Chapter Fifteen: Return to Asylum

EQUESTRIAN SOULS
Chapter fifteen: Return to Asylum
Written by TheCrimsonDM

We rose just above the clouds and I could finally see the old ruins of Asylum. The Asylum was far larger then I had ever imagined now that I looked at it from above. The building sprawled down the other side of the Foal Mountains. The ledge that I had jumped off of and gotten saved by Storm Feather was just a tiny piece of land compared to the rest of this place.

The cold air was brisk upon my face, I found myself very thankful for the clothes mom had left me. Everypony thankfully had some article of clothing on, but that wouldn’t be enough to keep them warm for long. Once we got inside however, things should be easier on them.

“What was this place?” I asked.

“It was used to house the undead at one time, nopony knew what to do with them so they locked them all up…I would’ve just killed them all…but whatever. After a while Silver was unable to keep this place up and running, and it fell too ruin,” Myst explained.

Storm Feather and Rainfall began descending towards the same stretch of land that I had jumped off. I knew that there was a demon around here somewhere, and the fear began rising in my heart. I never wanted to see another demon, but I knew that one day I would have too anyway.

As we descended I was able to see the old ruins called the Grays to the east, that was our eventual goal but I needed my sword if I was going to go there. I also saw the northern half of Equestria, and was shocked to see it almost completely frozen over. I could only imagine how much of a death trap the north was.

***

After landing on the cliff edge we began walking towards the only door we could see. The snow crunched underneath our hooves; it was cold and was getting stuck to my exposed fur. Suddenly my hoof hit something hard; my curiosity needed sating so I dug through the snow. Just under a few inches of snow I found the old broadsword that had served as my first weapon, I now noticed how the steel blade was tinted pink. This weapon was a reminder of how far I had gotten and how much I had survived; I really liked it. I quickly tied the sword to my saddlebags; Moon Shadow let out a groan as he watched me. He didn’t enjoy weapons like I did.

We stepped inside the building; there were a few hollows stumbling around on the other side of the room. I pulled out my hammer and was stopped by Rainfall’s outstretched leg.

“Don’t, the center of this room is structurally weakened, any amount of weight on it will cause it to fall. It looks like a trap, and I have no idea what is down there,” she explained.

Taking her advice to heart we let her lead us around the edge of the room. She picked off the hollows with her bow before we even got to the courtyard. I was beginning to really appreciate having her on my team.

The courtyard was empty, save for the unlit Altar. We advanced cautiously keeping an eye out for any dangers, before I lit the Altar. The air became suddenly warmer around the Altar. These things were a gift from Celestia in cold places like this.

Rather than rest, we continued onward; I needed to get that Sword, before we encountered any of my old enemies. We moved into the building, down a ladder and into some wet corridors. There was snow outside, but for some reason the air inside here was humid, there was also the reek of still water, mold, and something worse.

We quickly found the hallway that I had escape from, and it was increasingly warm down here. It was still cold inside the building, but compared to the outside it was nice. I looked back at my friends and said, “okay, I am only taking one of you with me. There was something sleeping down here last time, and I want to be quiet.”

They nodded and Moon Shadow stepped up. He was our stealthiest member, so together we made our way down the hall. The corpses we passed by lay still in their cells. I was glad for that at least. And the mound of golden bit’s and gems from the chamber to my side, lay still and unmoving; the warm air seemed to be coming from inside there. That was not a good sign.

When we got to my old cell we moved inside carefully. The old corpse I had woken up with, was still there. I pitied the pony but there wasn’t much I could do. Moon Shadow went over to the corpse and dug through the rags it was wearing for a moment before pulling out a small stuffed animal. I wasn’t sure why he found it interesting but he turned around and gave the thing to me.

The doll was small and gray with a few patches of different colored fabric on it from where it had been damaged. It had one blue eye, and one red eye. Finally it had some blue and white polka dotted shorts on. I looked at the bottom of its hoof and read the name “smarty pants”. I wasn’t sure who this belonged too but it gave off a strange feeling. I decided that I would keep it for now, there wasn’t any reason not to. So Smarty Pants went right into my saddlebags.

I looked around the room and found the old sword handle. The one I had been looking for. I wasn’t entirely sure what to do but I pulled out my broken blade, and set it down on the old bed. I connected it too the old handle, the colors of the handle matched the blade. I then pulled out the Moonlit Butterfly’s soul. The orb was glowing softly as I brought it near the blade.

A sudden flash of bright light, followed by a high pitched humming noise caused me to drop the orb. I heard the sound of glass breaking and then everything went quiet. After a few seconds I looked again at the sword, the Moonlit Butterfly’s soul was nowhere to be found, but the sword was now repaired.

I stood there stunned for a moment before I slowly picked up the sword and drew it from its sheath. The sword came out smoothly and silently. The blade was blue with a red line running down the middle. I felt an odd, and powerful force emitting from the blade. I knew at that moment that this sword’s destiny was tied to my own, I could only imagine at how the blade had been broken, but now that it was complete I supposed that it no longer mattered. The Tricksters Blade was now mine.

I turned the Moon Shadow and said, “let’s go, before we encounter any problems.” He nodded in agreement and we left my old cell.

On our way back I noticed the pile of golden bits moving, and a bright red light began coming from inside of the gold pile. I took off into a full fledged gallop with Moon Shadow at my side. Our friends at the end of the hall were looking towards with fear drawn expressions. I heard a high pitched whine and then my ears popped. Suddenly the ground around me exploded and everything went black.

***

I stood in front of Rainbow Dash, feeling unparallel joy as I said, “so I have finally defeated The Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash looked around the ring we were standing in, she had a busted lip but she looked pleased with herself. “Well I suppose that means I can’t train you anymore. You’re as good as me in martial arts now, maybe even better.”

“Wait so I can’t learn from you anymore? But how can I improve…I need to be better, stronger. I can’t just stop,” I told her.

She gave me a smile and said, “pfft, you are a tough little…er tall pony. If you are serious about continuing your training, there is only one thing I can think of. I have never beaten my master in combat, not even once. I could send you to her, but I have to warn you…she is brutal. If she does take you on for training, she will be more ferocious then you can ever imagine. You could very well die from her training methods.”

I gave a mighty laugh and said, “there is nothing that will stop me from being the best, from being useful, from being awesome. I’ll learn from her and become the best fighter in all of Equestria.”

“You’re insane, you know that. But that’s what I like about ya kid. Alright I’ll tell you where to find her, she’s been on leave training for a few weeks now. I bet she would love to have a new student,” Rainbow Dash explained.

I bounced on my hooves and said, “yes, I am going to be awesome!”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and said, “yeah, you will be. By the way I’m gonna be stopping by to visit your mom later, I promised I’d come by.”

I settled down a little and said, “thank you…she hasn’t been doing too well…and Pinkie Pie has been acting a little…weird as well.”

Rainbow Dash wrapped a leg around my neck and pulled my head down, she then began giving me a noogie while saying, “yeah well, I’m gonna be so awesome that everypony feels instantly better.”

***

I found myself walking through a dense forest watching with very careful eyes. I continued moving forward hoping that I could only find this legendary martial arts pony that Rainbow Dash had mentioned. I was slowly advancing towards a mountain hopping that I could find her there.

Eventually after a day’s journey through the forest I got to the base of the largest mountain I had ever seen. I had heard that at the top of this mountain there had once been an elder red dragon, one that Twilight and her friends had defeated. I was going up there to find that very same place, for that is where I would find Rainbow Dash’s mentor.

The climb was hard, but I eventually got to the top. Exhausted and beaten I found myself staring at the setting sun, and a silhouette of a pegasus. The pegasus stood on her hind legs while facing a boulder. She stuck her hooves out in front of her in some sort of meditative pose, and screamed. The scream was so high pitched, and loud that I had to cover my ears, but the sound was still extremely painful. I managed to keep my eyes open as I watched in fascination as the boulder crumbled under the presser of her scream.

The mare turned to face me, The sun was in just the right position so that I couldn’t make out any clear details on her, but she could see me fully. I didn’t hear anything as she ran, on her hind legs towards me at such speed that I couldn’t react. She was attacking me.

***

Something cold was dripping onto my forehead as I opened my eyes slowly. My entire body was in pain and everything was pitch black. I used my magic and summoned a small ball of fire and let it hang over my horn for a little. There was water dripping from the ceiling down my head.

I rolled over and out of the waters path. I looked to my side and saw a collapsed wall, a bunch of rubble everywhere. I was covered in scratches, but my saddlebags and weapons were here at least. I looked around and saw a doorway leading out, but I had no idea where I was, or where any of my allies were. I was alone again.

I wasn’t in bad enough condition to worry about my health, but I needed to find my friends. We were still in Asylum, only now we were underneath it. That sounded like a really bad position for us to be in. I left the small room I was in and prayed to Celestia that I could find my friends soon.

The halls were lonely, and dark; if not for my magic I’d be screwed. I continued walking forward slowly, and quietly. I could feel something else in here with me as I walked down these dark corridors. I didn’t know what it was but I knew it was here.

Eventually I came across a splitting hallway. I could go left or right. Without any good indication of where anything was I could only guess. I chose left; I chose wrong.

I came face to face with a giant black knight. He had a long black shield, and a black long sword; it’s blade was as long as me. I recognized this black knight from my last trip here. And judging from the combat stance he jumped into, he recognized me as well.

I turned and fled down the right corridor this time. I could hear the metal armor clanking as he galloped after me. He was still slower then I was, and now that I was in better condition than the last time I was here, I was running even faster. The corridor was long and dark. I soon saw a chain attached to the wall and the ceiling, I ran past it. I followed the chain with my eyes and saw it attached to a thick metal gate in front of me.

I looked behind and saw the Black Knight swing his sword into the chain. I heard the sound of gears turning and saw the gate beginning to slide down. The Black Knight was trying to trap me, but I wasn’t ready for a confrontation just yet. I ran harder and faster, pushing myself past my speed limits. The gate was closing fast. I finally got close to the gate and slid on my side the last few feet. I slipped underneath the gate just as it closed and I heard the Black Knight slam into the metal door behind me.

I let out a sigh of relief, I had survived another encounter with the Black Knight. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. I looked around the room I was standing in now and realized I was in some kind of storage room. There was a wooden door for me to use at my leisure, but right now I felt like I deserved a small rest.

As I rested there in that dark, cold room staring aimlessly at the mess of boxes around me I began to wonder; what was I really doing here. I mean I brought all of my friends up here to Asylum, a place that I knew had demons, a place that I knew was dangerous. Of course something bad was going to happen, that was just my life. But now I was all alone again…and none of my friends were here to help me this time.

I just wanted to break down and cry, but I couldn’t cry anymore. I was the leader and that meant that I had a job to do. I pulled up myself off the hard stone floor and shook myself. I was going to get my friends, and that was all there was too it. We were all getting out of this, and then we could discuss what to do next.

I opened the wooden door and took a deep breath. I had to be prepared for anything that awaited me out here. It was time for me to find my friends.