Searching for Answers

'Where am I?' That was my first thought as I took in my surroundings. I was in some sort of underground cavern, and it was extremely dark.

"Huh, I guess there is no where to go but forward."

I did not mean that literally, as there were a plethora of differing paths, but I had no idea where any of them lead. I also wasn't going to just stand around doing nothing, so I chose a path and went with it. Said path ended up leading deeper downwards, but if I am indecisive I will never find my way out, so I press on. This place is actually rather nice. It is spacious with the roof almost three feet above my head, and I have always found the dark to be more comforting than frightening.

Things seemed to be fine, until I heard an strange noise. It was very far away, but rapidly getting closer. I continued on my path until I came across an open circular room (for lack of a better word. I was still just a more roomy part of the cave), feeling confident that whatever it was would not get to me. This place is an even worse maze than that forest was, but I was sure to stay focused on the sound just to be safe. To my unpleasant surprise, the noise kept getting louder, and it seemed to be going along the same path I did. So I did the only sensible thing, I stood my ground in the open room. One can only take comfort in darkness by knowing he has nothing to fear from that which lurks in the darkness, and the only reason he should not fear what lies in darkness is if he is the most terrifying thing within its confines. Whatever this is, it is about to learn a painful lesson; I am the thing that goes bump in the night!

Then they came into view. I could barely see them as is, and it didn't help that they seemed to be darkness given form, but I was determined to stand my ground and face my challengers. I was actually slightly disappointed by what I saw. Nightmares, the infernal horses of the abyss (I know my mythology, and it isn't like these things are some obscure creature. They show up in D&D, Heroes of Might&Magic, Magic The Gathering,-you get the idea. If you play fantasy games, you likely know a Nightmare when you see one). Is everything in this damn world equine in nature!?

They came stampeding towards me, but they seemed more like a tidal-wave with a vague equine shape. Already I was forming my plan. There was no way in hell that I could out run them, so I stood my ground waiting for the opportunity to put my scheme into action. The moment they get close enough, I will try to latch onto one of the Nightmares in front. It is a long shot, but likely my only hope of getting out of this alive. They ran at me at incredible speeds, never once slowing down. Even if I manage this, the force will likely break my arm. Yet as they get within arms reach, they vanish. The sheer power of their now nonexistent rush causing the wind to push against me, but not so much as to knock me off balance. I must admit to being confused by the whole situation. It is like they were never there. After looking around for any sign of how or why they disappeared, I found nothing at all and decided I should focus on getting out of here for now, but as I started on my chosen path I heard a voice. It was the voice of a woman, but it felt oddly familiar for some reason. The familiarity wasn't the only odd thing about this either, but the fact that two pale and slender arms wrapped me in a gentle hug from behind.

"A pleasure to meet you 'Sanguis'."

Okay, four thoughts pop to the forefront of my mind:

1. I have never been comfortable with close physical contact, unless I have a knife in hand.

2. How did she sneak up on me? This place's silence is down right oppressive, so I should have heard her approach.

3. How does she know that name? I haven't seen any other humans since I got summoned in that forest.

4. Is she single? She sounds sexy, and the only other creatures I have seen since I got here have been ponies. I am totally cool with dating a sexy ninja!

To be honest, right now I am the very definition of panic on the inside, I would never reveal such weakness to a potential enemy, so I remain still and speak in a perfectly calm manner.

"And to whom, do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"I go by a simple name. I think it suits me well. I am Nightmare."

..... Called it.

"Very well Nightmare, what do you want from me?"

At this, her hug tightened, but not in an uncomfortable or threatening manner. It almost feels desperate, like she thinks I am going to slip out of her grasp and run away.

"This meeting isn't really about what I want from you, but rather about what you need from me."

I raise an eyebrow at this. I had expected her to do the cliched attempt at a deal that would leave her in control of my body and/or soul, but something just felt off. "Care to explain."

"Of course! One, you are asleep. We are currently within the confines of your mind, and I must say I love what you have done with the place! Every time I enter a pony's mind I get the same brightly colored nonsense that is their 'happy place'. This is much better, yet your consciousness was difficult to find."

That explains a lot about my current situation honestly. "So now I know where I am, but where do you enter the picture?"

"Two, one of us just died, and it wasn't me."

"What!?" Okay, THAT really is *not** what I wanted to hear!*

"That's right, you bit the dust, kicked the bucket, are pushing up daisies, a corpse. At least, you would be."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I may have entered your dying body and started manually beating your heart. It should be fine now, but whatever you went through has left you unbelievably fragile, even the slightest shock would be enough to kill you without me."

And there it is! "So let me guess, you want residence in my body in exchange for keeping me alive?"

"Oh, not at all." What?

"You see, I am already in you-" That's what- NO! talking to a demon, don't be immature.

"-and I have no interest in your fragile body-" MOTHERFUCKING SON OF A BITCH-FACED CUNT! Why do I always get the shallow ones?

"-but I do have an interest in you!" Hello! Demon lady wants me, score!

She let go of me and let me turn around, and she was gorgeous! Her pale skin covered in a dress that appeared to be made of smoke that rolled down her body and leaving her head, neck, arms, and upper-back exposed, and appearing to be held up by a clasp in the shape of a crescent moon connecting the strange material to a loop that wraps around the back of her neck (fuck if I know if it has any real purpose). Her hair looked as though is was a miasma that swayed in an invisible wind, and her slit, teal, eyes added a predatory air to her. In all, she looked like the epitome of what a dark sorceress should be. Me Gusta!

"And just why are you interested in me?"

"Believe it or not, this is not the first time one of your kind has entered this world. He worked up quite a fierce reputation as a Demon Lord, but this was so long ago that very few even know he ever existed. But the most powerful beings in this world, the princesses, will definitely remember. I can keep Luna, the younger of the two and ruler of the moon, from entering your dreams only because she does not know of your existence, and we need to keep it that way. I can explain everything after we get you safe, so we need to get into the Everfree Forest. They never go there anymore."

"Wait, why would these princesses find out about me?"

"Celestia, The elder of the two and ruler of the sun, is personally teaching the unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle-"

"This is worse than I could have ever imagined!"

"I would not say it is that-"

"THE GAY VAMPIRE HAS TRICKED THIS WORLD'S LEADER AND AVATAR OF THE SUN INTO TEACHING IT HER WAYS! THAT MUST BE WHY SHE DOES NOT BURN IN SUNLIGHT!"

Nightmare promptly stopped everything (even her hair went still), just looking at me with her mouth still open like she was about to say something before being completely frozen, then she doubled over, and started laughing. She didn't stop laughing either, in fact she fell over and just kept on while laying on the ground.

I think I broke her.