Prologue The Last Guardian of Thorh-un-gul
Deep in the Everfree forest
Despair's mind-space
Beware, beware of the eyes in flames
Cloaked in darkness dwells in the shadows of the room
Flee you fool
for when he's ah'coming
Near is your End
Beware, beware of the eyes in flames is coming for you
Run and hide, run and hide
Pray that he never finds you
If he finds you then you surely will die
you surely will die
For no one can save you
When Despair has you
''Ahhhhhhhhh curse the one who made that dammed song'' shots Despair, ''Why that song still stuck in mah head after all these eons.''
The shadow-kin flops back into his ''chair'' his head falling into his draconian claws each sporting five talons cradling the said head
''I can't handle another 50,687,878,743,289,756,431 years trapped as a fucking statue,'' he looks up from his claws glancing at that once mighty capital city now ruins severing as his and his long dead allies tomb, looking to the ''sky'' pleadingly ''If the gods both known and unknown can hear me then mark these words I would do anything to be out anything you hear me I know you assholes can, let me out.’’
No answer was given to the trapped shadow.
''Fucking cunts'' he whispers to himself.
He sighs as his hauntingly hellish fiery red eyes once again glance at the ruin city he once protected ''A shame ain't it , this city was once the greatest city ever-build by monster hands....ahem claws; so mighty; so majestic; so beautiful; the pride of all the monster races; I truly cared from her; now look at what they done to her so ruin; so dead as if you can still herd its denizens cry out in anguish over this once grand city.'' He gives a sad chuckled as his eyes fall to the nearby 9 ft horned skeleton in old now dust torn rags holding a smaller skeleton in a lovers embrace the sealed shadow felt a sad smile appear on his ''face'' his thoughts go back to the day he was dragged into this mess.
Memory Sequence many years ago
''Yo Wind ya think he would bother to help us after all these years'' asked a short human woman in goggles and the stank of gunpowder standing outside of a dimly lit cave.
''Yes I do havoc, he may never forgotten all what Humanity (the human race) and Monsterity (the monster races) done to him, may his heart is now colder ice but I know him very well, Despair will help us faster then anybody else.'' said the 9 ft. tall blue skinned Horned monster known as a Wendigo by the name of Wind steeling himself to enter the shadow-kin's lair.
''But Despair's a monster hunter by trade if ya go in there, he'll kill ya faster than a jackrabbit on the fourth of July!'' said Havoc worried for her monster lover.
''Don't worry love Despair wouldn't harm me........well he would at least hear me out first before going for a kill'' Wind dryly laughs only for Havoc to deadpan saying yeah that make me feel better as if, Wind embraces her whispering ''All shall be fine'' before entering the dimly lit cave.
Hours pass as Wind silently weft through the passages of the lair worry glancing at the severed heads of both monster and human alike hang for the ceiling warning all to turn back. Wind once again steel himself with the knowledge that if he doesn't find Despair all would be lost. Deeper into the gloom he went the path growing damp and unsure leading him to a large camber.
''Dead end???'' Wind asked himself ''I don't remember there being a dead end here.'' he looks around for an path yet not a one comes to light, ''Maybe I took a wrong turn.'' he turns around to go back only to wittiness the old path to fade away into the shadows the wendigo smiles knowingly
''Despair, I know you there I come here seeking your guidance old friend!'' Wind call out.
no answer.
''Please old friend we have need of you!'' beg the winter spirit.
'' Turn back fool for no help ye shall find in this place.'' whisper a disembodied voice in a sad tone.
'' No I shall not go Despair, I seek your aid!'' called Wind.
'' I said go away Wind what need you of all monsters have of a shadow.''
''War is coming.'' said Wind sorrowfully.
'' War??? with whom I ask?''
''Despair the time of hiding is over they know.'' said Wind cryptically.
''I see the council has finally heeded my warnings only but all too late, what it has to do with me.''
''The council has called all monsters to Thorh-un-gul (the monsters capital city) to prepare for the battles to come.'' said Wind.
'' Why need me you know I have no love for both the council and the humans, you know what they done to me why I should bother with their problems.''
''I remember what happen well Despair, but now is not the time to hold grudges we need to get the team back to together.'' said Wind.
'' Is it you who want the oath-keepers to return or is it the council ether way I want no part of the keepers.''
''Both Despair both me and the council need the keepers to return to guard the city once more.'' replay Wind.
'' Eh in the end it matters not if the keepers are there or not I still see no need for me to return.''
Wind huffs '' I see that your years in away from the field has rob you of your wrathful courage what would they say the once great Despair is now nothing but a coward.''
A roar fill the room as Wind felt a blade made of shadow dangerously close to his throat his body binned by a force ''Is that a challenge!!!!'' roared Despair..
''Only if you make it into one Despair'' said Wind '' the choice is yours old friend.''
Despair remove his blade and releases Winds body from his grasp '' Fine you want Despair's wrath in the keepers then you shall have my wrath old friend.''
End Memory Sequence
present time
''Hahaha, he knew along that I would help to protect Thorh-un-gul in the end and here I'm still guarding her even if she in ruins.'' Despair muttering aloud, ‘’I wonder what would happen if I never joined Wind in the mission would the war end on a different note then again if I wasn't there then who would push him out of the way of that strange beam, then he would be stone instead of me so I guesses in a way I saved him from this fate yet only to die in Havoc's arms, its seem ironic that despair saves love.’’
A series of loud crashes sounds echo off the ruin walls followed by painful moaning.
''What the hell was that,'' thought Despair ''Wait moaning???''
A few hours before the crash
Unknown pov
In a different part of the Everfree in a stood a tree-house where Daring do the world famous tomb raider, author, now newly wed was once again fighting her sworn enemy(still in her wedding gown). The dread Ahuizoti of the Southern Jungles, (who wearing a tribe-full head dress with eagle feathered skit) the two nemesis began a wrestling match. Destroying the once furnish bedroom redecorating it into a pigsty quickly, Daring once again pin Ahui down her plot in his lap suggestively.
''Ha I win again come on Ahui you should of learn by now the you will never beat me.'' said Daring smugly
Ahui smiles knowingly ''On the contrarily miss Do you should know after the years of plotting against you, I always have a tick up ma ''sleeve'' his tail snake from his backside its hand-like tip slips under her gown sensitively brushing her plot make it's way to her tan feathered wings
She grasps at Ahui's touch seemly melt father into his broad chest her eyes roll back in pleasure a deep blush on her muzzle ''Oh Ahui'' she purred, ''You know just how to touch me, ohhhhh mama likes'' His smile widens before closing in kissing her deeply, Daring moans into his mouth as her tongue brushes against his long fangs adding a sense of danger to the kiss that makes her want her newly husband even more, sadly Ahui breaks the kiss to soon for her liking to take deep breaths of much need air.
Deep breathing ''Oh sweet mercifully haven'' the blue monkey-like Sphinx swerved, ''Daring baby I swear that your kisses are like the greatest treasure I ever hunted why I didn't married you sooner I don't know.'' his paw out stench to his lover's muzzle who in-return meet it with a nuzzle
''Mm-mm, I don't see why you didn't back then but you were such a fool in those days.'' Daring hums
''No, I would be a fool if I never to work up the nerve to ask you out last year, now here we are married'' he says happily
She pucks his cheek ''You sweet talker you'' she giggles, ''Trying to earn brownie points huh''
Ahui massages his chin in though ''Maybe yes maybe no'' then he nuzzles her, ''Care to find out'' he whispers into her ear suggestively before nipping it
Daring hums in thought her hoof gently brushing his chest fur ''Nope,'' she jumps off of his lap adding a swing to her hips trotting to the side bathroom turning her head back to her husband winking ''Maybe tonight'' entering the bathroom her hoof bucking the door close changing out her gown, starting the bath calling back to Ahui on the other side '' Hay Ahui.''
''Yes Dares.''
''Wanna explore the Everfree herd that there are still many secrets in these woods that even the Princesses don't know'' She says checking the water temp. nodding her head approvely before sipping in
Ahui hums ''Sure why not'' also changing out of his tribe's wedding suite ''What you think is waiting for us in the forest''
Her wing grabbing the soap ''Besides manticores, timber-wolves, Hydras, other Everfree animals no idea that the best part.’’
Ahui chuckles ''You always looked your best when danger is near,'' his back leaning on the door only for it to open causing him to land on his tail yelping ''ouch' with Daring sporting a arousing wet mane and soapy body starring down at Ahui smugly mareishly giggling ''You know if you wanted to join me all you had to do was ask.''
Sometime later
After horsing around Daring and Ahui was deep in the forest taking time to marvel at the woods that all ponies feared, (mines Daring) unlike the those ponies Daring spent most of her life in the wild places of Equuis danced narrowly with death on many of nights; Ahui on the other hoof like her also spent his life in the wilds yet unlike her; he was born into the wilds while she was from Canterlot giving him a greater connection with said wilds. She still remembers the day they first met back then, she was nothing but a lost and frighten philly that was washed on the shores of Ahui's homeland the Great Southern Jungles. As the fates would have it, Ahui was to be the one to find her on the fateful day, a mere brave of the local Sphinx tribe, he dragged her body from the sea to safety saving her life and nurse her back to health sadly back then she was quite the spoiled noble's daughter she put the young Ahui life though Tatarus but over the time she spend with Ahui and his tribe her thirst for adventure (and newly relies love for Ahui) grew. She smiles warmly thinking of the many adventure they had before becoming rivals in the tomb raiding world then as of last year lovers after saving her like he first did all those years ago. She was so deep in thought she didn't notice the hidden hole in the ground till she felt nothing but air under her hooves she gasps ''AHUI.......'' as she plummets down the hole with Ahui calling her name, jumping in after her hitting rocks, trembling against the walls of the long tunnel of the hole soon landing next to his love in piles of ancient bones moaning loudly before everything went black
(play sad music)
Youtube Video
with a groan Daring stirred from her sleep keeping her eyes close as she shivers in the cold ''Ahui close the window will ya''
no respond
''Ahui'' she creak her eyes open only to find to herself surrounded by an cloak of darkness, she grasp struggling to sit up but soon finds that her hoofs are unsteady she frowns. Thanks to her years of adventuring the oddly unstable ground proves to be an small annoyance.
''Where am I?'' she ask herself '' the last thing I remember is walk in the Everfree with.......'' Her eyes widen worry starts to take over ''Ahui'' she whispers. Panic starts to fill her as the full memory runs itself in her mind, her falling into the hole with Ahui jumping after her, tears threaten to spill over with despair and sorrow echoing in her heart. ''Ahui'' she cried in morning 'It's all my fault....why did you jump in after me why why'' she starts to curl up in a ball of emotions and tears, her ears pick up slight rattling as her moves uncovering an overbearing smell that's cruelly attacks her nose she finches at the smell but she knew that specific smell, the stanch of ruins mixed with the smell of ancient dead, she knew it too well after all one must get use to the smell of long dead ponies if they are going to be tomb raiders unfortunately for her, in the state she was in the smell of death made things worse as she cried bitterly with her mind played cruel images of her Ahui falling to his death because of her.
*groan*
''Ahui?'' she said questioningly blinking back tears her tan ears perked up listening for the monkey-like sphinx an another groan echos in the dark fellow by rattling sounds
''Dares!?'' Ahui half shouts/questions, ''Dares where are you! Are you ok''
Half choke by emotion Daring was attempted to run in the darkness following her beloved's voice instead she calls out to him ''I'm over here Ahui and I fine just an bit sworn'' she hears Ahui sighs in relief before asking, ''Can you see?''
''No, it's too dark I cant see pass my own hooves'' she yells back she feels her hoof bump against an grin glace her lips ''I'm going to try find an light''
''you do that, this place is giving me bad juju I don't think that we should be here the air doesn't feel right'' He called in warning feeling the fur on the back of his neck pricking.
''Yeah I'm getting an feeling about this place too Ahui'' Daring muddles as she searches though her bag seeking an magic torch, ''ah here it is! she cried out in triumph before slipping on the unstable ground the cave echos with rattling as the tan pegasus mare slide down a few feet crashing into something hard
''Dares!!'' shouts Ahui as he tried runing after his wife only to slip on something landing on his belly sliding till he crashed into her
''Oh'' moaned Daring in discomfort ''what did we hit?''
''Dares you ok'' asked Ahui struggling to stand back up
''I-I think s- ah'' cried Daring as her wing as Ahui's hand touched it, ''No I am Celestia damn it I think the bone busied''
Even thou she could see Ahui's she could ''feel'' his hurt look she sighs -''I'll be okay after a while''
''..your sure...'' Ahui sensing an need to change the subject ''do you still have the light?
''yeah'' said Daring questioningly some how the torch manger to stay in her hoof the whole 'ride' ,'' let's see what we slipped on''
As soon the magical light burned brightly enough their jaws immediately drop at what they have found, an entire street covered with thousands of thousands of bones semi standing buildings that were heavily borne the signs of the time and aging , they idly wonder what the building would of looked if they were rebuilt, air was heavy with anguish as if the ruins gave off an aura of sorrow
"What..has...happen...here...'' whispered Daring in horror ''I had my share of ancient tombs but I never knew such a tomb as vast as this!''
''Dares I don't like this... the energy of this place....is bad very bad'' whimpered Ahui feeling the countless eyes of the skulls stare into being grab his's tribes' amulet protectively as if it was an ward against earthbound spirits ''We should leave now''
''There no away this place should exist Ahui, there's no records of an civilization in the Everfree'' said Daring thinking aloud an smile gracing her lips her eyes giving off an shine as her stare at the ruins ''Ahui you know what means!?''
''Yes I do we need to leave now before any lingering spirits come for us'' Cried Ahui his eyes wild truly frighten of the ruins' energy
''No It means we just discovered an long lost civilization!'' cried Daring happily ''an single artifact from here could rewrite the history books alone!''
''Daring Do!'' Yells Ahui grabbing the tan mare by the shoulders force her to look at him '' Snap out of it! We need to leave this place and forget we ever saw this place! Daring's eyes went while as stare into Ahui's panicking eyes she was going to tell him to calm down but something else stole her breath away.
Gasping ''Ahui'' she whispered breathlessly and tan hoof shakily rose point at something behind the sphinx ''look''
Ahui eyes wide turning his head slowly he too gasped in shock, for what was behind the two was none other than a statue of a large bipedal creature that was appeared to have been covered in flames, in its right arm was a very wicked looking saber that appeared to made from the same flames that seem to make up the body while in its left arm was an large Draconian claw sporting five long talons of flames, the statue itself worn an cloak made from the same flames covering its head along with most of its body what really stood out was its face only had eyes nothing else no ears an mouth as if it's artist never finished it . The statue appeared to have been cutting down an enemy and by the looks of its body it must have been leading an charge. The statue towered over both him and Daring by an easy six feet as Daring was only three feet tall while Ahui was four the statue seems to be even taller then Celestia herself.
"Dares....'' Ahui said his voice small ''What is that... is this depicting one of the beings livid here?"
''I don't know'' she said while looking at the large statue in awe, never before seeing a creature as this before even though she had traveled all over Equestria and beyond its borders to neighboring nations in search of relics and treasure, this colossal creature was something she has never before seen as her eyes linger on the stoned titan she feel in aura of nobility and power slowly dipping form it's form beating back the sense of sorrow the tomb emanated ''I-..I think it's might be depicting an deity that ponies that live here worship and judging by how large it is and what is holding I'll say that it might of been not only their patron but the deity of fire and war.''
''Perhaps Dares but I still think that we should leave this place'' said Ahui slowly backing away from the statue ''Judging by these bones an great battle took place or sickness if it's the latter then we must take nothing unless we meet the same fate as the ponies who livid here.''
''You have an point Ahui but'' said Daring as she slowly approached the statue her eyes scanning the stone, trying to get an rookie geologist guess about its age, condition, and most importantly fantasying about it being placed in a museum or even the Canterlot Royal Gardens. ''There's just something about this statue........'' her hoof slowly reaches out to touch the stone as soon her hoof touches the stone an presence whispers into her mind
''Help me''
''Ahui did you said that'' thought Daring she looks to Ahui but strangely he wasn't there
''Help me''
''Ahui'' she whispers fear ripping into her being
''I'm not Ahui............free me of this place'' it whisper before disappearing back to where it came
''Dares!!''
''Dares!!
Dares!!
Daring Do!!
To be continued
