Ponies Souls

Oscar was the first to top the stairs, followed by Twilight. He looked ahead, taking note of the several hollows that guarded the path ahead. He heard Twilight take a deep breath, he turned to her to see her visibly trembling. She looked at him and took several more breaths, calming her enough to think.

"Whats wrong with them? Why are they like this? Is this what happens to anypony who has that ..... dark sign was it?" Oscar nodded, ignoring the fact that she had just said 'anypony'.

"Yes, this is the fate of the undead, those who lose purpose of hope prey upon the living, stealing their souls to satiate their hunger. This is our eventual fate." The knight looked down in disgrace, leaving Twilight dumbfounded.

No, No way! It cant be true! Twilight fought back her emotions, placing her hand on Oscars shoulder, causing him to look over curiously.

"I wont let whatever happened to them happen to you, I promise." She didnt know how the curse came about or if there was even a to fight it off long enough to get rid of it. Twilight pushed those thoughts aside and smiled, she made a promise to save her friend, and she planned to keep it.

"I will not let myself turn so long as you and your companions are here. I swear on my knight hood." He moved in front of Twilight, drawing his sword and starting towards the hollowed. Twilight readied herself, gripping her staff tightly and taking a few more breaths. Two of the hollows moaned as they sensed another presence, living and with a soul. They turned to the two and started forward, going into a light jogging speed at them.

"Take the one on the right!" Oscar rushed the hollow on the left blocking its attempted attack and making it stumble back. Twilight looked over to see the second hollow coming straight for her. She ducked in time to dodge to broken blade, only losing a few hairs in the process. She landed on her butt, letting out an 'oomph'. Looking up, she saw the hollow coming down at her with the half broken sword, instinctively Twilight raised her staff to block the incoming attack. What happened, however, was a flash a dark blue, launching the hollow back several feet with a red hot hole burnt through its chest. An amount that wasn't blown out the back of the hollow now blood dabbled Twilights staff and face, leaving her stunned in place for a few seconds.

"Gah!" The sound of Oscar in trouble drew her attention over to her left in time to see his shield catch fire as a small circular object hit it, as well as his sword deflect the sword of another hollow, this one wearing actual armor and brandishing a shield and full sword this time. Twilight shot up and aimed her staff at the hollow and focused, light blue energy started collecting around the top, followed by darker blue, sending a stronger feeling to Twilight in the process. She released the energy aimed straight at the hollow, a dark and light blue arrow of energy traveling and hitting its mark. Dead center of mass.

The hollow keeled over as Oscar stood and looked over at the now shaken Twilight. He sighed and walked over to her, sheathing his sword. He reached out for her when she yelled and shoved him to the left, causing him to land on his back. An explosion of fire erupted from the spot where he was, thrown from above them by another hollow. He stood and charged up a staircase embedded in the mountain wall next to when the hollow reared back to throw another bomb. He drew his sword and quickly impaled the hollow, its arm going limp and harmlessly dropping the bomb.

His victory was cut short when two more hollows charged him from two different side. He raised his shield to one and his sword to the other. They were almost upon him when two more dark blue bolts hit them, blasting ones head open, spraying blood out the opening, and the other landing shortly after, hitting the hollow in the side of the chest. It fell face first as momentum kept it moving forward. Oscar turned to see the blood covered Twilight holding the staff towards his direction as the traces of magic wore off. She lowered the staff and stumbled over to Oscar, slightly panting.

"Do you do this often?" The knight nodded, causing Twilight to groan, not used to the sheer amount of adrenaline now pumping through her. Oscar saw this and smiled under his helmet.

"Well then, lets be off shall we?" Twilight reluctantly nodded and followed Oscar up yet another flight of stairs leading to the inside of what seemed to be an aqueduct. He made his way through the short tunnel and up even more stairs, the princess in tow. Several more hollows noticed them but weren't given a chance to fight as magic and steel toppled them easily.

After clearing the area, Twilight took the chance to stay still for a few moments, the fatigue of her adrenaline rush now creeping up on her.

"Take a break princess, gods know you deserve one. I'll scout ahead, for any more hollows." Twilight nodded and smiled, reveling the silence and peace that she was now a part of. She slid down the closest wall and sighed, the fatigue almost in full force. Her mind now wandered to other subjects to distract her from the gory mess not 5 feet from her position. After thinking for several minutes, she started to, in detail, wonder about her companion. A knight named Oscar, that was all she knew. Not even his face, even though having to lift his helmet to help him back in the asylum. She thought about what he looked like under the armor, her curiosity getting the better of her, he was obviously incredibly strong from how he could take the damage he had and still fight with the same spirit he always seemed to have.

As Twilight lingered on this subject, she began imaging what he looked like without the armor, large arms under a thick layer of steel, each one working perfectly with another to keep him at his best and any he cared for safe. Fully built upper body, able to take any punishment. Twilight felt her face start to heat up as she continued undressing him and going into detail about each part. She shook her head to try rid herself of the thoughts. It didn't matter what she pictured, he would look the same every time.

Stay professional Twilight, for the girls. As she thought this, she heard a clinking sound come from a doorway in front of her, Oscar soon emerged, scratching his head.

"May need your help with something." He nervously chuckled and stopped scratching his head.

"Theres some crazy woman up ahead with a club that will not budge, Diplomacy isnt my strong suit. Maybe you could try?"

Twilight laughed and slowly stood up, taking a few steps but stumbled. She was caught short of falling by the strong arm that she was just imagining about. She tried to hide her blush as Oscar lifted her back to her feet and kept ready in case Twilight actually falls from fatigue. The princess made her way through the small room to come out a doorway to an old looking fortification. A loud voice filled the air around them that instantly broke Twilight out of her fatigued stupor.

"AH' AINT MOVIN' TILL TWI GETS HERE AND FIXES THIS CONFOUNDED MESS!" The voice was followed by several groans and splatter sounds.

"You think we can talk her into letting us by?" Oscar meekly asked from Twilights right.

"I hope so...."