Awoken

The Rainbow Bridge was a bit of a misnomer, looking back on it. While the spectrum was brilliant, all I saw was white. But that wasn't the sole purpose of my trip. I sat in front of Odin, riding with him on Sleipnir. Our destination was a place more in line with what you could have considered a hollowed out glacier or maybe a very cold cave. I can honestly say that as I entered Nifelheim, and was met by cold so deep it hurt, I saw three things. One was a massive vortex that was a bit odd. The others were slightly more in line with what I was used to seeing in the realms of the Æsir. The few gods I had come to know were there, along with an older crone I had never seen before. She was an oddity in a realm of weird. Half black and half white, divided evenly down the middle. She was looking so intently at me I couldn't help but look back. I nearly missed Odin's first words in nearly an hour.

“Young Morgan, if you truly wish it, we can see you off. But know that Thou still died and as such cannot return to Midguard.; not at least from here.”

“I know. I think I know where I can go to at least find my family.”

“Thou knowst that they have moved on, correct? That they are not even in my halls?” asked the crone. She walked slowly tow the edge of the pit. After she reached it, I revived a new glare, one I was beginning to hate. “This path is not opened lightly, BOY.”

“Listen, I don't intend to return to life again. It has been months for me. I am a bit annoyed that I can't kill more V'sori, but I died doing what I could to save my home. I just want to say good bye to my wife and children.”

“As noble as that is, you should know that if you leave, you will burn.”

“I was in Hell once. I can handle a few hours there again. The demons couldn't handle me the first time.”

“They are not what I was referring to. There is a more potent fate there that has you in it, and if you go back it WILL come to pass.” That did it for me, I looked to Thor seeing as I got on well enough with him to not immediately snap if he said something I didn't want to hear.

“I just enter the vortex right?”

“Nay, you must sink thy knives into your heart whilst in it.” His face was not joking, his tone serious. The fiery bearded giant was actually taking this seriously. That wasn't a first, but it was damn close. I drew my vibro-blades and looked the assembled gods and goddesses in the eyes.

“It has been an honor and a privilege. Thank you all for this.”

“Young Morgan...”

“See y'all on the other side!” I called out as I jumped up, flying into the center of the vortex, which now that I took the time to look at it, was a swirling vortex that looked like the night sky. And I was flying into it's eye. I kept my eyes open as I drove my blades into my heart, mainly to not let the tears I was shedding fly behind me, feeling the beating muscle tear itself apart as I hit the eye. Then all was pain, Hell-fire, and the laughter of demons....I don't even remember why I was crying anymore. It just hurt even before I was stabbing myself.

“Well, that seems to have worked out rather-” started Luna, before Chrysalis spoke up.

“If you remember I said he was injured. THOSE were among the older wounds he had.”

“Uhh...What?” asked Luna. Meanwhile, giving them a glare, Morgue continued his tale.

When I came to, I was laying on some rock. Hard, black-gray in color, dirty, jagged. The air, if you could call it that, hot and stifling, smelled of ashes, fire, burnt flesh, smoke, and shit. I heard the screaming, crying and defiant yelling. Sobbing, pleading, moaning. It was awful. It was Hell. And I was finally back. One step closer to my goal. I opened my eyes. I saw the mess of demons and devils around me. They were being held back by the marks on the ground that I was in. I looked and recognized the patterns. Viking-esque and vaguely holy looking. THAT wasn't normal. As I stood, I heard the monsters around me crying out for blood. I was an unclaimed soul. That made me worth more than I can state. I then heard the old crone again, “Once you leave the circle, you will be gone from Our realm. Leave once you are prepared.”

Not leaving immediately was sounding like a better option as the demons and devils near me caterwauled and danced in mad glee. I heard a few voices, mainly screaming about a new soul. Drawing my blades from my chest, I looked out. After focusing for a few seconds, I had the full might of my muscles and body at the ready. I lept forward and broke the circle, beginning the newest fight of my ...un-life? It took hours. Literal hours. After I clove through the various monsters and demons I faced, I came to a hill. This hill was odd, seeing as it was made of skeletons. Then I recognized it. It was where I first fought in Hell. I looked around and saw the door that had started this whole affair. I roared out one name, “GURU!” and started to run at the door. What happened was unexpected to say the least. The hoards behind me had stopped and begun clearing a path to the door.

“You want to go to that THING? Go ahead. It's your doom.”

“Already seen his fat ass once. I am to get answers this time.”

“Who are you?”

“What, have y'all forgotten Morgue already?” That caused some of the denizens of that place to just walk away, muttering. One thing I picked up was “...Johnny Cage at least only beat us. HE has to KILL us...” That, whatever and whoever it was, sounds like someone I could have some fun with. But I made it to the door and walked in.

“GURU! Are you in here ya fat bastard?!”

“Morgan, why are you back in this place? Don't you need to be getting back to Valhalla?”

“NOPE! I came for answers and maybe a chance at saying good bye to my family.”

“And what would those answers be? You know I have a Price for anything, just as you have a Price for all you hold dear.”

“Why? Why was the first thing you did when I showed up the first time was to mock me for dying, and then send me to the halls in Valhalla?”

“Simple, and this answer is free. You honestly are no threat to me, nor will you ever be. I am so far beyond your ken, it is absurd to think you could challenge me. And yet you did. You worked with my Servant. You know my methods, if not my practices. And as such I felt you were being impulsive. And while your overall goal was...interesting, you must know that you were unable to even begin it. Had you taken me 'down',” the figure in the shadows started to rant, making Nikolai begin fuming, “You would have had to deal with not only those I consort with consistently, you also would have had to give up any and all hope of saying good bye to your family. And as for them...THAT is an expensive bargain.

“To pay that price, you would need to give up one thing for me. But I already know how you will answer. You are too true to what makes you yourself. You will refuse. And then you will try to fight me and I will be forced to make an example of you to the denizens of this place. So let us move past that particular detail. I offer you the same deal I made to Chaos Wylde. The one you know as-”

“Deadlord, I know. And I ask you- WHAT IS THE PRICE.”

“The very souls you seek to meet with.” The rage filled scream was not unexpected, not by the lack of surprise I could see on what passed for his face. The fact that I flew into his face was, that he wasn't expecting. I got a few solid hits on him, but I swear I was breaking my hands on his face. And the next thing I know I am being held midair by...something. “And now I am left with no choice. You want to meet your loved ones again? It shall never be so here or in any other dimension I am in. You don't want to return to the realm of life, but to die for the last time? You shall never have existed. You want my wrath, YOU SHALL RECEIVE IT.” And the next thing I know, I was flung threw the air. I heard the air screaming as I flew through Hell. I passed over places I considered myth and legend and realized that there was more to the concept of the afterlife than I had ever considered. I flew over the realms of Hell, Helheim (and boy, was Hel shocked, lemme tell you. I could see it on her face), a back void, a gray void, a place that looked like a shitty restaurant, and I came to a place that reminded me of a place called Hades...

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“HOLD IT, you mean the afterlife of the great civilization of Roam?” asked Twilight.

“Twi, you should now that he has no idea what our history is by now, I mean, he seems to be a walking contradiction.” stated Spike followed shortly by a rapid response to a question not asked by Twilight yet, “Twilight, just let him talk!”

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Over the various fields I flew, until I came to a place I cant recall the name of. It was a big pit. Bottomless supposedly. Well, guess where I was headed? Yup, I flew into the pit. It sucked; darkness, black as pitch levels of dark, quiet except for the sounds of air passing by me, and more time then I knew I could stand passed. After a while I felt a HUGE impact on my back and then it hit me, I had hit the wall. And so I proceeded to bounce off the walls for awhile. Then I hit a wall that gave away and I was flying over a place that looked like a prison set inside a place filled with lava.

I couldn't make any more out, seeing as I had a few mach cones around me. I hit these massive doors very quickly, and I can tell you that hurt. I felt some bones break when that happened. I was passing over some kinda forest, and then boom. I was over a desert. I hit the rocky flats under me so hard I blacked out. And lemme tell you lot, THAT hadn't happened in years. Next thing I know, I am waking up in a thing that made whatever terror I was feeling grow.

I couldn't breathe, and was barely able to see. I lifted my arms and began to pull at the walls holding me in. I was waking up slowly. As I woke up more, I was able to put more force behind my attempts at escape. When I finally got out, I was behind two horses that looked like they had been bred with bugs. The one on my right sneezed and, as it turned it's head to avoid hitting it's partner, noticed me. It swung around completely. If it hadn't been for the fog in my head covering everything in a...I guess I can call it a blue fog, I would have ducked under that spear point.

Regardless, it hit me in the face and I just reacted. Next thing I know, I am being attacked by more and more of these things. And I hear someone yelling at Guru for God knows what. Honestly it's strange, like someone else was driving my body. It was so surreal. After I FINALLY came to my senses, I tried to leave. The halls were painted green and red. I had my stuff back. And I saw a roof.

I jumped, and I saw something that took my breath away. A beam of purple light, flowing into the distance. From just above me as I left the spire I was in. I couldn't help myself. I slammed down near the base of that tower. And the next thing I know, I am surrounded by more horses, pegasi this time. The big white one, she had a horn.

Her expression was odd. And she said something. I couldn't understand her as well as the bugs. Then I realized that the bugs had been telepathic. I shook my head to clear it and then I hear a few feet moving over to me. I look up and see a pegasus trying to talk to me. Its dark and no-one can see the blood I am covered in. Then the rage filled screams hit the air. A big bug, covered in armor and wielding a spear fly's out and rushes me. I swing my left arm forward and down when he is near. I clove him in half. I mutter something..I...I cant remember what.

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“It was something to the effect of there being no good fights to be had here, everything died too easy,” was the response form Celestia, of all the ponies to talk. She had a look of regret on her face. Morgue didn't say anything. Unlike the other outbursts, this was one he wanted to hear. “Seeing an injured stallion KILL a changeling and make light of it, while barely being able to stand, was not something I was ready for.

“If anything, I think my guard should be held in higher esteem, considering how they reacted.” Before the questions burning on tongues could get out Nikolai began talking again.

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One of the armored horses shot forward and got between me and the big one. The others started trying to guide me into a corner. I jumped and landed behind all of them, fully in the light by now. The setting sun was quiet effective at highlighting the horror I was at that time. The biggest bug I ha seen yet came flying at me, covered in plate and wielding twin ling swords. At around this time I felt more sure about my self and was more aware of everything. I was waking up. After some time, exchanging blows and words, a darker horse with a horn and wings showed up. And then the fun began.

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“And that is where we were at the start of our fight. The rain began some time after we started, and didn't let up until later. I am sorry some of my...testimony is so lack luster after some of the earlier bits. But I really cant remember much. Its like something took a sponge to my memories and wiped some away or just blended them together. It feels weird and I honestly don't like the implications of that can mess with my head so easily.”

“So your defense is this, you feel as if somepony or something more accurately, has altered your memories. And if so, they inadvertently caused the issues that led us here today?”

“Yes and no, what I did was what I would do again f given the chance. What I was trying to say was it felt weird body-riding myself as I was doing those things, it felt surreal. But as far as all of the actions committed, I remember doing all of them. Not WELL per-say, but I do remember. And I hold no remorse for it, killing is my job and I honestly at this point am inured to it. Just get this farce over with. I have better things to do.”

“Such as?” asked Chrysalis with no small amount of snark.

“Like getting back to the land of the dead? I mean I don't think I left, but really this dream has to end sometime am I right?”

“...You believe this to be a dream or altered reality that is nothing more than a work of fiction?”

“Lady I was DEAD. You don't come back to life. You only get one and I then spit in the eye of the one being who was willing to even consider breaking the natural order. I CAN'T BE ALIVE.”

“Much to your surprise then, you are. I wouldn't be taking this this lightly if you weren't. A being brought back is an affront to the order of life and death.”

“Harsh, Sunbutt, Harsh.” quipped Morgue, “Also, this is LIGHTLY?”

“For Our sister, it is indeed light. Normally this would have been dealt with in public.”

“Well, thanks for that then.”

“As for your 'punishment' I feel it is best delivered to you by Queen Chrysalis.” At that last statement the aforementioned changeling moved up and looked over at Celestia. The two look at each other for a few seconds and then nod.

“You are to be taken to Ponyville and learn about this land. You are to come to realize that your plight is no more and MOVE ON. Then we can discuss the reparations to my hive.”

“WHAT!?” was the response from the others in the room, including Nikolai. That he hadn't seen coming. He had been expecting something as outlandish as being banished to the moon. This didn't bode well for the stallion and the mares near him.

“Basically Nikolai, you have been seemingly thrust into a world you don't know, with nothing to your name. Your manners or lack there of are unsettling. You belief that you are still dead needs to be rectified. Yet, until that time, any form of reparations from you might be interpreted as shallow. So I want you to learn to live again. Move on, seeing as you seem so stuck on avenging your wife and foals. Only when you have balanced out will I consider any payment you try to give me and mine genuine.

“You are also tasked with learning about friendship in this land, seeing as you have no idea how to make friends in general.”

“HEY, just because I don't try to go out of my way to be nosy isn't a sign that I don't know about friendship.”

“That may be, but here things are different. Learn. That is all you can do at this point.”

“Why doe this feel like a cop-out?” asked Spike to no-one in particular. No answer greeted the young dragon. The looks shared by Celestia, Luna, and Chrysalis however seemed to convey more they they had said today. They watched as the group left them after it was made clear they needed to leave by the guards outside. Once they were gone, Luna cast a spell that prevented any outside sources form eavesdropping.

“Are we sure that this is the only way?” asked Luna.

“Luna, if what your sister believes is true, you know better than her how this needs to be found out. And besides, its not like you can't watch him anyway, what with your Dream-walking.”

“True, but then again...one could say young Spike was the most honest here.”

“Hush, both of you. There is more I needed to tell you. After I told you about the things I had learned last night; I received a visitor. He left with the most cryptic warning and left behind this. I didn't bring it up earlier seeing as the being left this with saying that 'Only if he seems like it wasn't himself will this be useful'. And at this point i think that is the case.” The device was small and made of an unusual material. It had a hard black pane of glass and a small circle on the bottom with many shapes around the edges of the circle. Flipping the object over in her magic, Celestia showed them the back. It was deep green and had a small whit apple on it. The apple was missing a bite's worth. “One of his allies is already hear and can explain more.” With a flash of light the Diarchs and Queen were teleported out of the room to a place unknown save Celestia. Laughter was heard if you listened closely, much different in tone from the Gamer; much more in line of someone laughing at a joke only they know. And so the sun set upon an empty room, making way for the night and all of its subtle glory.

And all was peaceful for the moment...

Author's Note

So yea, Merry Christmas/ Kwanzaa/ Hanukkah/ [insertfavoriteholidayhere.jpg]

Enjoy this quick update, its time i finally finished that bit of the story. any comments y'all got on this last few chapters? i was trying something out (mainly the second person bits; seeing as that flashback was from his point of view i felt it was a bit more personal).

Peace and have a happy New Year!