the manners of a hoboll…”

“Just complimenting the food,” he grinned. “Better out than in, I always say.”

He then blinked and groaned, resting his forehead on his hand.

“I cannot believe I just made that reference…”

Another Vault moment.

“Anyway, do you want to—”

I was interrupted by a scream and we all turned around to see a bunch of heavily armed hobolls on the edge of the camp who had emerged from the thick grass behind them, the leader holding the body of a filly firmly in his grip with a blade to her throat.

“Well, well, well. Wot do we ‘ave ‘ere? Run ah way slaves?” he sneered.

Vault POV

I growled at the hoboll, my fists clenching tightly. I went to reach for my hammer that was dangling on my belt but stopped when the filly cried out in pain as the blade cut her neck.

“Wouldn’t do dat if I were you, gargoyle.” the leader hissed. “Take anotha step and the lil bitch gets gutted.”

I gritted my teeth and moved my hand away from the hammer, keeping my glare focused on the hoboll. He laughed and smirked in arrogant triumph.

“Now dis is wot’s gunna ‘appen,” he started. “You slaves is gunna go back to yer cages, and den we is gunna sell you in da morning.”

He dug the blade deeper into the fillies neck, making her cry even more.

“Or else I kill ‘er. Got it?”

Despite me facing the hoboll, I could feel the anger coming from behind me. The hoboll was unphased by it and then pointed his sword at me.

“Cept you, you is gunna submit to us. Den we is gunna kill you. You is to much trouble.”

I growled loudly and flared my wings, but stopped as he brought the blade back to the fillies neck.

“Now, I don’t like being kept waitin’. So lets—”

He never finished his sentence.

From the grass behind them, a skull dog had suddenly leapt out and pounced the leader, making him yelp in alarm and drop the filly who immediately ran back to the crowd. The skull dog started to savagely rip the hoboll apart, the hoboll’s blood gurgled scream filling the air. Before the other hobolls had time to react, several more skull dogs appeared from the bush and jumped them, each one savagely tearing the hobolls limb from limb. One hoboll cried out as his arm was ripped and tossed asunder before having his throat ripped out whilst another couldn’t scream due to most of his face being ripped to buggery by a skull dog.

Honestly, it was pretty cool to watch.

The attack was over in seconds. The hobolls lay dead.

I watched cautiously as the dog looked at us and in an instant, my hammer was in my grip. But the dogs simply stood there, confusing me. I looked to my side at Iron Heart who was just as confused as I was over to Crystal on the other, again sharing my look of confusion.

Turning my attention back to the skull dogs, I studied the one who had pounced the leader and squinted my eyes. Then I realised it.

“Wait a tick… you’re the skull dog that attacked me earlier, aren’t you?”

The skull dog actually nodded at me. I couldn’t stop myself from grinning at it, this guy was intelligent!

“What do you mean, ‘attacked you earlier’?” Crystal hissed.

“On my way to the mountain, I was attacked by him. We scuffled, and I won but let him live and he ran off. I… I think this is its way of repaying my mercy.”

To our surprise, the skull dog nodded again. Before anything else was said, it turned its head and barked loudly, the bark was low and rumbled over the sky.

It was so awesome…

We watched as the other skull dogs scampered away back into the grass and vanished, leaving the leader alone with us.

“What’s it doing?” a voice called out.

“Is it going to eat us?” another added.

I ignored them, my heart was pounding and my chest was heaving heavily as I stared at the skull dog. I think I knew what was going to happen.

And I was fucking ecstatic.

“Vault, you okay?” Crystal asked in concern. “We outnumber it, you’ll—”

“Do you want to join me on my travels?” I asked the skull dog, interrupting Crystal.

There was a brief moment of silence as we stared each other down.

Then, the skull dog seemed to smile, and nodded its head.

My mouth curled into the largest grin I could possibly muster and I let out a happy squeal.

“Best. Day. Ever!”

Chapter XIII - Denial And Anger...

Gargoyle

Chapter XIII - Denial And Anger

Vault POV

I blinked as I stared at the total darkness that surrounded me. For some reason though, I… wasn’t afraid or confused. In fact quite the opposite.

I felt calm.

Then, there was a bang like a cannon going off that made me cover my ears and yelp in surprise before the entire area was bathed in a beautiful white light that nearly blinded me. I naturally shielded my eyes and waited for the brightness to settle and honestly.

I felt my breath being taken away with what I saw.

I was standing on a cliff overlooking a large valley with a beautiful castle resting near the centre, I could make out some foliage on the ground but there was a light mist that covered the valley, making the ground hard to see. But honestly, it just made it look more beautiful. There was a cliff opposite where I was standing a fair distance away and the castle, albeit seemingly having no life, looked stunning in the mist from where I was standing. I felt a gentle breeze rush over me and I closed my eyes, hearing what sounded like a gentle song on the wind fill my ears. I looked up seeing that the sky was dark and the stars were as bright as I have ever seen them along with a large moon. It seemed… so familiar, like it was from a video game I liked but for the life of me could not put my finger on it.

“Impressive, is it not?” a female’s voice spoke.

I blinked hearing the voice and turned to my side, seeing a large blue pony with a set of wings… and a horn?

I tilted my head at her and she smiled at me.

“Fear not, champion. I mean you no harm.”

“Wait a tick…” I started, recognising the voice. “Are you… Princess Luna?”

She seemed to be happy at that, “Yes I am, champion. I’m glad we may speak at last in your dreams… albeit with a hitch.”

“Hitch? What kind of hitch?” I asked tilting my head.

“Well… I see that you can see me I take it?” she replied.

I nodded, “Yeah, you’re a pony with both wings and a horn. Which is freaking cool, by the way.”

“I thank you,” she giggled. “I’m an alicorn, and I am glad you can see me.”

“And the hitch?” I asked.

“I cannot see you, for reasons we are unable to say. You appear as a grey mist before my eyes.”

I scratched my chin, “Weird… but I guess we’re not here to talk about who looks like what?”

“Indeed not. Though, pray tell. What do you look like? We know the champion is of stone but that is all we do know.”

I was so tempted to tell her, but then something popped into my head and I just could not pass up this opportunity.

“Afraid not, your highness.”

Luna raised her brow at me and tilted her head, “And why not?”

I grinned and tapped my nose, not caring if she couldn’t see, “Spoilers.”

Luna POV

I scowled at the swirling mist. How dare it not tell me what it looked like!

“I demand you tell me now!” I snapped.

“Oh come now, moon-butt,” he replied with a teasing tone. “Can’t you just go along with it, trust me on this!”

I glared harder at the name he called me, had he not been the champion I would’ve beaten his flank… or cloud, seven ways to tartarus. However, something about his tone reminded me of the days Tia and I were little, when we used to call each other silly names.

Back when we were innocent.

Back before I became… that.

I decided to let it slide for now and sighed, rolling my eyes and laying down on the grass. I motioned him over and could hear his heavy footsteps on the grass despite not being able to see him. As I heard him sit beside me, I could get a sense of his energy. I smiled to myself.

He was pure hearted, and strong.

“So, what is this place anyway?” he asked me.

“The dream realm, specifically. Yours.” I replied.

“How? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything this beautiful, no way is this from my mind,” he replied.

I tittered, “I created it, but from a memory of yours. I’m sure if you concentrate you will remember.”

He was silent for a moment and I assumed he was thinking before I jumped when he suddenly cried out.

“Aha! I know where I remember this from.”

“Where?” I asked.

“Twilight Princess…” he said with a happy sigh. “Good times.”

“Princess Twilight?” I asked, tilting my head at him. “You know her?”

“What?” He replied.

Judging by his tone. He was confused.

“Princess Twilight?” I repeated.

“Who, Midna?” he answered. “Wait, is she here?!”

I simply stared at him, confused myself. I think he saw my confusion and he sighed loudly.

“Never mind…” he sighed. “I’ll be here all night explaining.”

“Very well…” I replied, a little confused by his behaviour but shrugged it off. “I thought that whilst you slept, we could speak to one another. So we can discuss what is happening in Equestria and where you are.”

He was silent again, and I again assumed he was merely thinking about what I said.

“How… are you in my dreams exactly? Are you a wizard?”

I blinked and tapped my chin with my hoof, “I’m the ruler of the night, you see. And with that comes certain responsibilities. I lower and raise the moon, can feel and control the stars and I also happen to be the ruler of dreams.”

He was silent. Again.

“Wah?” was all he said.

“What part confused you?” I giggled.

“Uh… everything?” he chuckled sheepishly.

I giggled again, “I take it in your world, the moon, sun and stars act differently?”

“Well yeah, the move on their own,” he replied.

I smiled at him, “Well here, they are controlled by me and my sister, Celestia.”

“So… you two are like, joint rulers?”

“Correct.”

“Right… so, why are you two not Queens then?” he asked.

I looked away and sighed, “We… decided to keep our title of Princess for a personal reason, one I do not wish to discuss at this time.”

“I understand, sorry for asking,” he replied with a kind voice.

“Would you like me to go into more detail on what me and my sister can do with the day and night?” I asked, fluttering my wings slightly.

“I… think I’d like to spare my brain the strain, if that’s alright with you, Princess,” he replied with a nervous chuckle.

I giggled once more and put a hoof to my mouth, “I understand, and please, call me Luna.”

Vault POV

For a dream horse, well, in my dream. Luna was pretty alright.

“Shall we get down to business?” she asked me.

“Okay, where do you want to start?” I asked her.

“For starters, where did you land? We tried to bring you directly to Equestria like I said but we think something was trying to prevent you from coming and thus making you arrive, wherever you are now,” she said.

I nodded and rested my hands behind me, looking up at the moon, “I don’t know exactly where I am, but I’m near a town called New Port.”

“I’m… unfamiliar with this town,” Luna confessed. “I would have to look it up on a map.”

“Remind me to get one as well. I have no bloody idea where I am either.”

We both chuckled as she smiled at me.

“So are you okay? Have you had any trouble so far?” she asked with a motherly tone.

I burst out laughing and fell onto my back ,looking up into the sky as my booming laughter echoed in the valley, ignoring the confused look she gave me.

“Princess… you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I chuckled.

“I’ve seen worse things, champion. Try me,” she grinned.

I raised my brow at her and shrugged, sitting up and clearing my throat.

“To start with, after we had our brief chat in what I’m assuming was the dream realm—”

“Actually, that was the void,” she correct.

“Void…” I said with a roll of my eyes, “I woke up in a forest and, well. Just did some things.”

“Like?”

“Tested out my body, crashed into the ground when I jumped off a cliff…”

“W-what?” she exclaimed. “What would make you do such a thing?”

“Spoilers,” I smirked.

She gave me a cute pout and I chuckled again before continuing.

“Anyway, I came across a camp with these things called hobolls in them. I killed them all,”

Luna blinked at my in surprise, “Killed them all? Why?”

“They had slaves,” I said. “Something inside me just snapped and I killed them all, freeing the slaves.”

“That was very noble of you,” she smiled.

I nodded, “It got worse though, I had… a freak out of a nightmare and thought I had woken out of my coma… was actually a poisoned dart that made me have a hallucinogenic dream whilst it tried to kill me.

I ignored Luna’s confused expression as she nodded slowly, “I remember that… I tried to stop it from happening but something was overpowering my magic.”

“After that, I woke up with the slaves who told me of a bigger slave encampment to the north which I headed off to. Man was that tiring, fighting skull dogs… sneaking into the base. Meeting Crystal—”

“Who’s Crystal?” she asked.

“A changeling, she helped me and the others escape. She’s a pretty cool friend of mine.”

I saw Luna’s face sour slightly, “Uh… I take it you’re not a fan of them?”

“We… had an issue with them a couple of years ago. Well, one of their hives anyway. their queen tried to overthrow us, so most of Equestria is a little uneasy around them. It’s early days but Twilight is working around the clock nearly to make a treaty for changelings and pony kind a like, as some of them had disagreed with the queen’s actions and want nothing more but peace.”

“Right…” I muttered. “Anywho, after we freed the slaves… things got weird.”

Luna settled into the grass and I laid back down on my back as I continued.

“There was this big dragon who kept calling me Gaius,” I ignored Luna’s eyes when they widened slightly. “But he was dying, turns out this weird golden demon thing had killed him. The demon guy corrupted the hoboll alpha and I fought him as this large shadow monster creature. And… that’s pretty much it really. Saved the slaves, killed a monster, gained an awesome friend and gained a new companion.”

Luna stared at me, her jaw dropped. I assumed she was simply in awe of my brave deeds.

“Princess?” I asked. “You okay?”

“Yes… just news of the demon is… unnerving. I thought we would have more time…” she muttered.

I nodded as she sighed.

“I will need to inform my sister of this. But please, continue.”

“Well, that’s all there is to it to be honest. Right now I’m, just camping with the freed slaves and I’m going to escort them to New Port tomorrow before me, Crystal and Napoleon Bone-a-parte.”

“Who?” she asked.

“The skull dog,” I replied. “Name’s a work in progress.”

“I see,” she replied.

She suddenly gasped and laughed with an embarrassed smile, blushing slightly through her fur.

“I apologise, but… I never did ask you your name, did I?”

I snickered, “It’s okay. My name is Vault.”

“Vault? Interesting name…” she trailed off. “Does it have any particular meaning?”

“Not really,” I shrugged. “It’s the name of a character I have. Vaults are strong and protect thing things, so I figured it made sense.”

“That would indeed, yes. Much more powerful than Scott,” she giggled.

I blinked and looked at her with surprise, “Wait... you called me by my name when I first fell into my dream. How do you know my name is Scott again?”

She was about to answer but I interrupted her with a wave of my hand and chuckled, “Ah right. My dream. It would make sense for at least one person in here to call me by my name.

I smiled at Luna but frowned when she cocked her head to the side in obvious confusion.

“Dream?” she started. “What dream are you speaking of? Aside from the one we are in now,” she gestured with her hoof at the surroundings. “You are not in one.”

“No, I am. I had an accident and I’m currently lying in hospital in a coma,” I replied in denial. “I will wake up at some point once I save this ‘world’, as that is clearly my trigger out of this.”

“Scott…” Luna started softly. “You were in an accident… I saw it happen when we summoned you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I snapped.

“When we summoned you… we looked to find someone who was pure of heart, but had no connections to their world anymore. When you died, your connection was severed and we brought your spirit to Equestria. The prophecy recognized you as the rightful champion and fused you to the form you have now.”

I merely stared at her in disbelief. I started to softly snicker before chuckling and finally bursting out laughing.

“Good one, Luna,” I said in between laughs. “Oh man, you had me going. Me, dead. Classic!”

“Scott!” she snapped at me. “Stop being in denial! You are dead, I do not like being blunt but you need to realise this. I have been in many coma induced dreams to save the lives of my subjects and I know when I am in one!”

I growled and slammed my fist into the ground, making the whole realm quake, “I am not dead! Shut up!”

Luna reached out with her hoof and managed to touch my shoulder, I cringed at her touch and rested my head in my hands as I started to mutter to myself.

“I’m not dead, I’m not dead. I can’t be dead? This isn’t real, none of it is!”

“Scott…” Luna said softly. “You need to face the fact. I know I’m being blunt, but I need you to understand just how serious your arrival here is… perhaps if I showed you.”

“Showed me what?” I demanded.

She didn’t answer, instead, the dreamscape fell around me and dissolved back into nothing but a white realm of nothing. Then, it started to slowly change again, revealing… buildings? A street.

Wait… I knew this street…

“I’m sorry, Scott…” Luna whispered, her eyes brimming with tears as she lowered her head. “But this is the only way to show you the truth…”

I stared at her in complete confusion before slowly turning my gaze to the dream scape in front of me.

And then I saw something that shocked me.

I saw myself.

I shook my head as I watched myself leave the shop and start walking down the road.

“Stop it… no, stop it!” I shouted loudly. “THIS ISN’T REAL! STOP IT!”

Luna remained silent as I watched myself walk towards the zebra crossing, watching in horror at the speeding truck coming down the road.

“No... NO! NO! NO! STOP IT! STOP SHOWING ME THIS!” I screamed loudly, my eyes brimming with tears.

I tried to tear my eyes away but just couldn’t do it. I tried to run towards myself, in a vain attempt to pull myself out of harms way but each step felt as if I was running on the spot. My heart was racing as I watched with wide eyes at the oncoming truck, terrified.

I was able to shut my eyes as I heard the screech of rubber on tarmac… and the impact of metal colliding with an object. I clutched my heart as I felt a familiar pain I had felt in the split second before waking up as Vault race through my body.

Was this… the pain… of dying?

I looked down as tears raced down my cheeks, gripping the ground as I tried so desperately to fight back the urge to sob my heart out. I felt a soft feeling on my back and cast my gaze right to see Luna’s hooves beside me.

“I’m.. sorry , Scott… I truly—”

“Why…?” I interrupted her softly.

“Scott?”

“WHY?!” I roared out, rising to my full height and flaring my wings out.

In an instant, Luna jumped back away from me startled and the realm once more shifted to complete darkness, a low mist around our feet.

“WHY ME?! IF YOU HAD THE POWER TO SUMMON MY SPIRIT, WHY DIDN’T YOU TRY TO SAVE MY LIFE BACK HOME?!” I roared at her in angry, my blood boiling as I felt the same urge I had felt before slowly overcome me.

“SCOTT, CALM DOWN!” Luna roared back, flaring her own wings. “I’M SORRY, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD’VE SAVED YOU BACK ON YOUR WORLD!”

I lost it.

I lunged at her with speed, using my wings to push myself off the ground. As I swiped for her neck, determined to strangle the life out of her, I simply flew through her. Taken by surprise, my wings spasmed and I tumbled to the ground hard, grunting in pain as I skidded softly.

“Scott, I am the ruler of dreams. You cannot hurt me…” she said softly, looking at me with a sad expression.

“Don’t you dare pity me!” I snarled. “I had a good life back home, okay it wasn’t perfect but I was happy!”

“What would you have done, Scott?” she snapped back. “You were hit by the metal vehicle and were killed instantly! Do you not think the fact we brought you here was merciful? Rather than let you descend into the void?”

I hesitated.

She had… a point. I wasn't particularly religious nor did I knock the idea of a heaven or hell, so… could there be something like the void? Purgatory maybe? That was when I first met her and the whole place was just… empty.

I felt alone in there.

Did… did I really want to be there my entire life?

“No… no there had to have been a different option! I’m in a coma! I’m dreaming all this! you are just a figment of my psyche trying to keep me trapped here!”

I fell to my knees and held my head, rocking my body back and forth as I sobbed. Repeating myself over and over.

“I’m not dead, I’m not dead, I’m not dead, I’m not dead, I’m not dead…”

I then leant back and roared out, arching my chest out and flexing my arms into a u-shape as I let my anger take over me again in a blast of pure rage. My whole body shaking violently as I bared my fangs to the heavens and screamed my heart out.

Then. I stopped.

I felt something warm wrap around me and looked to see Luna hugging me as tight as she would, using her wins to wrap herself more into me despite me being a cloud of mist to her, with tears streaming down her face.

“I’m so sorry, Scott. I really am and I wish it wasn’t the case,” she sobbed. “I know you had a life back home and it pains me to see you like this… but we had to… the divine forces chose you to be the champion.”

I hesitated again before embracing her tightly and sobbing into her fur. I was dead…

I… I was dead…

Before I could say anything, the dream realm began to dissolve and I looked to Luna confused.

“Y-you’re waking up, Scott. I’ll speak with you when you next sleep. I’m so sorry… Scott…”

I tried to speak, but my mind blacked out and everything went quiet.

Luna POV

I opened my eyes and broke down sobbing into my hooves, feeling my sister and Twilight quickly hold me as they rushed to my side.

“Sister! What’s wrong?” Celestia asked with concern.

“I-I had to show him, Tia!” I choked. “I had to show him his death to convince him he wasn’t in a dream…”

“Ancestors…” Celestia whispered as she nuzzled her sister lovingly.

“He thought… he was dreaming?” Twilight asked. “Why?”

“Sometimes, Twilight. A pony can fall into a coma after an accident, and fall into a dream like world where they believe that is reality. Luna discovered when she returned, she can use her dream walking abilities to help a pony realise slowly over time they were in a coma and wake up,” Celestia explained.

Twilight frowned as she watched Luna cry, rubbing her back supportively. Celestia continued.

“And sometimes… when the pony has no chance of returning to their life. Luna has to reveal to them that they are indeed, dead.”

It was something I hated about being the ruler of dreams. there is nothing worse then seeing a pony happy in their dreams only to have their reality destroyed when they finally understand they are dead.

“But, why did she have to show him now?” Twilight replied. “Wouldn’t… that be dangerous?”

“Normally, yes,” Celestia said as she held Luna close. “But we don’t have that much time to wait for him to realise this is now his reality…”

I didn’t hear Twilight reply, only felt her as she join in the embrace Celestia was giving me. I couldn’t speak to either of them as tears flowed down my face.

Forcing someone to admit they are dead like that… is something that hurts me so much…

Vault POV

“Vault?!” I heard Crystal shout as she shook me. “Vault!”

I opened my eyes and shot up with a gasp, looking around to see it was still fairly dark outside the tent.

“Vault?” Crystal asked softly. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah,” I lied. “Why do you ask?”

“You were crying…” she softly replied.

I blinked and brought my hand up to my eyes and felt the wetness and rubbed both of them.

“I-It’s nothing, I’m fine…” I said with a forced smile.

Crystal looked unconvinced, “If you say so… but I’m going to sleep with you for the rest of the night, just to make sure.”

I watched as she clambered under the bedroll and cuddled close to me, giving me a gently nuzzle to my chest.

“Goodnight, Vault.”

“Goodnight, Crystal.”

I watched as she closed her eyes and slowly drift back off to sleep. I laid on my back and stared up at the tent’s roof and sighed softly to myself.

I can’t be dead… I just can’t… maybe… maybe there is something I can do to make me wake up? Yeah… there has to be. I’ll do anything to wake myself up…

Anything...

Chapter XIV - Self Doubt

Gargoyle

Chapter XIV - Self Doubt

Vault POV

I slowly blinked my eyes as I stared at the ceiling, fully aware of the sun that was now rising. I stifled a yawn that was making itself known and rubbed my eyes, looking down at the still sleeping form of Crystal.

I hadn’t actually slept that much if I was being honest. I managed to drift off again after my initial… dream. But it didn’t last long, there was just too many thoughts going around my head.

Was I… really dead? Or was this just some weird sick trick my subconscious was playing on me?

I didn’t really have an answer for myself. At least, not yet anyway.

As carefully as I could, I slipped Crystal off my chest and laid her gently onto my bedroll, smiling softly as she made soft sounds that kinda sounded like a cat purring.

You know, if said cat was like, forty percent bug.

I slipped out of the tent and stretched out my body, enjoying the soft breeze of the early morning. As my joints popped in various places as I stretched, I let out a satisfied sigh before scratching my chest.

I was never really a morning person, given I would normally only just be going to bed at this point, save for nights I had work the following morning but even then I’d still be going to bed late. Looking around the camp, I could just about hear the others sleeping softly, save for Iron Heart who I could hear as clear as bloody day with his snoring.

I slowly and silently made my way out of the camp, I’d spotted a largish looking rock that jutted out of the ground nearby and decided to go and sit on top of it in order to think some things over.

As I climbed it slowly I came to the top and let out a soft sigh I hadn’t realised I’d been holding in.

“Okay…” I started. “Lets try and figure this out…”

I leant back on my hands as I looked up into the sky, the sun slowly creeping its way over the horizon. What evidence did I have to prove I was still alive? And what evidence proved otherwise.

Whilst my dream had indeed been… realistic, right to the point where I could feel everything that happened to me from pain to warmth which is something you never really deal with in normal dreams. Not to mention, my dream was pretty… intense and it genuinely looked like it could have happened…

But on the other hand… there was the huge possibility I was in a coma. I mean, it really isn’t that uncommon for someone to slip into a heavy coma and tell tales of strange things that have happened. And what about the people who claim to have had the ‘saw a white tunnel’ dream before slipping out of their coma. and for that matter, how was I to know what the sub conscious let alone the mind could do to someone who was in a coma?

As I kept thinking, I started to grow more and more irritated with the indecisiveness of making up my mind process. Letting out a silent growl as my vision started to go red, I punched the ground as hard as I could, ignoring the slight pain in my fist.

“It’s a dream, you know?”

I blinked before groaning and rolled my eyes, “Thought I’d shut you up…”

“I’m you, genius,” my mind replied, “I’m not exactly going to go away, am I?”

“Oh… right. I need to ask, are you like my subconscious or something?” I asked.

“In… a sense, yeah,” the reply came.

“What do you want, anyway?” I grumbled.

“Trying to get us out of this shit world,”

“It isn’t that shit,” I growled, “We’re in a friggen fantasy world, something that I’ve, well we’ve, only ever dreamt about!”

“... True, but that’s all it is. Fantasy,”

“Yeah… I know, but—”

“Hold on… don’t tell me you’re actually having doubts about this, are you?”

I didn’t reply, I just replayed that question over and over in my mind. Was… I doubting it? Was this genuinely now my new reality?

“Oh for fucks sake, Scott! I can’t believe you! This is a fucking dream, all of it! You’re lying in hospital, in a coma, waiting to wake up! Please don’t forget that, we need to get back! Think of of our family, our friends! Don’t you… want to see them again?”

“Of course I do! But you surely saw what Luna showed… it looked so real… and it felt real.”

There was a stagnant silence as I waited for a reply.

“Look, I know it did, man. Believe me… but you need to stay focused, what if… and, hear me out.”

“Go on…” I answered with a hint of curiosity and concern.

“You know… how we think that we’re meant to be helping these guys? That that might be the key to waking up?”

I nodded slowly, but I wasn’t liking where this was heading.

“What if… we help those golden freaks?”

My eyes widened, “What the hell?! How can you, I, whatever! Even suggest that?!”

“Calm down, think about it logically. Who says that if we help these guys we’re gunna wake up? What if we were brought into this dream coma thing by the supposed bad guys?”

“No… you’re wrong—”

“Think about it though, it could be the case… how can you be so certain that helping the good guys, if they are them supposedly, will wake us up over the bad guys. Again, if thats what they supposedly are?”

I bit my lower lip. as much as I hated to agree to it… he, I, did have point.

How could I possibly know that by helping Equestria and the others be the key to waking up, if I was in a coma that is. What if it was the bad guys that I was meant to help?

“Shut up…” I grumbled.

You see what I mean? Now you’re thinking logically.”

“I said, shut up!” I growled loudly.

“Think about it, Scott. It could be our way out!”

“I said, shut up!” I roared, grabbing my head with both my hands.

I was greeted with silence again as I panted, holding my head until a low rumble caught my attention and I looked over and saw Bone-a-parte slinking up behind me on a small slope.

“Oh… it’s just you… what’s up?” I asked.

He simply snorted and sat beside me. It was quite interesting, I had to admit to have a dog like companion that when sitting on its haunches, it was taller than a pony.

He was a huge bastard.

Bone-a-parte nudged my arm and tilted his head, as if he was asking if I was alright or something.

“Don’t worry,” I replied, “just… dealing with some shit on my mind. You know?”

He nodded and nudged me again, as if he was asking me to tell him.

“I said, don’t worry about it!” I replied with a growl.

He seemed to get the message and huffed, turning his head to look away.

The hell is wrong with me? Why’d I just snap at him? I wondered.

“Sorry, boy. Just… a lil cranky.”

He gave me a deadpan look to show he clearly wasn’t buying it.

“Hey, look,” I said, trying to change the subject, “I’ve been thinking of a name for you. One that’s better than Bone-a-parte.”

Bone-a-parte seemed to glare at me, clearly not impressed with my prototype name for him.

“Well, how about I list of some names and you can choose one?”

He seemed to approve of this and nodded his head.

“Alrighty… lets see… how about…” I tapped my chin as I struggled to remember some good powerful names for him, “Titan?”

He seemed to ponder it before shaking his head.

“Hmm… Tank?”

Again, he seemed to ponder the name. But like before he still shook his head.

“Okay… Fluffles?”

Instantly he growled at me and I raised my hands up in defense and laughed softly, “I’m joking, easyboy.”

The skull dog snorted at me unamused as I continued to ponder a name. Then, I grinned as the perfect name popped into my head. One that wasn't a stupid pun.

“Cerberus?” I asked.

He looked at me, showing clear signs that he was intrigued by the name.

“Cerberus is from Greek mythology. A three headed dog, hellhound… thingy. Basically he guarded the underworld to prevent the dead from leaving and the living from entering. Or something like that, and you do kinda have a hellhound like thing going on, what with your skull head and all. Plus you could be the guardian of the group with a name like that?”

I watched as he lifted his head up to the sky slowly. Time seemed to slow down as I watched him simply stare into the sky, clearly debating on the name in his head.

Least, I think he was. Something about him just seemed to… intelligent, like I could understand him perfectly and vice versa. I knew some dogs were intelligent, hell you see a fair good YouTube clips of smart dogs doing tricks and shit.

But then again, some dogs are just plain stupid.

I jumped as he let out a bark, turning to me and nodding with approval.

“So, you like the name then?” I asked, receiving a nod in return.

I grinned, pulling him into me with one arm and scratching his skull with a claw, “Then, from this moment on. You will be known as. Cerberus. Guardian and companion of Vault the Gargoyle!”

Cerberus barked again and dragged his forked tongue over my face, making me recoil in disgust as I spat out several times onto the ground.

“Dude! I had my friggin mouth open!”

Cerberus seemed to smirk as he rose up onto his legs and made his way down the slope again, leaving me to my thoughts once more.

I watched him leave, my smile slowly fading as I sighed after finding myself alone with my thoughts.

Crystal POV

I blinked my eyes as they adjusted to the partial darkness before I yawned loudly and stretched my body, arching my lower back up slightly and stretching my front legs out along the floor. I looked around and smacked my lips before I realised that Vault wasn’t in the tent with me.

Pouting, I slowly exited tent to see if I could see him, my head turned to the left as I heard a bark from that bloody skull dog thing and saw him on a nearby rock.

Still don’t understand why Vault invited it along with us…

However, I did see a familiar and welcome sight beside it. Vault.

With a smile I headed towards him as the skull dog past by me, not giving any recognition I was even there. Not that I wanted it to, mind. As I approached Vault, I could here him growling softly and muttering to himself. Curiously, I made my way up the slope as quietly as I could in order to hear what he was muttering.

“I can’t be… why… why isn’t everything straight forward?”

Straight forward? I wonder what he’s talking about.

“But… what if I’m right? What if I am supposed to help those guys? Fuck this is frustrating…”

He growled and held his head in his hands and sighed heavily. I decided I had listened to him enough and made myself known.

“Hey, Vault. Morning!”

Vault jumped, not expecting me and spun around on the spot.

“Oh… hey, Crystal.”

“Well, aren’t we cheerful?” I teased, “What you doing all the way up here anyway?”

“Thinking,” he replied bluntly.

Something… seemed off about him, I couldn’t put my hoof on it.

“What about?” I asked.

“S’fine, don’t worry about it,” he grunted.

Something about his tone was off putting. He was clearly hiding something.

“Look… Vault—”

“I said it’s fine, Crystal,” he snapped, interrupting me.

I took a step back as my eyes widened in surprise. Vault saw this and immediately looked down and sighed.

“I-I’m sorry, Crystal. I just… had a bad dream that’s leaving me a bit confused, that’s all. I don’t want to talk about it though,” he apologised.

I let out a sigh, I wanted to know what was wrong so I could try to help him, I really did care about him. But, I respected his privacy and would wait till he was ready.

“Okay, I won’t pry… but you know, you can always talk to me, you know?”

He nodded and smiled softly, “Yeah… thanks, Crystal. and sorry for snapping at you.”

“Water under the bridge, now gimme a hug, you big lummox,” I smirked.

Vault smiled and picked me up, giving me a firm but careful hug as I nuzzled into his neck with a smile on my own lips.

“Come on, we better go get some breakfast before the others wake up and find Cerberus eating all of it or something,” Vault said.

“Cerberus?” I asked.

“Yeah, the skull dog. I decided to name him Cerberus and he approved of it.”

“Okay… not sure why you named him after the thing that guards Tartarus,” I said.

Vault tilted his head at me, “No… he guards the entrance into the underworld…”

“Uhm, I think you’re getting things mixed up, Vault. Cerberus has always guarded Tartarus,” I replied.

“Maybe here he does, but where I’m from he doesn't!” Vault frowned.

I raised my brow at him “... You’re having another Vault moment… aren’t you?”

“No, I— GAH! Forget it!” Vault grumbled and stormed off down to the camp.

I giggled and shook my head as I followed him.

Silly Vault.

By now, most of the camp had woken up and were eating their breakfast as others were busy preparing the liberated hoboll carts for the journey to New Port. We had to make a detour first to pick up another bunch of ponies that Vault had rescued that were about a four hour journey to the south in a cave.

He decided that it would be best if we split up. Iron Horn, Meta and Morphosis would be in charge of the wagon trail heading to the city whilst myself, Vault, Cerberus and Iron Heart would go back and get the others that were waiting before rejoining the main bulk of the freed slaves later on.

Although, one pegasus was determined to go with us, Snow Wing’s sister.

“So you’re sure she’s okay, yeah?” he asked Vault as the gargoyle chomped on some chicken.

“Mhm,” he mumbled before swallowing, “I told her and the others to stay put for the time being, you looking forward to seeing your sister, Snow Fall?”

“Damn straight I am!” Fall grinned, “she’s like… my best friend.”

Vault nodded as he finished the rest of his chicken and belched, sighing in contentment as I rolled my eyes.

“Right,” Vault said as he stood up and stretched, flexing his powerful wings out.

I still need to teach him how to use them.

“Iron Heart, you ready to go?” He asked the nearby minotaur.

“Sure am,” Iron replied with a nod.

“Cerberus?” He asked.

The skull dog, who was laying down near Iron as he, Vault and Iron Horn were the only ones comfy around him, barked and flicked his tail, sending some dirt into the air.

“Don’t need to ask me!” Snow Fall grinned.

“Crystal?” Vault asked me.

“Mhm, whenever you’re ready. I just need to speak to Meta and Morphosis.”

“Alright, don’t be too long. Wanna get there and catch up with the others as soon as possible,” Vault replied.

I nodded and quickly made my way over to where the other two changelings were, the looked up towards me as I sat on my hindquarters in front of them.

“Okay… you two know what you’re doing?” I asked.

“Of course,—”

“No, none of that!” I hissed, knowing exactly how Meta was going to address me.

“I still don’t get why you don’t tell everyone who you are, I doubt they’d care,” Morphosis rolled his eyes.

“I know… but I don’t want anyone treating me different because of it, that’s why,” I replied with a sigh.

“Anyone? Or just Vault?” Meta smirked.

“S-shut up,” I hissed and glared at the snickering pair, “j-just keep everyone safe for lings sake!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Morphosis said sticking out his tongue.

The snickering was too contagious and I soon found myself giggling along with my friends. As I turned to leave, however, something in their eyes seemed a little…

… Off.

I blinked as I walked away but shrugged it off, I was probably me just imagining things I suppose. I rejoined the others to find they were just about to head off. Cerberus, for all his creepy and suspicious looks, was carrying a large pack on each side of his body that clearly had a fair bit of our equipment in it. Despite the fact they looked heavy, he showed no signs of straining.

Guess he does have a use... I thought.

“All ready to go?” Vault asked me as he clipped his warhammer to his belt.

“Mhm, let’s go,” I nodded.

Iron Heart and Iron horn said goodbye to one another in quite possibly the most over the top display of stallion affection I had ever seen.

“Gunna be alright, bud?” Horn asked.

“Doubting me, are we, Horn? Or are you still just jealous that I killed two hobolls more than you?”

“You got that last one by accident and you know it!” Horn snorted.

“Oh… stop being a little baby cow,” Heart laughed heartily and slapped his friend on the back.

“Yeah, yeah,” Horn chuckled, “Just wait till next time!”

“Can’t wait,” Heart grinned before the two embraced again and patted each others backs.

“It’s like he married his best friend…” I said as I snickered snickered.

“But in a totally manly way!” Vault replied with a little sing song in his voice.

As we silently snickered, the two minotaurs went their separate ways as our small group headed away from the main.

Soon we would be with the small group with Snow Fall’s sister, soon we would be in New Port.

And soon… I’ll be able to go home and see them all again.