The Catacombs of Zalgo

Chapter 14: Lamenting

“What?! What do you mean I have to stay in my house?!” Spike blurted out in front of Captain Thunder Head. “Is something wrong with Twilight? What about my friends?! Are they alright too?! Please, take me too the-” Spike continued, but was interrupted by Captain Thunder Head raising his hoof.

“Ease yourself. Apparently, your friends are being held captive by some unknown enemy. Furthermore, we’re not allowed to let any pony or any dragon to roam around during a crisis on our hooves. This order came straight from Princess Celestia herself. No citizens are authorized to leave their residence until further notice. Fail to comply, and we will use brutal force if necessary.” Spike wanted to do something, but any sympathetic actions would make things worse. Plus, staying up this late really took his toll. After all, he is a baby dragon. With no other choice, Spike closed his eyes and sighed in depression.

“Fine… you guys win.” Spike mumbled. Captain Thunder Head turned around and started trotting away. Spike was about to shut the door, when the captain turned his head one last time.

“Rest assured, we will find your friends.” He added and continued trotting away. Spike’s melancholy became worse now that he wasn’t allowed to do anything. He felt useless, unable to do a thing about it. However, he didn’t felt entirely useless. Spike knew that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were still sleeping soundly in Twilight’s bed. The best he could do now was to watch over the crusaders. With much anxiety going through his head, Spike couldn’t go to sleep. All he could do now was watch over the three fillies.

Fifteen minutes passed since the group escaped the Soul Devours, and Jack was slowly recovering. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash stayed at his side, while the other three were on the other corner with the mysterious animated skeleton pony. Rarity was a little crept out about the way he looked. Even though he doesn’t look intimidating, but undead creatures weren’t Rarity’s things. What crept her out the most was that the skeleton pony’s hollow eye sockets could actually blink like normal eyelids. It was like cartoon physics, but only in reality. Same thing with his bony ears, as they could bend down and up like a normal pony. After a few silent moments had passed by, the stallion finally spoke.

“I say, I never thought I’d see a pair of golly good mares that would come wandering down this bloody place. Especially that incident two years ago!” He spoke in a standard British accent. He eyed at each ponies sitting next to him.

“However did you come across this dreadful place, my good chapettes?” He asked. Applejack felt safe talking to this friendly stallion, as she answered first.

“Well… we don’t know, ta tell you the truth. We’ve been knocked out, and been captured by sum scary folks.” The stallion closed his hallowed eye sockets and sighed.

“Ahh, so you fellows were prisoners too, I see? Heh, I was captured myself by those bloody mongrels a while back. And I must say, it was the most dreadful evening I ever could experience! *Gasp*! Oh my goodness! I have bad manners, I say! I forgot introductions!” The stallion cleared his throat before continuing. “I... am known as Aero Le Spectrum!” He proudly introduced. At that moment, Rarity let out a big surprising gasp. The ponies looked at Rarity, as she was in a bewilderment state. Then, Rarity slowly lifted her hoof up, and pointed it at Aero.

“T-The…The… ‘The’ Aero Le Spectrum?! One of Equestria’s legendary painters of all time?!” Rarity shuddered in astonishment. Her mouth dropped, as her hoof started to shake. Aero chuckled in his pride.

“The one and only, good ol’ lassie! It seems my reputation hasn’t died yet after all! Tell me, my good chapettes, who might you be?” Aero asked them. Just as the reveal of this mysterious stallion’s name came to be, Rarity knew that she was a big fan of his art. Rarity snapped out of her bewilderment trance, and cleared her throat. Knowing Rarity, she tried to look haughty in the most elegant way, attempting to impress Aero.

“I am Rarity, one of Equestria’s famous fashion designers! My reputation with Canterlot is substantial!” Aero looked at Rarity, with a bit of disbelief.

“You don’t say…”

“Indeed I say! And did you know that-“ Rarity continued, but was interrupted by Applejack clearing her throat as well. Rarity glanced over at Applejack, realizing she was getting a little off track. Rarity lets out an unsettled giggle.

“Oh right… hehe,” Then Rarity pointed her hoof at Applejack.

“This is one of my best friends, Applejack!” Applejack lifted her hat up.

“Howdy!” Applejack said. Seeing as things were going as Rarity planned to gain reputation with Aero, Rarity immediately pointed her hoof over to the pink pony.

“And this is yet another one of my dearest friends, Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie Pie let out a childish giggle.

“Hi! I’m gonna nickname you, ‘Boney’!” Aero heaved his back a bit from her awkwardness.

“Pardon?” He aimed a very puzzled look at Pinkie Pie. This sent Rarity into a shocking state. She realized that her reputation with him was already slipping away. To counteract, she produced the most casual laugh, just to play along with Pinkie’s tomfoolery.

“Hehehe… oh that, Pinkie! S-She doesn’t really mea-“ Rarity was interrupted by Pinkie’s babbling.

“It’s funny cause it’s true! It’s like putting the words ‘bone’ and ‘pony’ together! Boney! Hehehe!” Pinkie let out another innocent giggle. Rarity could only glare at Pinkie Pie with an embarrassed look on her face.

“Pinkie Pie… please! Don’t be rude to our-“ Rarity continued to mumble in a threatening tone, but was interrupted again by Aero’s burst of laughter, making him smile.

“Hohohoho! Good show! Jolly good show, I say! I really like that nickname, dear Pinkie! You know, I myself am an exuberant pony as well! True, I do behave in a substantial manner, but nothing makes me happier than to make every pony laugh!” Suddenly, the smile on his face slowly dropped. He sighed in a slight depression, while lowering his head down.

“Ahh… but alas, I dare say that my days were finally taken away from me. I wished I could spend a lot more time with the ones I loved… but then I was captured.” Rarity tilted her head quizzically.

“What happened, darling?” She asked politely. He said nothing for a few seconds, but then he looked up at Rarity.

“Well… I was brutally tortured, experimented on, and even pulverized. I begged for bloody mercy, but they were relentless, I say. Finally, after all those bloody months had passed, I died… but not for long. Those mongrels revived me a few minutes later. They said I was one of their special experiments. It’s an experiment where they transmute skin DNA into osseous tissue. And the ability to manipulate the calcium to act like any other skin. You noticed my hallowed eye sockets can blink… and my ears can flop. But alas, the rest of my body did not make the cut, due to my body’s debilitation. After they were done experimenting on me, I was put to sleep for what felt like a minute or two. I thought the fear of dying would be more suitable for me… than to be this.” Aero used his hooves to observe his body, before letting out another sigh.

“I don’t think my dearest wife would see me like this. Or even my children in that matter. Oh! By the way,” Aero looked at Rarity with interest in his eyes.

“How is the World Pony War One going? Are they still going at it? Who’s winning? Who’s losing, I say? Is my family safe?” At that very moment, all three ponies let out a quiet gasp in shock. The ponies looked away from Aero for a brief moment. This stunned the ponies’ heart, as they realized now how long he was trapped down here. They couldn’t bear to tell him the actual true, but they had to. Aero looked at the mares puzzled, wondering what’s gotten them worked up.

“Did we lose, or did we win?” He asked. Unable to hold the truth in, Rarity eyed at Aero.

“Actually, darling… the World Pony War One ended… two hundred years ago.” Her statement surprised Aero drastically, as his jaw dropped a little. He wanted to disbelieve her, but the way she spoke almost make it sound like it was entirely true.

“S-So… all this time… I-I’ve… been asleep… f-for…” Aero was just about to finish, but Rarity wanted to come clean with him.

“I’m afraid so, darling. We’re really sorry… truly we are.” Applejack and Pinkie Pie slowly nodded their heads. Unable to cope with the truth, Aero drop his head. Every pony went silent for a short while, moaning the sorrow of Aero’s loss. The ponies felt bad about telling Aero the horrible truth, as their hearts sank. But just then, Aero began to turn his frown upside down.

“At least… they’re living in a jolly and peaceful afterlife.” He said, while building back up his contentment. The ponies were left unexpectedly confused from Aero bringing back up his happy characteristic, as he lifted his head back up with a smile.

“At least… they didn’t have the same fate as I did. That saying, I want them to be more happier than I am.” Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity were filled with pure glee. Their hearts fluttered with joy when Aero’s statement hit them. After a couple of seconds of trying to fight back upwelling tears, they began chatting again.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were concern about Jack’s health. His breathing was at a slow pace,and his pulses were racing like mad. During that time, Jack didn’t spoke a single word, not even the slightest sign of reaction. Fluttershy couldn’t help but blame herself for this. She turned her head over to Rainbow Dash and stared at her with regret.

“I’m sorry… this is my fault. If I were strong enough to escape from those monsters, then this wouldn’t happen to him. Sometimes… I feel so weak and helpless… even though I am… but I just wish I couldn’t be sometimes.” Rainbow Dash felt her pain; she knew if she’s been Fluttershy too, she would have been in her shoes back then. Dash placed her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder pad gently.

“Hey, It wasn’t your fault entirely. I mean, those Soul whatever they’re called were pretty scary to me too. I never knew how ugly they were. Hehe… but look on the bright side, at least we made it here safely. And that’s what’s important now.” Fluttershy looked at the ground for a moment, then back at Dash with a small smile on her face.

“Yeah… thanks. It-“ Suddenly, they heard small and faint moans coming out of Jack’s mouth. Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash drew their full attentions at him.

“*Gasp* Jack!” Fluttershy gasped. Jack slowly opened his eyes, as his vision was blurry. It took a few seconds for his vision to adjust. Once they were adjusted, his whole body immediately jolted for a brief moment. His body felt insanely cold, as he couldn’t move a single muscle. Images of terror and horror flooded his mind. Jack knew what he gotten himself into, as he desperately tried to move, but to no avail. He then stared at the two concerned ponies in front of him.

“Uuuhg… F-F… Flutt…ershy? R…Rain…bow… D-Dash?” He mumbled in pain. Both pegasus leaned in closer.

“Oh good… we thought you weren’t gonna pull through. I’m so glad that you're okay, Jack.” Fluttershy said with relief. Rainbow could only smile at Jack.

“Yeah… I’m glad you're okay, too.” Dash said, while trying to be nonchalant. Jack nodded his head very slowly in response.

“L-Listen… t-theres… n-not… much… t-time. G-grab… my… knife… on my… b-boot…” Jack explained, before shaking his right foot barely. Fluttershy and Dash looked at his right boot and spotted his army knife in its sheath. Fluttershy undid the button, and pulled out the knife. She stared at the knife with mixed feelings of fear and astonishment. Once Jack saw Fluttershy with his knife, he continued.

“A-Alright… n-now… I-I know… t-this may… s-sound… h-horrible… b-but…” While Jack explained slowly, both pegasus had an uneasy feeling that they were going do something awful. The next words Jack spoke shot chills down their spines.

“I… I want… y-you… t-to… stab my hand…” The both of them let out an unexpected gasp. Fluttershy’s forearms started to waddle in horror. It was something that never crossed her mind before. Rainbow Dash held her breath, as she looked helplessly confused.

“W-What...?” Rainbow Dash uttered in shock. Fluttershy’s breathing intensified, as she couldn’t even speak a word. Jack knew that these ponies weren’t into stuff like this. But his body couldn’t move, so he had to put trust into these innocent creatures.

“I-I’m… p-paralyzed… w-with… fear. I c-cant… move… u-unless… I… o-over…come… the fear… w-with… pain. Y-You… must… unders-stand, t-this… is… the sort… o-of ab… bility… that… t-the… Soul… D-Devours… have… t-to… capt…ure… its… prey. Please… h-hurry… b-before… I g-go… into… coma.” Jack stated a good point, but harming someone wasn’t Fluttershy’s idea. But if she doesn’t do something soon, Jack would go into a coma. Summoning all of her bravery, she gulped a huge lump. Fluttershy eyed at Jack’s right hand. He shook it to let her know which one to stab. Slowly, she leaned the tip of the knife over his hand. Pearls of sweat ran down her head as she tried to prepare herself for the worst.

She was also fighting inside her conscious. Inside, there was a rift battle between the right decision, and the guilt decision. For the first time in her life, she was about to produce blood with her own bare hooves. It felt like she was about to pass out from this overwhelming tension. However, her judgment overtook her by surprise, as she made a small attempt to puncture Jack’s hand. She closed her eyes, while she turned her head away. The tip of the blade made contact, but it wasn’t enough force to penetrate his skin. Jack looked at her progress for a brief moment. A tiny wave of pain shot through his hand, but not through his body. He knew that this wouldn’t cut it, as he looked up at Fluttershy again.

“T-That’s… n-not… good enough. P-please… h-hurry…” Jack pleaded in a weak tone. Fluttershy couldn’t take the pressure anymore; she felt like abandoning this task at any moment now. But suddenly, she felt two hooves holding her own hooves. Fluttershy shot her eyes open, and lets out a small gasp. Turning her head back around, she spotted Rainbow Dash looking back at her with determination.

“It’s okay… I’m here with you. We’ll both do it together.” Dash said. The tables were turned around, as she felt a bit stronger. All of Fluttershy’s doubts started to wane the more she looked into her friend’s determined eyes. She knew that it had to be done. With no objections at all, Fluttershy slowly nodded back. She turned her attention back at the task at hand. Dash and Fluttershy slowly lifted the knife up once more. Hearing Jack breathing slower by the second, they realized that they had to act now. Getting ready, Dash gulped a lump down and began counting.

“Okay… 3… 2…” Upon counting, Fluttershy gathered up as much strength as possible.

“…1…” At that moment, Fluttershy looked away, with her eyes sealed shut. And finally,

“Now!” Both Dash and Fluttershy thrust the blade downward. The force was enough to deeply stab Jack’s hand. The pain coursed from his hand, to his entire body in an instant. Jack immediately reacted, his body seized, and his muscles snapped taut. His eyes squinted; he thrusted his head upward, and lets out a painful grunt. Blood leaked out of his wound on his hand, while some sprayed into the air. Fluttershy heard his painful grunt, as she knew that the deed was done. Jack desperately gasped for air since the paralyzing effect wore off. He felt he was back in control. Slowly using his other hand, he reached across his body, and pulled the knife out. While Jack was short on breath, he reached into his pouch on his left, and pulled out a roll of woven gauze bandage, along with the same tablet bottle he used a while back.

After a minute or two of wrapping up his wounded hand and taking two blue tablets, he rested his head against the wall. Feeling a little bit numb, he tried to relax himself. While doing that, he kindly thanked the two pegasus. Fluttershy eyed away from Jack for a moment.

“Umm… w-what you did back there… I… thank you.” She said, with a bit of guilt in her tone. Jack gave her a pale look, as if he’s done something he regretted too. But at the same time, he felt a little bit glad that she didn’t die. It was confusing for him to do such an act, even without knowing his true feelings. Dash observed Jack’s pale eyes, wondering what’s he was thinking about.

“But… Jack? Can I ask you something?” She asked. Jack darted his eyes at Dash. He slowly nodded his head, letting her know he’s listening.

“You said that you wouldn’t protect us if we’re not near your, or facing against those monsters. And yet… you saved Fluttershy with no reason. Why?” Jack knew she would ask that question, and yet, he was still questioning himself why he did such a thing.

“I… I don’t know. My body… it moved on it’s own. There was no time to think. Frankly, I would've done nothing… but… somehow, my mind rejected me. I’m guessing… what my mind is trying to say…” While Jack talked, he lowered his head down in shame.

“Is that you five hold some sort of mysterious connection to me. I don’t know if it’s a bad or good thing… but… from what I’ve seen, it almost makes me feel like that this was my everlasting punishment. And yet, it also makes me feel like I wanted this. It’s so confusing… I…” Judging from what Jack was experiencing, Fluttershy exactly knew what he’s talking about. A sudden smile appeared on her face, as if she had accomplished something.

“I think I understand now, Jack.” She said happily. Jack felt a little surprised to hear her discover something. He looked quizzically at Fluttershy. She closed her eyes and widened her smile a bit.

“I think it’s because you don’t want to be lonely anymore. You’ve been on your own for your entire life. I know what loneliness is… and I can possibly think how much you’re going through right now. Growing up without parents who don’t love you, and not having any friends is just terrible. Nobody deserves to live in a world with fear and violence. It’s like people don’t think you exist… and yet, you want to make yourself appear. So that someone can hear your cries.” While Fluttershy paused, Jack took this time to ask himself questions.

Maybe... maybe that could be it. I mean, how am I different from Fluttershy or the others? Why can’t I experience what they’re experiencing? And is it possible... that I’m... not alone in this world? The answers were quite obvious, but Jack still couldn’t figure it out. Jack had been in darkness for his entire life. Always wanting attention, trying to get rid of his pain and suffering, and viewing the world as a hellish place. He felt stupid, blinded from the obviousness.

Rainbow Dash was getting her message as well, as she started to view Jack in a whole new way. From all the tough talks, from the rotten attitude he developed, and the suffering he was going through made Dash felt profoundly sorry for him. As Dash and Jack listened, Fluttershy opened her eyes, revealing her upwelling tears.

“And now, you have gained my attention. I finally heard your cries inside of you, Jack. You don’t have to be alone anymore. Because, I can tell you… that all you ever needed back then and now… was a f-“ At that very moment, Fluttershy was violently interrupted by a familiar bloodcurdling scream echoing across the hallway. This froze everyone in the room. The sound of that scream rang a bell to the ponies. Rarity stood up with eyes of fright.

“That scream… it couldn’t be! It almost sounded like…” And at that moment, everyone gasped in horror. It was Twilight Sparkles cry for help. Fluttershy gazed at Jack with plea in her eyes.

“Jack, that scream came from our last friend, Twilight Sparkle! Please, we need to help her!” Jack was just about to find out what Fluttershy said to him, but he was snapped out of his thinking trance. He could ponder about that stuff later, but for right now, Jack knew someone was in trouble. Jack stood up, as his body was nearly done recovering from the paralyzing effect. He looked at Fluttershy with determination in his eyes.

“Let’s get going then.” He said. Jack dashed out the doorway and headed right. Every pony followed after him. Rarity looked behind her and waved a farewell to Aero.

“Bye darling! Thanks for your help! It’s been nice knowing you!” She yelled. Aero laughed joyfully while waving his hoof back at her.

“No problem! It’s nice seeing you too, Rarity! And good luck, I say!” He yelled back. Once Rarity was out of sight, Aero dropped his hoof down and let out a depressing sigh. His instincts knew that he was forgetting something very important, something that he had to do.

Down the hallway, Jack sprinted as fast as he could through the thick fog with his flashlight on, with the ponies on his side. The way Twilight screamed sounded dreadful, like her life was on the line. The more they thought about it, the faster the ponies galloped. It only took about thirty seconds to make it across the end of the hallway. And at the other end of the hall was a closed door.

Once Jack reached towards the door, he twisted the handle, and swung the door open. Inside was a torch lit room, where hundreds of neatly stacked jars were sitting on rows of shelves on the walls. Each jar had different glowing colored orbs trapped inside them. In the center of the room looked to be an electric generator with two spiraling lightning antennas that sparked electricity. And there was another doorway on the right of the room.

But the thing that they saw first… was something lying on the center of the floor. A purple unicorn mare with her tongue hanging out, no motion whatsoever on her body; blood leaking from the wound on her chest. Around the unicorn was a circle of green scribed symbols and candlesticks on the ground. To this appalling display, everyone was extremely shocked.

“TWILIGHT!!” All the ponies cried out in unison. On the right of the room, someone appeared out from the shadows. It was another living cultist, wielding a bloody kris dagger. Jack heaved his head back, as he realized who it was.

“Daniel?!” Jack yelled in surprise. The cultist darted at Jack with bloodshot in his eyes.

“It’s you! How dare you return here! You let that stranger in here to destroy us all! We were so close into reviving Cthulhu, and yet that goal was taken away from us!” While pure, seething rage erupting from his mouth, a mischievous chuckle was added. He placed his free hand on a mysterious lever. Then, he produced a wicked smile on his face.

“But now, that goal is obtainable! You thought I’d spend the rest of my life in here doing nothing but clinging to my life?! No… oh no…. I’ve been fulfilling our goal this entire time! With this pony’s worthless soul now added to the collection, we now have the right amount of souls to feed Cthulhu! With one pull on this lever, the ritual will commence, and the world will be under HIS feet for all eternity! AND YOU SHALL BE THE FIRST TO TASTE HIS WRA-“ Suddenly, Jack pulled out his handgun and headshot Daniel. His head exploded from the bullet’s impact, with blood spraying out of it. Daniel’s body collapsed to the floor, only leaving him in his own pool of blood. Jack placed his gun back into his holster.

“That bitch can wait…” He mumbled in annoyance. Turning back to the main situation at hand, the ponies dashed over to Twilight’s body. Every pony gathered around her in a circle, as their hearts began to turn cold. Jack walked up to the group circle and kneeled down to the ponies’ level. Pinkie Pie took her eyes off of Twilight for a moment and stared at Jack with fear dwelling in her.

“Jack! Is she alright?!” Pinkie anxiously asked. Giving the circumstances, things looked mighty bleak for Twilight. With one way to find out if Daniel was telling the truth, he placed two fingers directly at her carotid artery spot. Everyone went silent for a moment. They hoped that Twilight was knocked out or some sort. However; Jack closed his eyes and sighed. Then…

“No pulse… she’s gone.” Jack finally spoke. Every pony gasped heavily from the terrible result. Their hearts sunk, after hearing the terrible news. Applejack hung her head low and removed her hat.

“We’re too late ya’ll…” Her voice trembled. For the first time in their lives, they felt the pain of profound loss. And at that point on, everyone but Jack was in the state of bereavement, crying and moaning Twilight’s unexpected departure.