Chapter 13: Staying Alive.

***Morgan pov.***

It has been five days. “Ugh, can I take it off yet!? It itches!” I whined to Starranger for the thousandth time as I began scratching at the magic dampener on my horn again.

“I’d be more then happy to get these things off. But until somepony unlocks them from our horns we can’t, if we tried it be like pulling our own horns off our heads,” Starranger explained as she was trying to make lock picking tools out of some of the cutlery with Hel’s help.

“Fine… but can I at least drop my disguise so I can scratch my horn? It's near impossible with these fuzzy hooves of yours…” I told her while holding up my hoof, which was currently a miniature version of hers.

“Can you even change back with that thing on your horn?” Starranger asked looking at me.

“Yes? Didn't I say so earlier?” I asked, tilting my head. At least I think I can? Won’t know until I try.

“Not really you’ve just be complaining for five days.” Hel replied as she looked at her own shackles. “I’m worried about Lily and the others. I hope they’re okay.”

“So can I?” I asked, too bothered by this itch to think of the others, though if I did I would probably be worried too. That when they heard what sounded like glass shatter or a pot being thrown at a wall… or maybe both? Was there a mirror nearby?

“Sounds like Bain in one of his moods.” Starranger grumbled as she hide the tools. I could even hear him screaming from here, that was kind of impressive seeing as we were twelve rooms down from  him... “Don’t worry he’ll just rage until he tired himself out.”

The Fat rat stormed into the main room surrounded by the “cages” that held everyone he had trapped here. The only thing separating him from us was the golden bars. Did help he was pulling at his fur and screaming.

“How did he kill a Vasten!? Why didn’t we find out he had magic before!?” He raged, as another rat walked in after him. He looked younger and both fearful and worried.

“Because you're stupid.” I muttered under my breath, feeling a bit malicious from the combination of the itch and the only feelings I had been able to siphon off of mom lately being a bit sour tasting.

A jug smashes at our bars, when I look up the fat rat eyes were full of rage and wrath. The way he was walking up to the cage made me a little afraid. Until someone spoke out.

“Farther calm down! I’m sure we can deal with this, just please calm down.” Asked the younger rat.

“Yeah, listen to him, it's not like you embarrassed yourself or anything.” I said without thinking. I then felt a hand around my throat as my face was pulled to the bars. I was face to face with him and his putrid breath, Bain bared his teeth as he let out a hiss.

“Be quiet before I snap your neck like a twig.” He snarled, and just for a moment I saw a flash of green in his eyes.

“Oh? And why should I?” I said, slowly making my tone into that of a whining filly’s, curious what that flash was.

He then smiled as he looked to Starranger and Hel. “I’m sure the guards could use some entertainment. Unless you have something else to say?” He snapped back as Starranger glared at him.

“Touch them and Talion will be the least of your worries.” I said, my eyes becoming slits and my voice as cold as ice. He then slammed my face into the bars before letting me go.

“Teach your pup some manners Star… Or I’ll sell her off to the slave markets.” Sneered Bain as his son hurried over.

“Farther we have a meeting, we can worry about that Von later.” He said pushing the older rat away.

“What von? You mean Talion? Why did you even come down here? Were you hoping to interrogate us about him?” I said in a mocking tone, this guy was pissing me off, i'm not a pup and i'm not letting his threat towards mom or the pretty mouselady slide.

Starranger shot me a look at screamed shut up. But it was to late as Bain stopped and looked back at me. “You know who he is?” Bain asked as a smug tone entered his voice, something was wrong as his Son and Star looked alarmed.

“Yeah! And he’s going to kick your butt and save us!” I said, an evil smirk on my face. “That is, if I don't get pissed off enough first…” I added in a dangerous tone after a short pause.

“Well I know what to add to our next game. Vill… Tell the guard to set up the water tank. Tomorrow game is going to have a time limit.” Bain said as he started to walk out.

“A water tank? Seriously? That's lame, you trying to make yourself look even stupider?” I said, deciding to have a little fun… and hopefully not get talion killed… Sorry mr punching bag.

Vill watched as his father left and looked back at me. “You don’t understand… The water tank is where someone chained to the bottom as water is slowly filled into it.” He explained.

“Well, tell your father that he’s going to make himself look stupid if he does, i mean, wouldn't the populous think ‘oh hey, he must be awfully afraid of that von who only killed a giant rat even though he claims to have destroyed a tower and brought back the sky~ I wonder if he was lying~’.” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Not when he’s done it before.” Vill said as he left. “If I were you, I’d stop provoking him, or he may just have you drawn and quartered for fun…” The rat didn’t look at all happy about that part as he left.

“Pft, well he would get more rep if he fought Talion, or say chased him into the tower? I mean, it's not like…” I said before Starranger slapped me up the back of the head.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US KILLED!” She screamed at me. “It bad enough I’m stuck here again, the last thing I need is your big mouth getting my flank in the bone fire!”

“But… But… I'm itchy, he pissed me off, and i'm HUNGRY~!” I whined, tears welling up in my eyes.

“...It your own fault for not letting the servants clean you…” She deappand at me. “And I know you’re hungry, but once i have the tools ready I’ll try and get that thing off your horn okay?”

“But I can take it off already if you would let me…” I pouted.

“And risk getting your horn broken or brain damage? You know what go ahead and get yourself killed, it’ll give me time to get out of here.” Starranger replied annoyed.

“Star! She just a child you can’t wish for things like that.” Said Hel.

“Fine!” I yelled, to annoyed to think strait. A moment later my horn is consumed in green flame and vanishes, the itchy ring falling to the ground. “Hmph!” I then turn my back to Star and begin to sulk as I flop onto my belly inside my tiny personal cage.

Starranger face hoofed. “If you could do that from the start why-you know what I don’t care. Hel help me with the tools and pick this lock.” Starranger said as she walked to the other side of the cage.

After half the day and a servant with some guards walks over and opens the door to there cell. “Keep Lord Bain wishes to see the young one.” asked the earth pony with a collar round his neck. The two guards made it a point that they were not asking.

I suspected they were talking about me but I had no intention of listening as I continued to sulk, rolling around the magic ring that had been on my currently non existent horn earlier with a small fuzzy hoof.

“Wait didn’t this thing have a horn?” Asked one of the guards. As they both walked in.

“Who cares, would you like to be Bain’s plaything tonight in her place?” Asked the other guard as they walked up to me. Starranger quickly ran over to get in there way, but one pinned her to the bars with his spear as the other one went up to me.

I continued to ignore them as the ring rolled out of my small personal cage… I would tell them off for hurting star… ‘but she hasn't apologized for telling me to go kill myself yet.’ I thought with a sniffle. That's when I felt pain as i was grabbed by my mane as the guard dragged me out, Hel tried to stop him but he just pushed her out of the way.

“Come on the sooner this is done the sooner I can go home.” Complained the guard dragging me, as the other one left the cage and locked the door. I don’t know how long I was dragged around or how long I was yelling them to let me go, or at least not hold me by my mane… when I was then thrown into a room and heard the doors lock.

I rubbed my head before getting back up on my hooves, before noticing the almost pitch black room from the lack of light. There was also this strong smell of copper in the air. As I started to walk around to try and find away out I stepped in something wet. “Eww…” I looked down and saw something… Red?

I looked at the floor and followed the trail of red, it wasn’t blood. It can’t be blood right? I thought as I followed it to a mare setting in a chair. I looked on in horror as I saw the mare had her eyes missing with nothing but red eye sockets. Blood ran down were her eyes used to be, as I soon noticed she also had her hooves removed leaving bloody stumps behind. Also there were odd jagged marks in the body.

“Welcome to my play room.” I heard Bain say from out of nowhere. I jumped as I looked around only to see noone. As I looked around some more I saw more dead ponies all around the room. At one point I then heard the rattle from a rattlesnake, but it sounded louder… too loud...

“I’m so, Ssssssorry about before. But one must keep up appearances.” He hissed as I heard something skittle along the floor, his voice slowly changing as he spoke. “And I’ve had a long time to… Practisesssss. I've almost forgotten what I used to look like.”

“Tell me, where did you come from?” The voice asked as a Von body fell from the ceiling. I looked up and saw, something. It body was twisted, it had a long scorpion like tail and it eyes were red and green, as well as it hand multi jointed legs... and looked... wrong. “Sorry about that… I tend to, break my toysssssss.” He gave off a mad grin before tilting his head to one side, and kept going until he’s neck gave off an unsettling crack as he looked down at me with his red and green eyes.

I blanched as I looked at his display, couldn't he have at least made less of a mess while doing whatever it was he was doing? “What do you want?” I demanded once I got by pseudo stomach calmed down enough not to puke slime in disgust.

“Oh… just a little thing. I want a hive…” He replied as he dropped to the floor like a rag doll. Before his body gave off more unsettling cracks as he stands back up, before his head twisted right side up. “And seeing you here, meansssssss there must be a Queen.”

“I don't know what your talking about…” I said, tilting my head to the side… though I felt a definite chill go down my spine as I tried to figure out what those strangely familiar sounding words meant.

“You must know, I haven’t seen another changeling in yearsssssssssss.” He hissed as his damaged looking wings buzzed. Then his tail gave off that rattle I head before.

“I-I don't know what your talking about…” I stuttered, sweat now dripping down my coat as I slowly tried backing away, the words he said earlier now making sense as pieces of memories that weren't mine flashed through my mind… Causing me to know EXACTLY what he was after.

“You could not have come here alone, another changeling or a Queen must of brought you here… But where is your hive?” He asked, as his voice got lower and his tail snapped in place as if ready to strike.

“Mommy!” I screamed as I bolted for the door, slamming my furry hooves against it as soon as I reached it to try and escape.

“Oh look at you, you're doing really will acting the part.” He hissed as he slowly walked over to me, dragging his hooves along the floor. “They all scream for their mommy, there daddy. There loved ones and it make me laugh!” He laughed as his tail impaled the dead Von from before.

I ignored him as i continued screaming for help, not wanting this ugly… THING to lay his hands on me. “Star, Tallion, ANYBODY! I'm sorry please just save Meeeeee!” Just then there was a knock at the door.

The crazy changeling looked confused, he then pulled his tail free of the dead body before turning into Bain Bloodworm, straightening his robes before walking up to the door and pushing me out of the way. “Yes?” He answered.

“Keep Lord, there's a matter one of the nobles wishes to speak to you about.” Said the guard, as he looked down at me as I backed away in fear.

“Just as I was in the middle of something.” Bain growled. “Fine, put this back with the others.” Without a word he picked me up and shoved me into the guard's arms before walking off. I didn’t move as the guard carried me back to Star and Hel. Once i was back in the cage with them Star hugged me.

“I’m so sorry, are you alright what did Bain do to you?” She asked in a panic.

“Are you hurt?” Asked Hel as she looked me over. It was just then that I knew what those odd marks in the dead bodies were.

“I need an adult…” I whimpered after curling into a ball, trying to forget what fate awaited me if Talion didn't manage to save us soon...

***Talion pov. ***

It been six days, two of them was spent healing. Once they were sure I was in good health they sent me to train for two days before getting me ready for my fights. The first day was there way to break up the weaker fighters from the stronger ones.

The fact I kept surprising the masses, and at one point I thought I saw Buggey in the crowd. I did manage to get my gauntlets back. Lucky for me no one knew about the hidden blades inside of them.

Now here come the big game. “Welcome everyone!” I heard the keep lord yell as I was getting ready. “Today will be special, for today we have a Nightwalker in the arena!” I could hear the boo’s and other shouting. Sounded like some of them wanted me dead right now.

“But sadly it wouldn’t be far for him to fight alone?” I looked back at the guards as they glared at me, before leading me to the arena. “So he will be fighting with the scum of our city! And let justice be done!” Once outside it looked packed I kept walking with my swords by my side, I’d feel better if they gave me more weapons. I was lead to my… Team.

A horse not a pony was standing there looking as grim as ever. A Diamond dog with a eye patch, my guess going by his outfit he was a pirate. And lastly was the griffon who now had both his wings missing. There was also a group of Von, who had glowing yellow eyes.

“Nightwalkers?” I asked them as they all glared back at me. Oh yeah you could feel the love in this place… I looked back at the shackle on my ankle, lucky for me I’ve been working on trying to get this thing off. But I’d need the time to do it and in a place no one was looking. Time to sent my plan into the works, in the middle of the Keeplord speech I walked out of the group.

Yeah I know, not that big a deal but it quickly get everyone attached, including the Keep Lord. Once everyone quiets down I waited. “Are you going to beg for your life?” Asked the Keep Lord, I just smiled. Here go nothing.

“I’m sorry your lard ship, I couldn’t hear you over all that hot air you’re blowing!” I shouted back, this got a gaps from the spectators. “I was also board, I was expecting something more. Like let say… That!” I yeleld pointing at the tower.

“I mean from what I’ve heard of you, you brought the sky back and stopped the storms right? So… What's stopping you from going in there?” I asked, the crowd didn’t seem to like what I was implying. As expected they yelled. I could hear some swears thrown in there to, but I pay them no mind as I stared at the Keep Lord.

He almost looked ready to pop until he raised his hand. “The tower is used for the most heinous of criminals, but if you want to go to your death so readily… THEN YOU WILL!” He yelled as the crowd cheered.

“I have one request, if I make it back out of the tower. I, Hel, Morgan and Starranger go free along with the rest of my friends.” I watched as he thought this over. I then looked back at the ones who were meant to be on my team look ready to kill me.

“Agreed, although I don’t think your friends will let you live long enough to fulfil our agreement.” Bain replied with a smug smile. That told me a lot, he assumes these guys I was grouped up with today are my friends. That means the others are okay. I turned back and started walking, as i walked through the mixed group they all gave me murderous looks. Well, I’ve really done it now. Good thing I ate and drank a lot before coming out here.

I didn’t have to wait long as the guards came out and started to huard us to the tower, I just walked on ahead without them. The crowd yelled, screamed and shouted but I mostly blocked them out, but one or two insults just sounded to silly to me. As I waited for the doors to the tower to open.

I then  heard a yell behind me, I acted without thinking as I drawn my sword and pointed it at the Nightwalker that was about to attack me. He looked terrified, my blade was resting on his neck as i stared at him. “Calm down, we’ll be fine.” I said as the Nightwalker back away from me slowly. I let out a sigh as the doors open, I looked back as the Keep Lord raised his hand to say something. But I bet him to it.

“Valhalla!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. As I ran through the doors I swear I saw Mag in the crowd looking on. I then heard the other’s yell Valhalla as well, they may not know what it means but I felt it gave them some courage to enter this place. Let the fun began.

After my show I kept walking through the long hall, I was expecting to walk into a trap room or something. Maybe this place was like that last tower with the endless hallway.

“We’re all going to die!” I deadpanned at this and sighed as I looked back at the group I was with. The large horse in our group looked ready to wet himself, but that scream came from one of the Nightwalkers. I didn’t pay them any mind as I looked for a way forward.

“Why are you so calm?” Asked the Diamond dog. I raised my brow as I looked back at them, I was expecting them to ask this sooner.

“I’ve been in these towers before with my friends.” I replied as I walked on, it took them a moment before they started to follow me.

“And?” Asked the Horse. I rolled my eyes, I doubted they believe me but what the hell.

“We took down two of the towers, this will be number three and then everyone can leave this island.” I answered, I then heard a collision of weapons drop to the floor. I looked back to see they were all staring at me, in shock? “What?”

“You and your friends brought down one of the towers!?” Yelled one of the rats. The guy looked like he belonged at a blacksmith shop or something.

“No way! you’re lying!” Shouted another. It didn’t take them long to start arguing so I just turned around and kept walking. They’ll catch up when they’re ready.

“That impossible, no one could do that.” said one who looked like someone who worked in a library. I then found the end of the hall, big doors… yeah this screams trap, or whatever is inside is the trap.

“I never believed Lord Bain did all those things, but for someone to take down one of the towers that were here long before we were...” Said one as I looked up and down the door. I heard someone pick up their weapon as I put my hands on the doors.

“I say we kill him and take his body back to Bain, maybe he’ll let the rest of us go?” After hearing that I pushed the doors open. To my surprise there was a lot of skeletons.

“Hey guys, you should stop your plan to kill me until you see this.” I call back, I guess they picked up their weapons as they all ran over to see what I had found. It was a big room that hand skeletons in it,and not only that it was also full of snakes...

“What do we do now?!” Screamed one of the rats. I sighed and slapped him up side the head to shut him up. “What was that for?”

“For one, yelling in my ear is not going to help. And Two, I think we can eat some of these.” I point out. They all stared at me as I rolled my eyes, my guess these guys lived all of their lives in the city. “Buggey was the one who showed me this whiled I and my friends were in the forest… Jungle… Whatever the hell that place is.”

I took a few steps and looked around, I tried to remember what Buggey told me as I looked at the snakes. So far I didn’t see any poisonous ones but they could be under all these other snakes for all I know. But then again, snakes of different kinds usually don’t get along.

“You’re not going to go in there are you?” Asked the diamond dog. I looked back at the others and smiled at them.

“Can’t go back now.” I said as I carefully stepped into the mass of moving snakes. Careful not to step on one. “This feels so weird…” I say out loud as I kept walking, you have no idea what it feel like to have snakes moving all over your lower half as you try and walk through them.

“Come on in the water fine!” I call back to them, they all didn’t look happy about this as one by one they followed. I guess this room was more about facing your fears then being deadly, I thought as I saw a small tide of snakes move. I stopped and stared at that area for a moment before I counted to walk.

“Something wrong?” Asked the horse as he had trouble walking through this place. It was hard enough with just two legs let long four.

“Nothing just… Keep moving.” I replied trying not to panic myself, as I think what else could make a large number of snakes move like that. But the only thing I could think of was an even bigger snake. Until I know more there was no need to panic the others. I then saw a staircase going up, yes our way out!

“I can’t take it!” I heard as I looked back. One of the nightwalkers was climbing a pillar. That iedit, the most likely place a poisonous snake would be would be some where out of place. Where it could be alone. “I’m staying right here!”

“Get down from there! The way out is right here but we need to go now!” I yelled, as I felt another shift of snakes. There was something else in here with us!

“No way! I’m sick of this, I’m staying here until-!” That was the last thing he said before a snake strikes out of one of the holes in the pillar and bit him in the face. He screamed as he fell, but not before a large snake head came out of the sea of snakes and swallowed him whole.

“Oh god…” I said as I stared at the huge snake I was seeing. It just sat there for a moment as if savoring the rat’s taste before slowly lowering it head back under the mass of snakes. I was too scared to move at this point, but I slowly looked back at the others who looked to be in varying stages of shock.

“Okay… Let all slowly, and carefully, one by one go up these stairs.” I say as I slowly move back to the stairs. I made it to them before looking back, the others seemed to get the idea as they followed. But the damned horse was trying to climb up on a statue!

“Get down from there! You remember what happened to the other guy!?” I yelled as I hurried to get up the stripes and out of the snakes. I looked back and drawed my swords as I looked for the huge Boa.

I then saw a shift in the mass of snakes again. “Dog stop! Don’t move!” I shout as he stopped where he is. The diamond dog looked back as it looked like he knew what was coming. I held my breath as everyone else stopped to look back. I saw the mass of snakes slowly bulge near the diamond dog, but the bulge moved past him. I then saw the horse was climbing higher, wait don’t tell me.

“Get down from there, it can’t see you in all the other snakes!” I shouted, but the stupid horse wouldn’t listen. I then saw the Boa head poke out of the mass of snakes looking up. That when another snake attacked from it spot on top of the statue. I looked away as I heard a yell of pain, then a chomp. I looked back to see half the horse was in the Boa mouth. It slowly started to chew him into it mouth. ‘Is that even the right term?’ I asked myself as I waved for the others to hurry.

It didn’t take them long to hurry, and run up the stairs. I look back just in time as the Boa looked at me… Oh, I was the last one up. Okay, I slowly one step at a time walk up it, keeping my eyes on the huge Boa as it stared at me. It almost looked like it was questioning if it should attack me. I then stopped for a moment… The poisons snakes have been hiding in high places so far, that means… I gulped as I looked down at my feet. My foot was close to a hole, a hole big enough for a snake to hide in.

I heard a hiss by my foot as a brightly colored snaked slivered out. Grate, I was going to die again. I looked back to find the Boa was gone. Where did it go?! I looked around slowly and then back down at my new and deadly friend. The deadly snake looked as if it was trying to decide if it should leave it hole or not, or to bite me.

“What are you doing, hurry up and let go!” Said one of the rats. Yeah sure, I’ll hurry as soon as this thing leaves me alone. I looked back at the snake as it go over my foot! I then looked off to my right and saw a bulge of snakes slowly moving towards me.

“Not good, not good, not good!” I quietly curse to myself. I looked back down at the snake by my foot as it flitted it tongue out and looked around. For the love of god hurry up and get off my foot! I looked back to see the Boa slowly coming out.

I was screwed, I was so screwed! This is not far only to be eaten by a huge snake!? I know the irony is there but this isn’t funny! The Boa slowly lifts it head out as I looked back down at the other snake as it moved over my foot. Good news was it was leaving me alone, bad news was it was taking it sweet TIME!

I looked back up and came face to face with the huge Boa, I gulped as it flitted it tongue out at me. I am so dead… This is it I’m going to die. I just closed my eyes as I get ready for the end. Only for nothing to happen, I slowly open my eyes and saw it had left me alone? I looked down to see the other snake was gone now… I slowly turned around and ran up the stairs like my tail was on fire!

I gasped for breath as I met up with the others. They looked just as surprised to see I was alive. I guess I should have expected them to leave me for dead. I put the swords away and lean on the wall. “Please let there be no more snakes in the next room.” I asked, as they were all staring at me.

“How are you not dead?” Asked the griffon. I blinked at this as I looked at him, giving him the biggest of no fucks I could give. I sat down and pulled a small bit of metal out of my gentles as I worked on getting this shackle off my leg.

A small translucent feather floated down in front of my face as it dispersed into particles of light. I blinked confused before turning to the others. “Did you just see that?” I asked, as some gave me confused looks.

“See… What?” Panted one of the Nightwalkers. The guy looked as if he never ran in his life. I shook it off as I went back to work.

“So where do we go now?” Asked someone else. I then saw the way the griffon was looking up? What could he be looking at? I thought as I finally got the shackle off.

“Maybe we go up?” Said the griffon. Getting a laugh from the others, I would have joined them if i didn’t look up myself. Holy hell… That a long way up.

“His right…” I said and everyone followed our gaze up before gaping. “How in the hell do we get up there?” I asked myself as I sat there. I then felt something moving around under my shirt, I reached up under it and pulled out a fat green snake. I looked at it, then smiled at the others, as I saw two other rats pull a snake out as well.

“Anyone hungry?” I asked, after saying that everyone started laughing. With what we could find we made a small fire and killed the snakes. There wasn’t much to go around, but we all had something to eat. One of the more desperate ones even cooked and ate the skins. As this was going on, I just kept looking up and trying to see away up there.

“So… Any idea how we can get up there?” Asked the diamond dog. He looked a little worried as I stared up. “I mean you’ve done this before right?”

“This tower is different from the others. In fact each one was different, I just had a thought.” I replied as the Dog looked eager to find out. “What if we’re meant to climb up?”

“Huh?” Asked the dog as I looked at him.

“Think about no doors and only one way to go, they ever want us to go up. Or there a secret door somewhere.” I explained as I chewed a bit of cooked fat from my piece of snake. Whoever made these things didn’t want it to be easy to get to. After swallowing the fat, as grows as that was. I started looking around.

So yeah we started climbing, it took us two hours to reach the top. And once up there no one was happy. The room we was in looked completely sealed off. “Well that was pointless…” Said one of the rats as he looked back down the way we came in. I was about to say something until he jumped down it…

“Did he just… Kill himself?” I asked a little shocked at this. My god we put all that work into getting up here and he just gives up like that? That when I heard the splat… Well not splat, but for now it was the only word I could think of after I heard the sound of the rat impact with the staircase.

“Yes he did…” Said the griffon who was already looking around. Well I didn’t want to go out like that so I get up and start looking to. So far we found nothing until I looked at the floor, it looked like someone had drawn a line in the stone. So I started to follow it around the large room.

“This is hopeless.” Complained one of the rats, as I kept following this line. Now where was it leading me I wonder?

“Shut up and keep looking.” Snapped another as I was now looking at a stone breck with a drawing on it. I sat down and stared at it, trying to work out if this was a trap or not. The drawing was of a snake.

“Hmmm, hey guys you seen this stuff on the floor?” I asked. They all stop what they’re doing and look at the floor. Once we cleared all the dust away, we all started looking at the drawings on the floor. “Any ideas what it means?”

“Aren’t you like a expert or something?” Asked the Griffon, but I rolled my eyes at him. Yeah sure, I’m an expert like discord the tooth fairy.

“So we have a drawing of a snake, some kind of bird and what looks like a fish… Why do I feel like I’ve seen these before?” I asked myself rubbing my head. After cleaning up the floor we also cleaned off the walls, well wall. Seeing as it all one thing in this big dome like room. Weird, were there holes up there before?

“Who cares let's just push one and see what happens.” Said the diamond dog. By the time I yell at him to stop he had already pushed it. Then the silean slowly started coming down on us, I glared at the diamond dog as he looked sheepish.

“You fool it this one!” Yelled one of the rats, then after he pushed one of the other drawings spikes came out of the silean. I just stared at them in disbelief, as I looked to the last drawing.

“Don’t even think about-” Too late, the last one was pushed and the only way out was now closed off. “-it… Well I hope you’re all happy. We’re going to die.” I told them as I just sat there and think about the morons I was stuck with as they run around like headless chickens.

I then looked at my hand as I thought about my magic. Lot of power and no control… Yeah that's not going to go over well. I’d most likely end up getting myself killed. Why have the last tower be a death trap with no way out? I tap my knee as I sat crossed legged as my tail moved with my tapping finger.

“Why are you just setting there?! Help us find away out of this!” Yelled the griffon as he and some of the others were trying to hold the silean up to stop it from slowly killing us. I know what you’re thinking, and yes what I’m doing is kind of crazy. I look up as the spikes slowly coming down from overhead… Fuck it.

I throw my hands up and yelled. “Fulgur!” A lot of pain and a flash of light later, I grit my teeth in pain as I tried to see again. Well good news was the silean was gone, also there was a staircase going up. I then saw the others slowly dug themselves free from the ruble.

“What was that!?” Yelled the dog as he looked a little wobbly. I didn’t reply as I was catching my breath. “Look away out!” I heard he yell and started heading for the stairs. Once I was rested I followed them up, still felt kinda bad for that Nightwalker who killed himself.

Once I reach the top I saw everyone staring at the, as I like to call it, the master control room. Same magic crystal in the middle of the room. Same clockwork parts moving around, same arcing magic of lightning around the crystal. Yeap, this was the place.

“Hey what's this?” Asked the Griffon. I went over to him to see what he was talking about. It looked like writing on the wall, I could not make out any of it, but some of it looked like it used english words… Well the letters anyway. I did catch two words I could read, the rest were to badly eroded.

Tempestas and Torque? I had no idea what those words mean. But I did have another question as I head the others talk. Where did that feather come from? “So what do we do?” Asked one of the rat’s.

“Well we take the crystal and leave…” I answered, but I left out the last part about the whole place will start falling on us once we do that. Now how to get it… Before I can finish my thoughts the diamond dog went up to take the crystal. I could not even say one word to warn him, before his electrocuted by the crystals magic. Going by the smell, his dead.

“Why didn’t you tell us it was trapped!?” Yelled one of the Night walkers. I just shoot them dirty look, which seemed to make them back off. I then looked to the one who had a spear… Then I had an idea.

“Gimme me your spear.” I demanded as the rat blinked at me. He slowly handed it over as I get a good grip on it. “Get ready to catch this.” I said as I get ready to swing this spear.

“Is this safe?” Asked one of the others, most likely not but I don’t care. I needed that crystal for my plan to work. And as a bargaining chip to free my friends. I took one swing at the crystal, yeah not a good idea...

Hitting a highly magical crystal not the best of plans. It sent me flying into a wall, good news is the crystal out of that thing. Bad news was I know what was coming next. I quickly get up and go to grab the crystal. “Everyone get ready this place is coming down!” I yelled picking up the crystal. I could feel the stone under my feet start to rumble, this was not good.

“What did you do!?” Screamed one of the Nightwalkers as he ran up to me. I just grabbed him by the scruff and pulled him along to one of the windows. I then looked outside, I now knew just how large this city was.

“Start climbing!” I yell at them as stone bricks started to fall. I was getting this horrible feeling of dachau again. I just wish I could put this crystal somewhere, then had a thought. Nightmare Moon was hiding her helmet, I held up the crystal up to my eye and asked. “Think you can hide this for me?”

I saw a dark shadow under my cloak, I then put the crystal inside and it was gone. Good, now I can focus on getting out of here alive. I started to climb out the window seeing the others were ahead of me. This was too much like the first tower, I could hear the crowds in the stadium screaming in fear as parts of this tower was falling. Then it started to lean to one side, oh no.

“Hold on to something!” I yelled as I felt the shift in gravity as the tower fell into the stadium. The sound was deafening I honestly thought I was going to die this time around. I winched in pain, yeah felt like I brushed something. I got back onto my feet and started looking for the other nightwalkers who was came out with me. Found about five of them, they were the lucky ones. The rest died ever by the fall or got crushed under the stone bricks. I looked up with a smile as the masses looked on in shock.

“Well look at that, I did what you could not!” I yelled, I saw the fat von in his little set. He looked really pissed but I didn’t care. “Not only that, I got this!” I reached into my clock and smiled as I felt my fingers wrap around the crystal. I then pulled it out for all to see, it only now I notice it the evening “Now keep your word and let me, Hel, Morgan, Starranger and my friends go.”

I just stood there grinning like an idiot. But something felt wrong, there was a high chance that the rat would not keep his word. But Bain did something that surprised me, he laughed, he was laughing?

“Bravo, bravo. Well dune too bad we could not see what happened. As for you winning your freedom, I never said you would.” The keep lord said with a twisted smile. “As for the three females they’re dead.”

“What?” I asked, as all life drained from my face. They’re, dead? No that can’t be true, it a lie. It must be a lie!

“I had them killed before the games, I also never you or your friends would be set free. After all, if you want to go to your death so readily so be it. I will give you the freedom of death!” Bain yelled, I dropped to my knees as I head the gates open. The sky was a mix of bloody red and a shade of orange. I could hear the sounds of armoured boots as a large number of soldiers walked out to meet us.

I could hear the others behind me panic, yelling for mercy. Or that they can’t die here. Me, I was in shock. A whirlwind of emotions swelled inside of me. I grit my teeth as I held the magic filled crystal in my hand. The words I read on the wall kept repeating inside my head. I felt pain that I could not help Starranger, Hel and Morgan. I felt heart break that I could not save them. Then, I felt rage.

I started at it as I could feel the surge of magic with in me. I looked up as clouds started to gather in the sky. “Tour!” I roared into the sky, I had no idea if he could do anything to help me. He may not be able to do anything at all. But I didn’t care, I only knew one thing.

“Let me have the Strength to kill my enemies, and gut that fat pig of a Keep Lord! And I’ll do any task to win this game!” I roared, as I held the crystal into the air. Stop this at once! If you use that crystal to cast what ever spell you have in mind you could die!” I heard Nightmare scream inside my head, but my head was to full of rage to care.

“For Valhalla!” I screamed into the air, as I saw the storm clouds in the sky as they grow larger. “Fulgur Tempestas!” I roared, I heard a thunderclap. As a blinding flash struck, for a moment I felt weightless as the world was spinning. The world was muted around me as I felt strange. I think I was struck by lightning, I then saw the ground slowly or was it moving quickly? Moving to meet me, I hit the ground and then. Everything went black.