True Dungeoneering

Ch 2: Regroup

His mouth never moved just the shadowy impression of his tongue flicking about in his skull.

"Who still rules these lands?" A voice deep and cold with the sound of violins screeching rebounded off the cavern walls. The torches responding to his voice flared brighter further illuminating the smaller cavern and this bestial creature. The light gave me a clear and concise view of the room explaining why I had previously thought it carved out. The entirety of this room was built with bones. This was no secret cavern this had been a tomb meant to keep whatever evil within contained.

I rose from my seated position. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna rule these lands," I responded keeping any fear out of my voice. With predators you never show fear and you never back down. His horn flickered with a black aura grasping the book from the ground and stowing it in his shadowy wavering skin.

"Ah my old foes," he said black ichor dribbling out from his skulls multiple openings. A wicked smile plastered across his skull.

"Now that I have been revived all shall be as it should. I will vanquish them once and for all and I will conquer this pathetic land." He let out a rolling laughter.

His voice shook the room. Shadows dancing in time with his laughter and the walls of bones rattling with excitement.

"And you my servant will be the tool of their down fall." The room fell silent as he cast his gaze at me.

"Wait what," I stuttered, "you can't be serious, look I didn't mean to release you it was an accident I was just looking for information that's it." I explained to him.

His eyes grew in size til they were large glowing red orbs. He cracked a grin that sent shivers down my spine.

"Is that so," he began, "then tell me why you have not run, why haven't you sent a message to the princesses, or better yet why have you not let the mare you care about most know of my revival?" He stalked forward.

"What h...h..how could you know that I didn't already send a message and wait how do you know anything about me?" I asked slightly perplexed by the last of his statements.

The book slowly floated out of the folds of his shadowy billowing skin.

"Your blood holds more than you know." He flipped the book to the first page. The complex and intricate spell circle now contained a beating heart that was radiating dark magic outward. "Your life nay your very exsistence, flows within me, your memories, your power, and even your deepest desires." He grinned wickedly, "give into me as your master and I shall grant your hearts deepest desire." His voice became melodious. I felt my hooves stumble forward, such a tempting offer how could I deny it. Why should I even resist? Another step and then a subtle part of my brain asked, "would she want this?" A cold sweat broke out across my body and I suddenly snapped back to reality, Catharax's mind meld shattered. I saw his smile break as my horn glowed green with magic my face contorted in rage.

The green aura coalescing into a spell, one which I had practiced many times before. I shouted a word of power and Magic missiles rocketed forth from my horn shaped like small comets. Catharax didn't even flinch he simply allowed the spell to impact him. A cloud of shadows suddenly doused the lanterns and I was left with the dull green light of my horn.

"Tsk tsk Dungeon you have so much potential, you squander it on petty games when you could be ruling," his voice echoed from everywhere I tried to pinpoint it, but it was useless. Then I sensed a sudden cold energy from behind me. I whirled around in time to see a shadow from up the stairs charge me like a runaway train. It hit me, I saw a reflection of light as I flew over the pedestal and then hit the back wall. The sound of cracking bones hopefully not mine. The world was spinning and I could barely keep my head straight as the lanterns flickered back to life Catharax materializing from the shadows directly behind the pedestal.

As he stalked forward the shadows seemed to creep up towards me the darkness closing in until we were left in a low light and I could barely make out his features. I attempted to stand my body wasn't having none of that and I flopped down again. He stood above me pulling out a bright red jewel looking much like a broach with five wicked needles coming off the backside.

"A gift for you young mage." He laughed and unceremoniously shoved the broach into my chest. To say that it hurt might be an understatement. Those needles must have been three inches in length because all of sudden needles pierced my skin, muscle, and bone overloading my brains pain sensor. As soon as it happened it felt like someone had replaced my blood with acid. My entire body was screaming out and I wished for nothing more than death. All the while Catharax laughed his wicked laugh as I spasmed on the ground.

"In time young mage you'll come to appreciate my gift." He laughed and whipped around stalking towards the pedestal. I pushed down the pain and focused  my thoughts, I focused a spell centering on Ponyville, on home. Catharax turned back to me holding that curved flamberege looking knife in his black aura and leisurely walked towards me. Panic and a strange desire washed over me I pushed it all into the spell and with a single word I teleported from that dismal place.

My eyes pressed shut I feared to open them lest I find myself still in that nightmarish place. I cracked my eyes to find myself lying in the center of town, dawn quickly approaching. My eyes fluttered shut as quickly as they had opened consciousness fleeing my body, the dull ache of pain washed across my entire body, and a memory of a past battle flashed through my mind. A unicorn, my job to protect him, dying in my arms the scream of battle in my ears. Celestia's sweet mercy it's all my fault, what have I done. The world goes black.

Catharax lays down the knife as the young mage teleports away. Catharax calls forth some bones creating a throne for himself. He cuts off a bit of his shadow infusing it within the skeleton of a small creature. A second goes by and the small skeletal creature stands it some what resembles that of a raccoon.

"Go forth my homunculus watch over our young mage." The small creature lets out a small primal screech and skitters off to track its prey. Catharax grins for the next part of his work would be very enjoyable.

Twilight had woken up right on time as always. Her normal sleeping pattern was undisturbed as usual. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had had a terrible dream. She thought deeply for a moment trying to grasp the delicate remnants of the dream.

Ah ha, the castle of the two sisters, she must have had a dream about Nightmare Moon. She grimaced slightly at the thought of what had happened, but at least everything had turned out alright. She levitated a dream journal and began recording said dream. After concluding her dream log she decided despite the early hour she’d go out for a walk maybe stop in and see what her friends were up to today maybe snag a treat from Sugarcube Corner. Getting out of bed the unmistakable snoring of her young dragon assistant could be heard.

She decided to let him sleep; chores could wait till after breakfast. She freshened up, grabbed her bags, and quietly slipped out of the library. Celestia had just raised the sun so most ponies were still asleep not yet awakened to this beautiful Saturday. However, she enjoyed basking in the wonderful and newly risen sunlight of her mentor, it was a true gift. The birds began their morning song, the day was beautiful not a sign of rain in sight, nothing could ruin such a fine day.

Except for that body in the street.

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks with a short gasp. The body of a unicorn had been left curled up in the center of town. She raced over to it stepping close enough to begin examining. It was a green stallion with reddish-orange mane and a horn slightly longer than her own coming to a sharp point. She recognized the pony as dungeon a unicorn who was new to town recently. He was badly bruised and cut up and dried blood and leaked from a gash on his nose.

His breaths were coming in ragged little heaves. She needed to get him out of the road and have someone tend his wounds otherwise… no she pushed that though from her head. She summoned her will and quickly teleported the unicorn and herself back to the library.

“SPIKE!!” Twilight called from downstairs, “I need your help now!”

Spike appeared sleepy eyed from the bedroom rubbing one eye and stifling a yawn.

“What is it Twi…?” he stopped short as he caught sight of Twilight lifting a battered and bleeding unicorn up the stairs to the spare bedroom. “What’s going on Twilight and who’s that?” He exclaimed keeping pace with her as she rushed into the room and laid down the stallion.

“No time to explain Spike I need you to go fetch Fluttershy tell her it’s a dire emergency and bring her first aid kit.” Spike turned and raced off to the cottage of Fluttershy while Twilight began to tend some of Dungeons minor wounds.

Despite living in Ponyville for a few weeks now not many ponies knew much about him. Twilight noted old scars decorating his body. He had quite a few, burns as well, this pony had lived quite a hard life. As Twilight examined closer, washed, and wrapped his wounds she realized he wasn’t a bad looking stallion. After Pinkie’s welcome to Ponyville party many a mare around town had spoken of him saying he was a sharp looking stallion. She had visited him previously, but had never considered him much before, but having him up and close like this she had to agree he was handsome. Times she visited before were to talk to him academically over the spells he utilized and he directed her to his collection of books. But now, a smile touching her lip, being this close she had to admit he was very pleasing to behold. Her mind wandered a little a slight blush added to her lavender color.

“Wait what was she thinking, this stallion was injured why was her mind wandering to such… things.” Her blush deepened as she shook her head it’s like her mind was suddenly coming out of a fog. “Strange,” she thought, “what was that?” Her normal lavender color returned. It felt has if her own desires were being tampered with and over powered. As she turned a light on it in her own mind a cold presence slithered around her body. It made her skin crawl and the source of this magic was nearby.

Her eyes roamed over Dungeon’s body, purely academic she swore and her eyes caught a jewel implanted into his chest. Huh weird she hadn’t noticed it before. She took a closer look at it; it was a red ruby broach of some kind. She reached out to touch it, but that nauseating cold feeling washed over her again playing tricks on her mind. The dark energy radiating off that thing made her break out in a cold sweat and she retracted a few steps away. “Whatever that thing is, it is bad news,” she thought to herself.

From a safe distance away she attempted to grasp it in her magic aura, but to no avail. It’s almost as if the amulet was resisting her, attempting to stay nestled into Dungeon’s sternum. She would have some very serious questions to ask dungeon when he awoke. She pulled up a chair and took a seat waited for Fluttershy to arrive.

I came in and out of consciousness many times. At times I could have sworn I was in that dark chamber filled with bones and that menacing face grinning at me through the shadows. I felt a sharp pain as a bone was set back into place and I caught the eye of a timid yellow pegasus diligently working on my body and a unicorn from across the room watching with uncertainty in her eye. Blackness claimed me again as someone wrapped my body and my ribs told me they were thoroughly displeased with this motion. My sleep was haunted with images of dark beings rising from thousands of graves digging themselves free. That haunting face reflected in each of their visages.

I was suddenly on a field of battle not quite unlikely the ones from my memories of war. I was alone the ground scorched with fire, bodies littered the ground: griffons, changelings, hydras, manticores, dragons, ponies, unicorns, and pegasi alike.

“Your dreams haunt you still, I see.” I turned to see somepony whose voice I recognized.

Princess Luna stood majestically behind me a few steps. She wore a very stern look one reserved for only the highest staked poker games. I knew not why she chose to visit me again.

“Your highness,” I bowed lowly giving her the proper respect.

“Such formalities are not necessary Captain, after all this is your dream after all.” She paced forward settling herself in a seated position. “It never ceases to amaze me at how some subjects seem to carry as much weight upon their shoulders as even my sister and me,” she said glancing around, “Yet, in spite of my sisters and mine own favor to you and with retiring from your old life your mind wanders yet to this dismal field with the thousands of bodies either taken by your doing or not saved by your own hoof.”

I look at the field of dead bodies my face giving away no emotion. “I wish I had not been so eager in the beginning this isn’t a living anyone should crave for themselves this is truly an atrocity.”

“My sister didn’t think you’d be used in the beginning as you were, you were so young, an orphan in such a large city, and when you showed such a strong affinity for battle magic at a young age Celestia thought she was doing right by allowing you to stay in the castle.” I turned back to face Luna. “You became inseparable from my own night ponies and soon you found your way into mine own guard in my absence, at such a young age Celestia thought it’d would calm you the strictness of the night guard, but you reveled in the tasks of destruction the guards carried out unbeknownst to the citizens.”

“Sigh, I was a fool,” I felt my body relax a little, “I was only 14 and I thought battle was everything war was the ultimate gift. I sought it out every opportunity that Celestia needed to ensure safety on the fronts whether it was a dragon attacking, or rogue griffons attempting to raid towns, or even a changeling nest attempting to settle and rob the ponies of their life source, I went and I slew many. By the time you returned I had led ten years long of destruction in service to peace. I became Captain in your own personal guard and it took the death of my own men to realize the atrocities of war.” A death throe could be heard across my dreamscape and it made me shudder and slump my head in disgrace.

“Even after that, you continued to serve honorably for a few years dealing with the ugly head of battle my Captain.” Luna moved forward so I rested against her. She was soft and it comforted me.

“Captain, I think you truly know why I’ve come this fair evening.” I looked up to see her eyes darken.

“It’s entirely my fault princess, I’ve released a terrible evil, and it’s a threat to all of us.” I hung my head again.

“Tis an ancient and powerful evil, but not one that is unbeatable,” she stands and paces back a few steps I raise my head to look at her. Her eyes surprisingly soft. “You will need to rely on your friends if you are to truly overcome this evil Captain, and I can’t promise that you won’t face many of the same horrors that you have in the past, but you are the only one who…”

Her face grows stern has a hideous laughter echoes across the plains.

“He is here,” She states curtly as my shadow begins to stretch out behind me.

“Luna so good to see you, it’s been too long,” A voice filled with despair and death sounds behind me. I turn to see that horrifying form flow up from my out stretched shadow. He arises to his full height no more than 10 feet from me. My eyes grow wide with horror.

“Catharax, I thought when my sister and I put you down in that hole it’d be for good,” Luna snarls.

“Oh so you thought, but with so many years not even that tomb could keep my books power contained forever. I see you’ve been speaking to my new servant. Tell me, how does it feel to be betrayed once again by one who served you.” He says cracking a smile that made my spine crawl.

“He doesn’t serve you Catharax and he never will.” She says defiantly letting off a blast of magic at his form. He dissolves away and appears again in the same spot.

“We shall see about that,” he smirks “My, what and impressive volume of bodies you have here Dungeon.” As he speaks the dead begin to rise, dark auras surrounding them. I turn to see my shocked look reflected in my Princess’ face. It turns to sorrow as she looks to me.

“Dungeon I’m truly sorry, but my sister must know of what has transpired. Come to Canterlot when you awaken, unfortunately I can’t help you now, you’re trapped in his magic and I can’t break it from here. I’m sorry.” Her form fades out with her words and I’m left alone with hordes of undead and Catharax rushing me. I close my eyes as a mass of undead bodies hit me and I’m crushed under their weight. Darkness and a haunting laughter consume me. A sudden flash of light as I crack my eyes I find myself sitting up in bed with both a startled pegasus and unicorn looking at me.

Fluttershy excuses herself carrying away an impressive looking medical kit as well as a few pounds of bloodied bandages which I suspect came from yours truly. I look up to see Twilight staring with a look containing simultaneously both concern and uneasiness.

“Dungeon how are you feeling,” she says but remains seat across the room.

“Please, just DM is fine Twilight,” I say smiling a bit, “and I’m better now thanks to Miss Fluttershy,”

“Alright that’s good, but now I’m going to need a little explanation of what happened, starting with that odd ornament centered in your chest.”

I sigh and recount my story from the beginning leaving out a few bits that were my own private business. By the end of it Twilight, who had pulled out a quill and a book to record my information, had dropped said book and was frantically running all over the place in an absolute panic. She was grabbing hundreds of books flipping through pages.

“SECRET ROOM IN THE LIBRARAY… NECROMANCY, AN EXTINCT MAGIC… THE PRINCESS NEVER SAID ANYTHING IN HER… SPIKE I NEED ANOTHER HISTORY… THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BOOK ABOUT AN ENCHANTED EVIL BROACH.”

Around and around she ran, watching her just made me tired. Huh, now that I considered it I feel like I should be more tired, but I feel fantastic even better than that despite being thrown across a room, stabbed, and hit with a train. Stranger and stranger this has gotten.

Twilight apparently exhausting all her resources had slumped in the middle of the floor. She looked absolutely adorable I couldn’t help but smile at her. She looked up at me smiling at her and she blushed slightly and averted her eyes.

“WHY ARE YOU SMILING LIKE THAT AT ME THIS IS A DIRE STATE OF EMERGENCY WE NEED TO GO TO CANTERLOT NOW.” She yelled frustration getting the better of her.

“Maybe it’s because he wants you to be his special some pony,” said a very bubbly looking pink pony. She was on the bed next to me. How she was suddenly in bed with me without me noticing I couldn’t say but she was there. She caught me by surprise and I then proceeded to tactically fall from the bed in tussle of covers and legs.

“Tee Hee” Pinkie Pie giggled as she leaned her head over the edge looking down at me, “Wakey wakey lazy bones.”

“PINKIE PIE HOW…WHA... oh never mind, did you go and round up everybody like I said to do.

“Absolutely positively,” she said bouncing up and down her smile plastered across her face. “Everypony is down stairs waiting on you, I even brought cup cakes see.” She then proceeded to pull cupcakes out of her saddle bags. “Here you go Mr. Clumsy,” she then set one on my forehead as I lay on the floor.

“Thank you,” I said and I smiled as I floated the cupcake to my mouth. It was quickly teleported away from me by Twilight.

“He’s recovering Pinkie the last thing he needs is Sugar,” she tossed the small pastry back to Pinkie. “Now come on lets go down stairs so DM can catch everypony up on what’s happened. As she walked towards the door I got up and began walking to it myself. Pinkie slipped me back my pastry and I stuffed it into my mouth winking at pinkie causing her to giggle again.

Down Stairs, Fluttershy was seated between an arguing Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were concerned at who could win a race of climbing a tree.

“Well I reckon since I been ‘round trees all my life I know them better I’m the better climber.” Applejack said.

“So what,” Rainbow Dash said rolling her eyes, “I’m literally built to get off the ground so even without my wings I’d still smoke you.”

“Nuh uh”

“Yeaaahhhh”

“NUH UH”

“YEAHHH”

“Girls please,” Twilight interjected, “We have a serious problem on our hoofs,”

“What is it Darling,” Rarity said just now arriving, “Sorry for my tardiness but I had to freshen myself up.”

All eyes were now on me and Twilight. The rest of them proceeded to crowd up around me and her.

“Equestria is now under attack from an ancient evil,” she began and then she retold my tale to the rest of the girls. By the end of it only Twilight and I were standing still as the rest of the girls proceeded to go full panic mode ranging from Rainbow flying around mimicking what she’d had done in my position, to Pinkie bouncing up and down , and Fluttershy who began to panic in a corner. So I stepped forward.

“Listen girls…girls…sigh…LADIES MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.” I shouted the last bit and everybody literally stopped and looked at me shocked. “Look we don’t have a lot of time and Luna has requested that you six and I head to Canterlot. This is an urgent matter and we need to handle it”

The girls began to stare even after I stopped talking.

“What, did I say something off?” I asked looking around even Twilight was still staring mouth aghast.

“Darling I do believe you need to see this,” Rarity handed me a mirror I hovered it up and looked in and staring back at me was a green stallion with a stark white mane. My eyes widened and a cold dull pain echoed in my chest.

“Uh, never mind that go and ready yourselves girls and meet back here,” Twilight stepped forward saying, due to the fact that I was still speechless. The rest of the group dispersed and I handed Rarity back her mirror as she left.

“DM,” Twilight put a soothing hoof on my shoulder, “The princesses will know what to do,” she gave me a reassuring smile and turned to get herself ready. I watched her walk up the stairs and then I walked out of the library and proceeded to walk home.

The day was beautiful, but my mood was dismal. I had given so much in my life why did I need to sacrifice more. Because I can’t keep my head of where it doesn’t belong that’s why. I eventually walked through the front door of my store and went to the back to collect what I needed. A few spell books, some rations, and… no should I bring them. I’ll need them a part of my brain reminded me, such tools of war. I shoved them into the deepest part of my bags. Fine, Catharax wanted to take Equestria he’d have to do it over my dead body. Power surged into me with my anger I grabbed my bags, and headed out the door. I looked back one last time smiled and sprinted back to Twilights.

The rest of the group arrived shortly after me. Each carrying a few bags themselves Rarity a few more then the rest of us. You know, just in case she had to meet with every official delegate from every nation and needed to change for each one.

“You have to stay here Spike,” Twilight was explaining to her whimpering assistant as he clung to her leg.

“But what if you need me, I can help, take me with you,” He pleaded.

“No Spike I need you to stay here just in case,” She began

“Not fair I never get to go and do any of the cool missions,” He sulked

“Hey Spike,” I called back to him as we left for the train station. I tossed him a DND book. “Study up and I’ll come back and we can have a real adventure.” He looked at the front cover skeptically but as soon as he opened it and his eyes grew wide I knew he was hooked.

As we arrived at the station Twilight asked me about the book I had given to Spike.

I chuckled, “It’s about dragons who become great knights and wizards. It’s a role playing game.”

“Oh ok so is that what you have at your game shop in town?” she asked

“Yeah, I find it relaxing takes the edge off from real life,” I smiled at her the same way I had this morning. She blushed again and turned away as we began boarding. Little did I know a pair of eyes had been following me all morning from the time I had settled in at Twilights up to the moment I boarded the train. A small skeletal creature the size of a rodent was whose eyes were on me. It clung to the shadows watching with tiny red orbs filled with malice.

Not that anyone noticed, but as we boarded this small skeletal creature hopped aboard as well, ensuring that this train ride would be one that no one aboard would forget for a long time.