Chapters 2. Regret and Poor Choices...
The air was quite dry
And the birds void of the sky
I was on a hill near Canterlot
feeling the wind pass by
I sat there with Carol Belle
A beautiful green mare
Counting and watching the clouds
As they moved about the air
"Look at that one"
Carol turned and said to me
"It looks like a parasprite
"Or at least that's what I see"
"It looks like a rock"
I said with a sarcastic tone
And to my words
I got a laughing groan
"Don't be difficult"
She said as she lay there
The sunset was upon us
And illuminating her hair
"We should probably head back"
I said getting ready to go
"It is getting dark,
"And soon the path won't show"
"I guess..." she sighed
And joined me by my side
We started back for Canterlot
As the last light began to hide
**********
Around ten minutes later
While we were heading back
We came upon a building
Just a simple little shack
The building looked abandon
So we just started passing by
But were frozen in our tracks
When from it came A cry
"GET THE BUCK OFF OF ME!"
Came the troubled shout
Followed by the sound
Of a sickening snap ringing out
The air was dead silent
And we just stood there in shock
Until a loud banging emerged
From the other side of the door's lock
We quickly ran away
And returned to the city
And told the police what happened
But they either laughed or stared at me
"You guys are just sleep deprived"
Came a policepony's voice
I demanded to see the chief
Them not giving me another choice
I was lead to a room
With a large brown earthpony
"Well, what do you want?"
He finally said to me
"There was a murder"
His eyes raised as I spoke
"Out in the fields"
My voice a nervous choke
"Did you see it happen?"
He sighed and said to me
"Well, no..." I replied
"Then what did you see?!"
"I heard a pony call for help
"As something did attack
"It was by an abandon building"
At this, his attention snapped back...
"What did you see there?!"
He quickly yelled at me
"The place was locked up,
"There was nothing I could see"
He sat studying me
Before snapping "just leave"
At the turn of this conversation
I this did relieve..
I quickly left that place
And with me Carol Belle
The sudden hostility there
Meant I could not dwell
We were almost home
When I saw it there
A shadowed earthpony figure
As it would just stare
We passed by him (?)
And safely got inside
But from the creepy pony
We would be there to hide
I locked all the doors
(As well as windows too)
The pony had been watching us
I knew it to be true...
I lay in my bed
Still worried and awake
The events of this night
Caused me to shiver and shake
It was barely past two
When it caught my eye
A shadow on my window
As it passed on by
I looked to Carol Belle
And found her still asleep
I needed to investigate
So towards the window I did creep
Out the glass I saw
The shadowed figure at my door
It was writing a note
That it left upon the floor
The figure then turned
And escaped my sight
And that was the last I saw of it
On that damning night
I slowly crept to the door
And retrieved the note
And studied the words
The figure had wrote
you are in great danger
And I wish it was not true
But you know too much now
So I was sent after you
but I am tired
Of unjustly ending lives
I realize there are higher
Goals for which one strives
you must get out of here
I can buy you some time
I do this for redemption
For you've committed no crime
I dropped the note
That warned of my demise
And quickly glanced around
But nothing met my eyes
I slowly backed up
Feeling quite terrified
And felt little sanction
In going inside
I woke up Carol Belle
And told her what I knew
And by the looks of it
She was worried too...
"But where can we go?"
Came her soothing voice
"I am not quite sure...
"But we haven't got a choice..."
We collected
What little things we had
Forcing Carol to do this
Made me feel quite bad
I scanned our surroundings
And nothing entered my sight
So Carol and I
Set out in to the night
We walked along the sidewalk
With nopony else about
When my ears were met
With a loud shout
"Stop right there!"
Came the bucking sound
In shock I stopped walking
And quickly turned around
Several policeponies
Stood there in the street
Then ran up towards us
And with no kindness we did meet
"Somepony is after us."
I quickly made clear
but as they approached
I felt some faint fear...
"Then come with us
"And bring your mare too
"We have some questions
"We must ask of you"
Unreluctantly I complied
And with me, Carol Belle
Not knowing that my actions
would be delivering us to hell
The last thing I heard
Before a paralysis spell hit me
Was the scream of Carol Belle
The fate chose what I'd be...
The sun was shining
And a smooth wind graced my fur
I saw Carol trotting happily
and I moved to join her
We conversed in joy for hours
or that's what it would seem
Until a loud rumbling
Awoke me from my dream...
my eyes shot open
But my limbs would not respond
The paralysis spell must still be active
(Of which I was not fond...)
my eyes slowly adjusted
To the strange dark
But the horror that I saw
Would leave a mental mark
Bloodied bodies of ponies
Lay all around me
This wretched gore filled sight
Was so hard to see
I shut my eyes tight
And tasted my own bile
But came to my senses
After a long while
I realized I was moving
And reluctantly looked around
To find my immobile body
Was not on solid ground
I was on a track
That ran towards a large flame
I had to get off of this
Or it would be my end game
I struggled very hard
But was frozen still
Then I remembered Carol Belle
And that enraged my will
I had to find her
But feared it was too late
But I must save her
Or at least know her fate
I slowly got to my hooves
And stumbled on my way
All about this room
Were dark walls of grey
I tripped over a detached forehoof
and a snap came from my side
Passing out from the pain
I thought that I had died...
**********
My next time being awoken
I saw a "familiar" face
It was of the dark figure
And my heart increased in pace
"Don't make any noise"
The stallion whispered at me
the dark outline of a small room
Was all that I could see
"Where the buck am I?"
I asked, lungs screaming in pain
But all I was returned
Was him telling me to shut up again
"You're in Hell..."
He said after a long while
"Please enjoy your stay!"
He added with a grim smile
His mane was red and black
and did not look well kept
This dark blue stallion being friendly
Seemed difficult to accept
He sat silent
Before letting me know
"My name is Night Shade,
"But they call me Shadow
"Well, I'm Amiss Fortune"
I said after some thought
He chuckled and replied
"Well, who is not?"
I ignored his attempt
To lighten up the mood
My pain wasn't just from my ribs
For my stomach was void of food
"They think you are dead,
"So let's keep it that way
"You will be silent and listen to me
"If alive is how you wish to stay."
"Who is 'They'?" I asked
Wanting to know what this was about
He just turned and looked at me
Saying "you haven't figured it out?"
"There is a 'project',
"Of which few ponies know
"For it exists in such horror
"Where pony thoughts choose not to go"
"The idea was to be immortal
"To live life without fear
"But they bit too much off
"And their goal is nowhere near"
"Instead they made a disease
"that infects one's mind
"That amplifies their last thought
"Leaving rational thinking behind"
"Yet they continue testing
"Instead this damn place
"Ignoring that the outside world
"May develop a case..."
I was shocked and startled
At this bucked up news
All this was hidden
From all public views
"How long was I out?"
His answer brought me fear
"Mindless or asleep?
"For the first has been half a year
"Where is Carol Belle?!"
I stuttered in full fright
"I'm afraid she wasn't as lucky"
He said, avoiding my sight...
My mind filled with emotion
No longer capable of full thought
But I promised, no matter the pain
She wouldn't be forgot
The small room filled with choked sobbing
As tears flooded my eyes
I had managed to live
But she met her demise
Shadow heard something
And quickly turned his head
He pulled me to the floor
Before pushing me under a bed
The door of the room opened
And in came a unicorn
Her Pissed off expression
Hid my thoughts that were forlorn
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Came her enraged yell
She held a knife to Shadow's throat
With a telekinetic spell
"Give me a damn reason...
"You shouldn't end up like the rest
"You are given so much here
"Yest still my rules you test"
"Get your ass back to work!"
She barked, lowering the knife
"If you buck up one more time...
"I will end your pathetic life..."
She then left the room
And Shadow too did go
I was stunned and had many things
I still wished to know
One question was,
Where was I?!
Then the important one...
Is this where I die?...
A few hours passed
Ill content with what I'd accrued
I carefully left the room
In search for some food...
After exiting the door
I was in a long grey hall
And was startled when I heard
From a speaker, a loud call
"All security ponies needed"
Came the voice's shout
"In lab D-4,
"The subject has gotten out!"
I panicked and stumbled down the hallway
Feeling very weak
Until I found a sign
For which I did seek
Partially relieved
I was in F-2
But I also found out
This place was bigger than I knew
I heard somepony coming
And quickly passed through a door
But did not notice
That the room had no floor...
I hit the chipped stone ground
And felt my hooves crack
It was quickly evident
I would not be going back
The pain of my body
Was now too great
To the point that
I would have welcomed fate...
Tears came from my eyes
As my body hurt all about
I had no hope in fighting it
So I let them come out
A little while passed
Before I heard a slight groan
And I was startled
Realizing I was not alone
A dirty pink mare
Sat in the corner of the room
Something was off about her
And her presence seemed to loom
"You have had better days?"
She laughed and said to me
"To figure that out,
"I don't need to see..."
She turned her head at me
And I swore it to be lies
But this mare before me
Had removed her eyes...
"What happened to you?!"
I said in sudden shock
And almost instantly
I wished I hadn't talked
"Everypony is so judgmental"
She plainly said
"But I aim to fix that
"By MAKING them use their head!"
"It is so great!
"A wondrous way to be
"You are happy with everything!
"Just look at me!"
I started moving back
My bloodied hooves raking the floor
I fought through the pain
And my whole body was sore
"See? You try to leave me!
"I have been nothing but kind!
"Don't worry, I can fix you
"So you see with just your mind!"
With that she was upon me
With a sharp rock in her jaws
Her damaged hooves cut my sides
Feeling more like claws
I struggled against her
But gasped in shock
As she missed and made my shoulder
Embedded with the rock
I kicked her off me
And saw the rock still there
Where it was lodged
There was a bloody tear
"I am just helping!"
She loudly screamed
I was going to die
Or that is how it seemed
I looked about the room
And saw my wretched prize
Now there was a chance
I would not meet my demise
A metal bed frame
Sat broken and near by
The protruding jagged piece
Is what caught my eye
I felt her hoof
As it connected with my head
I had one chance at this
To spare me from being dead
She was now bleeding
And as we fought it got on me
If I bucked this up
My life would be the fee
I brought up my leg
Knocking her into the bed
The jagged metal impaled her
But she still was not dead...
"I-I was helping you...
"To be a better pony..."
Her tone became soft
"I wanted you to be happy..."
"I just...wanted...
"I... tried..."
Then her breath stopped coming
And with that she died...
I had just killed a pony?!
The thought contested my head
Because of my actions
She now was dead
She tried to cut my eyes out
I quickly reasoned
But I would never come to terms
With what I had done
Covered in her blood
I fell to the ground
With a warm tingle
Then icy darkness all around...
Once again I awoke
Still in the damn room
Knowing it was very likely
This would be my tomb
I was surprised to find
All my pain had gone away
Though I felt I must’ve been out
No longer than a day
My body was thick with blood
That was not there before
Then I vomited when I saw it
Laying on the floor
The mare long since dead
Was now torn apart
With teeth marks all about her
I felt heavy beating in my heart
Then I realized
What may have happened to this soul
For I was sickened to discover
That I now felt full…
My eyes went wide
And I looked around
The walls were stained with red
And the same was for the ground
I glanced to my shoulder
Brushing away my hair
And saw in ill surprise
That the rock was still there
Except I’d healed around it
And my skin was now full
Blood no longer flowing
For my body had sealed that hole
I was still confused and horrored
But started moving about
For despite what I had been through
I just had to get out
The only visible way
Was from where I had fallen
But I had no clue
How I would get up again
I sat down in thought
How do I get out of here?
And how could I have e…
The lack of knowledge brought me fear
And that is when I saw it
A displacement in the wall
Directly underneath
where I did fall
I slowly walked towards it
And by the bloodied mess I did pass
And tapped my hoof against it
To find it made of glass…
“They were watching her…”
I softly said out loud
And realized there must be a room
There where the darkness did shroud
I slammed my hoof against it
But to no avail
This could be my exit
So I could not fail
I could find nothing useful
So I could break the barricade
But then I did find something
And my morale did fade
I looked to my shoulder
And knew I’d likely be a fool
Then in my teeth I grasped
My new makeshift tool
I quickly jerked my head
And the rock ripped out
The burning of my shoulder
Caused of me a pained shout
I expected it to hurt
But no as much as it did
I collapsed in sudden pain
In which I wanted to be rid
I remembered the words of Night Shade
(Or I guess Shadow)
And started piecing together
What little I did know
“They made a disease
That infects one’s mind”
But the connection was missing
For there was a thought I could not find
What happened to me?!
Had I really eaten that mare?!
I didn’t want to think of it
For I didn’t dare
“Magnifies the last thought”
This went against what I was told
For I swear the last thing I remembered
Was that dark and cold…
But I had thought of food…
Before what happened here
I continued thinking
Though the truth I did fear
How did I heal?
I asked but then knew
“The idea was to be immortal”
Well, that was partly true
But with that came
Another damning thought
That meant I was infected
Though falsely hoped I was not
But then came
Confusion rather than fear
For Shadow had told me
I’d been ‘mindless’ for half a year
But I had awoken
Not just one time but two
Could I fight the virus off?
(I hoped that this was true)
I looked back to my shoulder
And found nothing different
The wound was not healing
And I had hope of what that meant
I got back to my hooves
And readied the rock
The event of flying glass
Made me back up in shock
I had made a small break
And started smashing the rest away
For in this wretched place
I would no longer stay
After what felt like an hour
It was big enough to fit through
I had no idea the danger
And knew that to be true
Once in the room
(Which was black as night)
I saw a sign aside the glass
That read ‘Crystal Sight’
I felt a sort of sorrow
As I looked back to the mare
She was once like me…
Before getting locked in there…
My sadness turned to anger
At those who made it so
I would pay them back for her
For this I did know
I stepped into the hallway
With very limited sight
For the only illumination
Came from each emergency light
This hall was similar
To the one I’d been in last
But I found some differences
Pretty damn fast…
All the doors were locked
And held on some a note
In large black lettering
A warning somepony wrote
“Condemned” or “Infected”
Was on most of the doors
And everywhere I wandered
Dried blood covered the floors
I came to a staircase
Or that’s what the label said
For two large metal doors blocked me
Informing that the power was dead
I started looking around me
Until it caught my eyes
A sign that pointed me
Towards my blessed prize
It was labeled “backup generator”
So I tried to make it start
But of course, “buck me”
It was missing a part
Finally catching a break
I saw it upon the floor
And hoped it would be enough
To get me through that door
The generator started up!
And I smiled at the sound
But quickly stopped
As loud clicks came from all around
My heart had trouble beating
No longer feeling like I’d won
I cursed and was angry
At what I had just done
Maybe they’ll be friendly
I tried to lie
But I knew
I would likely die
Every door slid open
And dozens like Crystal Sight
Flooded into the hallways
And they began to fight
I ducked under a table
To keep them from seeing me
Swearing at myself
How foalish could I be?
Not only these ponies
But had myself to face
Remembering Shadow’s words
“Outside may have a case”
Now they were freed
And here they moved about
And I was the one
Who had let them out…
I cowered under the table
As two ponies entered the room
They appeared uninfected
And I had sealed their doom
“We need to get out of here!”
A sea blue stallion said
“If we stay much longer
“We will soon be dead…”
They went about the room
And collected things from the floor
Then they took the objects
And barricaded the door
Then the white stallion saw me
As I lay there
His face snapped to worry
And he could just stare
“There is one in here!”
He quickly yelled
Then grabbed a detached pipe
Which in his teeth he held
“I am not like them!!!”
In panic I replied
And if the blue one hadn’t been there
I surely would have died
“He isn’t attacking us…”
The sea blue one said to him
But he quickly replied “look at his shoulder”
And my chances became slim
“He is infected
“And will turn like the rest”
His voice held deep sadness
Yet still came out quite stressed
“Before you…kill me…
“Please answer, where am I?”
The white was startled at my obliviousness
For I could see it in his eye
“How could you…
“Not know of this place?!...
“Unless… you didn’t work here…”
Then sudden sorrow crossed his face
“Inkwell and I have been down here
“After they sealed off this floor
“We tried rebuilding the generator
“To open up the door”
“How did you get here?”
He then said to me
I didn’t want to delve into memories
For the gore that I would see
“I don’t remember”
I said but he paid no attention
He stood there staring at me
About something he would not mention
“My name is cloudy skies
“But I think I know of you…
“You’re Amiss Fortune?
“Is this true?”
I answered him, “yes but why?”
As blood dried on my skin
I barely could block out
The loud fighting din…
“You were their best success
“The best hope of which they knew…”
Then he softly said
“I’m sorry for what happened to you…”
At that very moment
I heard running on the outer floor
Then the sound of a massive crash
As debris flew from the door
The door then flew open
And a red unicorn walked in
But unlike Crystal Sight
I saw in her only sin
She gave disgusted looks
To each of us
Before saying, “you dirty earth ponies
“Always causing a fuss…”
She looked about the room
And turned to me her face
“You inferior species…
“Must be put back in your place…”
With that she grabbed the pipe
From the mouth of the stallion
And swung it to his head
And his life was surely done…
She turned to Inkwell
And laughed in a chilling voice
I had to act now
It was my only choice
I threw myself into her
And we both then fell
However, not long after
The pipe was back in her spell
I heard my ribs crack
As the pipe brought with it pain
My breathing slowed down
And refused to gain
I tried to fight her
And connected my hoof with her head
It wasn’t enough to stop
And my wounds would leave me dead
Then I heard it
Another loud crack
As a large piece of wood
Struck her back
Inkwell had chose to help
Avoid meeting my fate
But the blood in my mouth
Made me fear it was too late
The wood struck again
This time on her head
And I knew it was likely
I too would soon be dead
“You need to leave now
I struggled to tell the pony
“It soon won’t be safe
“You’ll have to leave me”
“What are you saying?!
“You will not turn!”
I knew it was unlikely
But my body did burn
“I will have to
“To avoid my death…”
Darkness started coming
And staggering hit my breath
After a while of convincing
Inkwell agreed to leave me
Both for his safety
And to avoid what he may see…
I did not want to do this
But could feel each broken bone
But to survive I had to
And I was glad to be alone
I closed my eyes tightly
And moved towards the dead mare
My body was in pain and disturbed
At what I’d do there
Reminding myself
It was this or be dead
I slowly lowered my mouth
And consumed the crimson red
But it didn’t work
I didn’t fall from my thought
I expected that survival
Was a war that could be fought?
In blind anger I stood up
And paced about the room
Then I looked to the mare…
SHE HAD CAUSED ME THIS DOOM
I started striking the body
Why? I could not tell
But was then reminded
Of poor Carol Belle
What was I doing?!
Then realizing my thoughts were not my own
This was the very reason
I had to be here all alone
But how was I aware?
Of my actions now
But the darkness overtook me
Before I finished asking “how?”
*****
I awoke again
To find a familiar mare
A strange feeling overcame me
For Carol Belle was there…
“I thought you were dead!”
To her I cried
Despite what had happened
I was joyous to be reunified
“Let me help you up”
She said as she came near
With every hoofstep
Her presence vanquished my fear
She helped me to my hooves
And I caught her in embrace
“I am so glad to see you”
I said nuzzling her face
“How did you survive?
“And how did you find me?”
No matter what the answer
I was as happy as could be
“Sorry, but I don’t know”
She replied quite forlorn
We needed to get moving
Though our alliance was just reborn
We started to leave
With dull pain in my side
The pain came with breathing
Each time I tried
The halls were very silent
But had new bodies on the ground
And the walls had a fresh coat
Of red “paint” all around
We found the large doors
That was now open
And was relieved to hope
Inkwell had escaped then
“Did you see a blue stallion
“Before you found me?”
Carol just shook her head
Making me wonder how he’d be
We slowly climbed the staircase
Avoiding pools of red
“Do you hear that?”
Carol then said
A soft eerie laugh
Came from below
Who or what made it
I wished not to know
We quickened our pace
But were quiet as could be
And were relieved
When a door we could see
We went through the doors
Without looking back
Though the place we had entered
Was almost pitch black
We crept through the shadows
Hooves clicking on the moist ground
And only stopped
When we heard a muffled sound
Light was before us
Protruding from the corner
Carol started towards it
But I stopped her
“Do you see that?”
I asked pointing at the floor
Fresh blood flowed from the corner
As evidence of recent gore
We approached cautiously
Filled with many a worried thought
I peeked about the corner
But hoped I had not
Countless bodies of ponies
Who lay bloodied and dead
Had slash markings
From hooves to head
They had been cut apart
That just had to be
For the deep gashes
Were from a weapon I could not see
Then I saw the blood
Suspended in the air
Sharp metal wires hung about
About as thin as a single hair
I tasted bile in my mouth
As I picked up a lone limb
How did I get this way?
Doing things so grim
I tossed it at the wires
But they cut it quite clean
“What the buck?!” I cursed aloud
Why was life so mean?!
After some pointless time
Carol and I returned to the black
I hated very much
How we had to backtrack
We wandered in the darkness
Looking all around
But found no type of exit
Until hearing a faint sound
“We have movement at blockade E”
Came the muffled announcement
Along with the other words
Hope is what it sent
I looked closely at the wall
(From where the sound had came)
To find it worn and breakable
And Carol concluded the same
We searched around the hallways
But were frozen in fear
For we found several “ex-ponies”
Wandering very near
One of them held
A metal rod in her mouth
But the act of obtaining it
Could easily go south
We needed to break through
Or face doom as a choice
I forced myself to walk up to them
Then I cleared my voice…
1. The Letter of the Lost
This is quite important
And so you read this now
The question I will be answering
Is the simple one "how?"
I must warn you though
My words may agitate your head
But you cannot complain to me
For likely I am dead
It all started
On a summer day
When my mistake damned this land
And threw it's lives away
My name is Amiss Fortune
And my actions are as such
And I am sorry in advance
And cannot apologize too much
So I'll start at the beginning
And hope that it is true
That my work can be completed
By somepony like you...