Welcome to Deadside

Chapters

Wastelands
Temple of Life
Asylum: Gateway
Asylum: Cathedral of Pain
Reticent "The Hyena" Shiv
Back to Deadside
Death of Friendship
Magic and Loyalty
Death of Magic, The End is Nigh
Death of Loyalty, A Way Home
Epilogue, Welcome to Liveside
Welcome to Deadside, The Marrow Gates

Wastelands

Following the short path through the coffingate, Twilight and Michael, entered another cave. Two natural stone pillars dominated the small room, a bridge connecting the path and another platform on the other side, a ramp on it's right side leading to the lower floor. A giant hole in the wall on the other side caught their eyes.

Underneath the bridge, on the left side, was another coffingate.

Walking to the edge of the bridge, Michael kneeled down, looking at the gate.

Walking closer to him, Twilight followed his gaze. "What is it?"

Michael shook his head, standing up he turned to the giant hole. "Nothing." He answered, walking towards it. He stopped, looking at the walls of the hole. Twilight followed him. Looking up she saw the dark red walls.

They seemed to be made of some kind of metal, it's dark brown-reddish colour made the whole thing darker than it needed to be. Leaning closer, Twilight noticed the darkness underneath the foothold.

Apparently the whole thing was a tunnel, connected by a thin bridge.

"And what is this?" She looked at Michael, who materalized the prophecy into his hand. Flipping through the tome he read a few pages.

Closing the tome, and burning it again, he looked up. "One of the path of shadows." He answered. "Apparently my predecessor used them to quickly travel between the different locations of deadside."

"Okay..." Twilight looked into the darkness of path. "And where does this one lead?"

He answered with a grin. "Only one way to find out."

Twilight followed Michael with her eyes. He disappeared into the darkness, walking over the bridge unaffected by it's darkness.

Shaking her head she stepped onto the bridge, following him.

"Sometimes, some explanation would be awesome." She whispered in an annoyed tone.

Slowly following the linear path, Twilight looked around, nervously. From the very moment the path had swallowed her, up to this point, she had felt a weird sensation in her neck. As if something was breathing right behind her, her coat standing on end. And she was sure that she had seen something happen to the walls. It had looked like a contraction. Like a snake that swallowed it's prey, bringing it's victim deeper into the abyss of it's stomach.

She shuddered. 'Don't think about the devouring process of a snake while you walk through a weird, contracting tunnel.' Shaking her head to clear away these scary thoughts, she focussed on walking.

"Damn, how long is this thing?" She whispered, after another few minutes of walking, which quickly turned into a trot.

After another few seconds of trotting, she flicked her ears. Had she heard something? She wasn't sure.

The eerily atmosphere made her shudder again, her trot turning into a gallop. Now sprinting through the darkness, she looked around.

Her eyes widened.

This time she was sure she saw the path swallow her, the walls were pulsing, contracting, bringing her deeper.

"Michael!?" She shouted, fear getting the best of her.

No answer.

"Michael!?" She shouted louder.

And then she tripped.

Landing on her belly with closed eyes, she sniffled.

He had left her. She was alone.

"What the...?" A voice behind her reached her ears.

Turning her ears, she looked around.

Michael was behind her, walking out of the path of shadows. A quizzled expression on his face.

"How did you get in front of me?" He asked, raising a brow.

"Wha..?" Twilight sat up. "Did I?"

"Well duh, you are here before me." He walked closer.

"But... but..." Twilight stuttered. "How?"

"Hey that's what I'm asking you." He answered. A second later he shrugged, looking past her. "Not important I guess." He walked around her.

Twilight groaned, looking at her belly. The scrapes on her skin were not bleeding, even though some of them seemed to be pretty deep. Twilight poked one of the wounds with her hoof, hissing in pain.

She felt the pain, the discomfort on her skin. But why didn't it bleed?

Spreading her broken wings, she looked at them. She could move them, without pain. As if nothing was wrong with them.

"What has happened to me?" She sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She looked up, seeing Michael looking back at her. He sighed. "You died. That's what happened." He walked back to her.

"But why... are my wings broken? And why won't my wounds bleed?" She looked down at herself. "This makes no sense!"

He shrugged. "I don't know about your wings, but of course you won't bleed. You are undead. No heartbeat and stuff..."

Twilight eyes widened. "N-no.... No heartbeat!?" She raised a hoof to her chest

"Yes... I mean... you shouldn't have a heartbeat." He explained.

Twilight gulped. He was telling the truth, she was pressing her hoof at her ribcage, right where her heart should be.

Nothing. No rhythmic beat.

Twilight sniffled again, more tears dropped to the ground.

"Why?" She cried. Looking up she saw into the burning eyes of Michael. "Why?" She whined.

He shook his head, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know. But you crying here won't change the fact that you are here and undead." He concluded. "So what do you want to do? Sit here and cry, waiting for the madness to claim you, or stand up and fight, maybe even find a way out?"

She sniffled. "Your pep talk sucks."

"Oh, does it now?" He asked in a sarcastic tone.

Twilight giggled. "Yeah it does."

"But you still giggled." He looked at her. "Come on now, we gotta move."

She nodded, wiping her tears. Standing up she folded her wings, looking at the room in front of her.

The room was another cave, two paths, tunnels, leading out of it. Looking up to her right, Twilight saw a second floor, though no way to reach it.

Michael had walked up to the path on the left, looking into the tunnel.

"Leading down." He said, looking at her. "Why don't you go check the other?"

Twilight looked at him with a raised brow. A second later she nodded, walking over to the other path. Peering into it she saw it immediately fold to the right and a few steps further in to the left. Apparently going up.

"This one seems to go up." She said. "Should we split?" She looked at Michael.

Michael looked back, his brows furrowed. A second later he nodded. "Yeah, maybe we find something." He stepped into the path and stopped. Leaning back out he raised a brow. "You want down or up?"

Thinking for a second she looked at her path.

"I take this one, I really need to cheer up." She answered.

Shaking his head, he stepped into his tunnel.

"But my pep talk sucks." She heard him complain sarcastically.

Twilight giggled, walking through her chosen way. The tunnel was short and she quickly exited it on the other side.

Now outside again, she looked at the chasm in front of her. Twilight saw three bloodfalls, filling another lake with the sanguine liquid. She saw multiple pillars poke out of the surface. Looking further down, on the left side, she saw Michael step out of his tunnel. He looked up.

"Anything?" He asked.

Looking over the lake she saw a small, hut like building standing on the other shore.

She shook her head. "Nothing of interest. Maybe in that hut?" She shouted back, pointing over the lake.

"Thought so too." He tilted his head, looking up and pointing to her right. "Hey, see if you can find a way up that bloodfall. Maybe something is up there."

Twilight shuddered, at the thought of touching more blood but nodded. "Okay." Turned away, she looked at the cliff. The bloodfall was a broad, hoof deep stream. No rocks were protruding, nothing to hold on to. The wall next to it was as bare as the fall.

She turned around, her mouth opened, and saw Michael jump over the lake, landing on the pillars, quickly jumping over them. He reached the other shore in a few seconds, walking towards the hut.

'He's quick.' Twilight noted mentally as he disappeared in the building.

Looking at the bloodfall again she began to concentrate. She was sure she would be able to simply teleport over.

Her horn ignited.

And fizzled.

"Huh?" Twilight looked up. "But... what?" She rubbed her horn, she felt the intact form of her horn. She felt the cold-

"Oh no!" Twilight shouted as she understood. There was no blood running through her veins. Her horn wouldn't work. She furrowed her brows. 'But how am I fighting then?' She concentrated, creating the purple spike she used to battle. Looking up to her horn she saw that it indeed, was not ignited. No purple light emitting.

It was dead.

The spike dropped to the ground, rolling over the edge, and dropping into the blood beneath.

Her existence.

Her self.

Was gone.

Her magic...

Was gone!

Twilight felt something break, something deep inside. She had felt that before. She remembered the weird sensation. It had been the same with Discord when he had drained her.

The world turned dark again.

She was sitting in the darkness.

"Did we really become so weak?" Something brushed against her back. Turning her head she saw her broken self sitting behind her, back to back.

"My whole reason, my existence... everything is gone." She whispered. "My magic... is gone"

Silence.

"What if there was a way to get your magic back?" It asked.

Twilight looked up, into the darkness.

"Is there?" She asked in return.

She felt movement. "Yes, the dark souls." Her other self answered. "It will turn our body into an immortal body. Maybe it will even reverse the undead state."

Twilight didn't answer.

"What is it?" The other asked.

"I don't know if I want something so evil inside of me." She answered.

She felt movement again, the feeling of the others coat disappearing. "Understandable. But it might be the only way." The other answered, soft hoofsteps reaching Twilight's ears.

"But better than being undead right?" The other asked.

"I'm not sure." Twilight answered in all honesty.

"That's for you to decide."

Twilight opened her eyes. She was lying on the same cliff she had been before, her eyes looking at the bloodfall.

Slowly standing up on wobbly legs, she looked down. Michael was kneeling on one of the pillars, in the middle of the lake, looking into the depths. A second later he stood up.

And took a header into the blood.

Furrowing her brows, Twilight looked into the blood. She wasn't sure, but she saw him swim through the watery sanguine liquid, disappearing into a hole underneath the surface.

'Maybe an underground passage?' She looked at the bloodfall. 'Has to be, all the blood has to go somewhere or it would flood everything.' She sighed. 'Now what?'

Looking around again, this time a little closer, she came to the same conclusion. There was nothing to hold on to. The walls were cragged but nothing that would give her enough foothold. Furrowing her brows again she looked up to the bloodfall.

'Maybe I can jump?' She thought. Looking down at the liquid underneath and the edge of the fall, she shook her head. She was sure that the jump was impossible for her. Maybe an athlethic pony like Rainbow Dash or Applejack could do it, but she was nowhere as athletic as these two. She had to find another way.

'Hmmm...' She mused. 'Maybe...' Concentrating again she fired a spike straight into the wall to her right. Lifting a hoof she lowered it onto the spike.

She felt the spike humming with energy underneath her hoof. It was a solid object.

'Maybe I can build stairs, or a bridge?' She concentraded again, firing another spike into the wall, a few inches away. Slowly, carfully, shifting her weight into the first spike she heard creaking, but it was able to carry her. Leaning back, she thought about it for a moment.

She had to test something.

Concentrating she created more and more spikes, sending them into the wall, all a few inches apart.

She gasped, falling to her knees. She had created five spikes. More were impossible for her. Sticking out of the walls, she noticed that the first was crackling. Taking another deep breath she stood up, lowering a hoof onto the first spike.

And recoiled as the spike dug into her hoof, burning it.

'It's scorching hot!' She mentally noted. Concentrating again, she shattered the spikes. Almost instantly she felt the exhaustion disappear. Adding another mental note, she created four spikes this time, piercing the wall again. This time the exhaustion was endurable.

Lowering her hoof again she noticed the heat of the spike. It was hot, uncomfortably hot. But atleast it didn't hurt.

Twilight smiled and shifted her weight onto the spike.

It cracked, breaking under her weight.

Twilight yelped, falling off the cliff, and headfirst into the lake.

She was completly engulfed by the sanguine liquid.

She was diving through blood.

Aside the strange feeling in her stomach, she was okay. She knew how to swim.

Kicking her legs, Twilight quickly ascended, breaching the surface with a loud gasp, spurting blood.

Twilight coughed, surpressing the urge to vomit. Paddling closer to one of the pillars she reached up, grabbing the edge of it, she pulled herself out of the blood. Coughing a little more and flicking her ears she tried to get the liquid out of her ears and mouth. Sitting down she...

Quickly stood up again.

There was something....

Bending her body she looked at her haunches.

And saw a big flat... something sticking to her flank.

Twilight shrieked, kicking her leg to hopefully get it off. It stayed, all her flailing and kicking seemed to be to no avail. The creature stayed.

Reaching over with a hoof she tried to hold on to the creature, it's silky skin though gave her nothing to hold on to. It's edges were so slim that she couldn't even grab those.

'No...nonono.' She began to hyperventilate. 'What should I do?' Slightly panicking, she searched, looking around. She had to find a way to get that thing off.

She heard giggling behind her, turning around she saw Michael sit on one of the other pillars.

"What's so funny?" She snarled at him.

"You are." He stood up, shaking his head. "Are there no leeches where you from?" He jumped over, landing on her pillar.

"That's a leech!?" Twilight shrieked. "Get it off! Get it off! GET IT OFF!" She whined, kicking her leg.

He grabbed her leg, stretching it. Twilight shuddered at the uncomfortable feeling as he looked at the creature.

"Seriously..." He shook his head. "Panicking over something so small... it's just a Deadfish."

"I don't care what it is!" She whined. "GET IT OFF!" She begged.

"Okay... okay..." He answered. Grabbing his gun he pointed it at the deafish on her leg.

"What?" Her eyes widened. "Are you crazy?!"

He shook his head, the weird energy of his gun appearing around the barrel. Twilight closed her eyes.

A quiet shriek a second later made her open one eye. She saw Michael pressing the tip of his gun against the Deadfish, burning it.

Twilight sighed in relief as the Deadfish fell to the ground, apparently dead.

"You could have told me that you would just burn it!" She snarled at him.

He shrugged, a grin appearing on his face. "Hah, was funnier to see your reaction."

"Buck you." She turned away. "And thank you." She whispered.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing!" Twilight answered, jumping over to another pillar.

He followed her. "Did you find something on the bloodfall?"

She shook her head. "Haven't found a way to reach it." She explained, jumping on the shore with the hut on it. "I was just testing something when... that something failed and I fell into the lake.... And no, I won't go back."

He nodded, walking towards the hut. "Well, seemes like I actually achieved something then." He pointed towards the blood. "Found an underwater tunnel, leading to another cave, a giant cog and a switch." He opened the flap of the hut, hot air escaping the building. "And... yeah. It's open now."

Twilight followed his gaze and saw a giant wooden plate dominating the room, a man sized hole in it. The hole gave way to a path behind.

"Was this closed before?" Twilight asked, walking closer, noticing the big cog in the floor she quickly understood. "Oh, so the whole plate can be turned to cover up the path." The heat became almost unbearable.

Michael nodded, sweat appearing on his forehead. "Let's see what's behind."

Twilight followed him. The room they entered was divided, a massive pit of burning red coals the most prominent feature, their gaze obstructed by a column in the middle.

"What is this place?" Twilight flattened her ears, her tongue sticking out. "What are hot coals doing here?"

Michael pointed over the pit. Twilight looked over and saw a Govi standing on the other side, a staircase behind it leading deeper.

"The ancients tried to protect the Darks Souls this way." He explained, walking to the edge of the pit he looked down. "No way over."

Twilight looked at the coals.

And then she remembered something. "Can't we cross them anyway?"

"Are you weary of your undead life already?" Michael asked.

Twilight shook her head. "I read that, if you are fast enough, you can walk over hot coals without hurting yourself."

Michael nodded. "Yeah, sure you can do that. With coals from the lifeside." He concluded. "These are special coals. Enchanted by the ancients, they will slow you down, practically drag you down into the flames. Nothing can cross this." He turned away, walking to the other side of the room, a small crevasse seperating the platfrom and a doorway on the other side.

"Let's just continue." He leaped over the pit. "And don't trip." He added, disappearing through the doorway.

Shaking her head again, Twilight raised her ears, gunfire reaching them. Sprinting towards the doorway, she leaped over the crevasse, sprinting down a narrow stairway.

On the bottom of the stairs, the temperature returning to the familiar cold, Twilight looked into another canyon, a massive stone platform dominating this room, a wooden walkway leading up towards it.

And right there was Michael, surrounded by three Duppies. Their long bladed arms were waving around, circling around Michael. His gun was glowing, a vortex of his energy swirling around it's tip.

Two souls were already swirling around, their belonging carcasses lying flat on the ground.

Michael looked around, he saw Twilight and pointed to the sky over her.

Twilight followed his pointing and saw a human figure flying over her. It's leathery wings carrying it through the air. She flinched as another gunshot echoed through the canyon, she heard the screams and groans of the Duppies.

Concentrating on her task, she looked up and saw the flying figure dash down towards her. Jumping out of it's way she summoned one of her spikes, impaling the left shoulder of the creature.

The creature ascended, unaffected by the wound. It ascended, turned around and looked at Twilight.

Twilight's peaked her ears as a strange rattling escaped the creature, the sound of someone clearing his mucus-ridden throat.

And a ball of yellow liquid flew towards Twilight, jumping out of the way again, she heard a strong hissing coming of the stone ground.

'Gross...' Twilight threw another spike, the creature dodged, sinking a few feet before opening it's mouth again, a retching sound escaping it's throat as it spit another bileball towards Twilight.

Sidestepping the projectile, she felt some of the liquid land on her Tail. Flicking her tail she tried to shake it off and at the same time counterattack.

Another bile shot barely missed her as she ducked.

Ignoring the acidic liquid on her tail for now, she concentrated and flung another spike into the sky, piercing the creatures chest.

The creature sank a few feet again, though kept on flapping, ignoring it's wounds, opening it's mouth again-

Twilight burst the spikes, a rain of meat and bones descending. It's dim souls staying in the sky.

Twilight looked back at Michael and saw him dodge an attack, rolling out of the way. The Duppie's arms, like scythes, cut through the chest of it's brethren, it's scream echoing through the canyon. Standing up he pointed his gun at the already wounded Duppie, his gun giving off a hollow shriek as it's projectile went through the Duppie's head.

The Duppie fell on his knees, grabbing it's head, it wavered.

Turning around, he ducked from another attack, a kick to the stomach of his enemy gave him the space he needed, pointing the gun at the second Duppie he shot a hole into it's chest.

It fell, landing on the floor, flailing around in pain.

Pointing at the first again, Michael fired. The Duppie screamed, lightning crackling over it's body as it dug it's own blades into it's chest and head, ripping itself apart, revealing it's soul.

Quickly pointing the gun at the other, the shot deafeningly loud, piercing it's chest again. The Duppie flailed even more, tremors going through it's body as the lightning burned through it's body, it's last breath escaping as a sigh as it's soul burst through it's melting chest.

Reaching out, Michael absorbed the two souls quickly, an ugly gash on his back knitting itself back together, a reliefed sigh escaped him.

Twilight looked at her tail, the corroded edges of the hair. She sighed with a frown. Her mane and tail had definetly seen better days. Looking up she saw Michael stare at her.

He nodded. "Good job."

"Thank you." Twilight answered. Michael turned around, looking up the wooden walkway.

"Seems there are a lot of options." Michael murmured. He followed the walkway with his eyes, counting the different tunnels in the walls over them. "I'm gonna follow the walkway." He turned back around pointing at a tunnel, a small ledge to the right of the walkway leading up to it. "You take that path."

Twilight looked at him and nodded. "Where do we meet again?" She asked.

"Well, time doesn't really exist here." He rubbed his own neck, massaging it, looking up to the clouded sky. "Let's just meet at the path of shadows again." He concluded, walking to the walkway, climbing on it he turned around. "Later."

"Later." She answered, looking past him as he walked up. Following him a few steps on the walkway she looked up, leaping to the ledge. Walking to the entrance of the tunnel she turned around, seeing him disappear in another tunnel.

"And good luck." She whispered as she stepped into the darkness of the tunnel.

Author's Note

Now first of all, I have to say that I like how it turns out right now. And still I feel that something is... off.

So please guys help me out. Tell me what you think about Twilight, her reactions etc. I partly began to write this story because I wanted to practice writing her in character. And I feel I'm not that good at it right now.

So sorry for any OOC'ness that occurs with Twilight.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Temple of Life

Following the short way through the tunnel, Twilight noticed dim light. Stepping out of the tunnel she saw more wooden walkways attached to the walls, lanterns of somesorts hanging beneath them.

Leaning forward she looked down, into a chasm. She gulped as she saw the ground a dozen of meters beneath her. Looking up she saw the walkway split. The two paths leading through rifts in the canyon. Walking the few steps to the left path she glimpsed around the corner, an empty hut coming into view. With a mental note and a nod, she turned around, walking to the right path. The right path seemed to widen right behind the crevasse.

Squeezing through the gap she found herself at a much wider part of the chasm. The ground beneath her lit by more lanterns and even some fires. Looking to her left she saw a walkway leading down to the ground beneath. Adding these information to the map in her head she leaned over the edge, looking straight down.

A Duppie sat at the fire, gazing into the flames, ignoring her for now. Tilting her head a little she saw a tunnel to her right. In the middle of the chasm, and on height with her walkway, was a strange wooden platform on a rack.

Not the platform was strange, more the place it was standing. Furrowing her brows at the weird placement of the rack, she looked back up. To her right, on her walkway, was another tunnel leading deeper into the canyon.

And on the other side of the chasm, far away, was another dark tunnel.

Twilight shook her head. 'I feel like a mole...' Ignoring her mental complaints for now she walked towards the tunnel to her right, glimpsing over to the platform and the other tunnel.

She heard the creaking of the walkway beneath her hooves, groaning at the weight of her small body.

CRACK!

Twilight screamed as the wood underneath her gave way.

Landing with a sickening thud, Twilight screamed at the sudden pain. The unbearable pain flashing through her left backleg. The unbearable pain of...

Twilight hissed in pain, biting her lip as she looked down at her leg.

It was backwards and twisted, the bone poking through the flesh. She twitched with her leg, her groan turning into a loud whine as new pain flashed through her brain.

Tears began to well.

She heard something.

Surpressing her groans and whines as best as she could she looked up.

The Duppie she had seen before... was standing only a few steps away.

"Meat?" He hissed, taking a step closer. "Ohhh.... meeeeeaaaaaaat!" He shrieked at her.

"No!" Twilight screamed, dragging herself away, more pain echoing through her body. "Get away from me!" She sobbed.

"Meat!" The Duppie charged at her, his bladed arms pointing to the sky, ready to strike.

"NO!!" She screamed, firing one of her spikes at him, his chest.

The spike dropped to the ground with an loud, almost deafening clunk.

Twilight's eyes widened, focussed on the spike.

The Duppie was now right over her, his arms slashing down.

His left arm scraped her chest, missing her.

The other dug deep into her chest, piercing her ribs.

She screamed in new agony, looking up into the dark, glimmering eyes of her assailant. Her hooves clasped around his arm, pulling weakly at the blade, as a cough escaped her sore throat.

A second later, her sore throat was gone.

Now it added pierced to it's attributes.

She couldn't even cough now, only soft pained gargles escaped her broken throat. She heard and felt the creaking of her bones, the scraping of the Duppie's blades as he withdrew them from her body.

Falling over, she looked up to the whirling clouds. Her eyes began to jitter. Her breath was gone. Her body became numb.

'So this... is how I die...' Her thoughts were slow. She felt the blade of the Duppie enter her body again.

And again.

And...

She stopped feeling the pain.

She looked up, the Duppie was still attacking her, ripping pieces of her flesh out of her body.

But she didn't feel it anymore.

"You are undead." Michael's voice echoed through her mind. Her strangely calm mind.

She opened her mouth...

And her lungs began to work. She felt her strength returning to her body. She saw the Duppie pierce her flesh again and again, frantically cutting through her body. She saw her right frontleg lying next to her, twisted and mangled. She saw her own innards, the soft flesh of her own body. She saw the Duppie pick up her liver, shoving it into his greedy mouth.

And she felt good, awake.

Alive.

Looking at the Duppie she concentrated and flung a spike into his head, ripping it off.

She saw the Duppie continue, he kept on assaulting her already mangled body.

He was still alive.

"Your soul sure is loud." Michael's voice again.

'The soul.' It whispered in her head. Twilight closed her eyes. She was calm, listening to her inner self.

And there it was. The soft humming of her soul, unaffected by the barbarious mangling that was happening to her body. The rending, the shredding. None of it reached her soul.

She opened her eyes again, shattering her spike to finally kill the Duppie. She saw his soul, the bright, warm pinkish light.

"It will mend your wounds." Michael's voice echoed through her mind again.

Standing up, as good as she could with her destroyed body, now blind on her left side, her right foreleg missing and her innards scattered over the ground. Looking into the warm inviting light of the soul she gathered her strength for a second. Raising to her backlegs she reached up with her foreleg.

The soul dissipated into the sole of her hoof.

Twilight's eye jittered again as she felt it's warmth spread through her destroyed body. Falling back to all three legs she looked over her body. She saw the wounds in her skin close, her missing leg, lying a few steps away, turned to dust. The dust began to swirl towards her, rebuilding her leg. She felt her vision grow back to normal, she felt her trachea recover, her innards returning to their required spaces in her body.

And something deep inside her, her soul, gave off a warm throb. Like a heartbeat, yet so much more.

Looking over herself Twilight noticed that her body had fully recovered. Her wings were still broken and mangled but everything else was the same as before.

'Welcome to Deadside...' Something whispered inside her head. Twilight nodded to herself.

She had finally accepted her state. Before, somewhere in the depths of her psyche, she had doubted what they had told her. She couldn't believe that something as being undead was even a state for a pony.

Yet here she was, standing in a chasm after being torn apart, and partially eaten, and she felt good. She felt okay.

Twilight looked up to the swirling clouds in the sky, her serene mind calming her chaotic thoughts.

She was undead, yet alive.

After minutes of sitting by the fire, staring into the dark sky, she finally stood up.

She looked up to the walkway. Back down to the tunnel next to her.

Walking through the tunnel on this level she found herself in yet another chasm.

She saw four, no five Duppies turn towards her, all screaming.

Five spikes later, the Duppies pinned to the walls, she ignored their thrashing, and walked calmly through the chasm searching for anything interesting.

And at the far end, she found something.

A small, circular button, an arrow carved into the wood. She pressed it, her ears picking up the sound of something flying through the air, similar to the sound of crossbow bolts.

Turning back around Twilight looked at the five Duppies, still struggling. None had managed to escape, they were still caught.

Twilight smiled, a dark smile, an evil smile. She closed her eyes, concentrated... thinking about ways to end the-

She opened her eyes in shock, a gasp escaping her, as she noticed what she was doing, what her mind had tried to do. The five spike shattered, the Duppies fell to the ground, unhurt but apparently stunned.

Panick began to rise in Twilight as she sprinted back the way she came.

What had happened to her? Where did those thoughts come from?

Shaking her head she tried to clear her mind of the sickening thoughts. Back through the tunnel, she quickly sprinted to the walkway, leaping up. Climbing the way up, she saw the same hut she had ignored before and stopped in front of it. She took deep breaths calming herself, fighting the panick.

Something had happened. She didn't know what it had been but she knew that the thoughts she had... She shook her head again, fighting the urge to vomit.

"What... happened?" She whispered.

No answer.

Shaking her head again, she finally managed to get the worst of the thoughts out of her head. She knew that killing was wrong, she felt sorry for every creature she had killed so far and she would continue to feel sorry for each to come. Atleast she hoped so.

Sitting down, Twilight sighed, rubbing her temples.

"No use to ponder..." She whispered, reassuring herself. "I just need to find a way out of here." She looked at her hooves. The hooves she knew so well.

Right now they felt alien to her.

Shaking her head again she stood up.

She had to go, Michael counted on her.

Walking over the upper walkway again she squeezed through the first crevasse, leading to the entrance. Walking around she found herself back at the second gap. Squeezing herself through it she noticed the hole in the walkway, only a few steps away, and gulped.

This time she would be more careful.

Walking carefully up to the hole she looked down. She saw the broken parts of the walkway, scattered across the ground. Looking up she tried to see if more of the wood seemed weak, but sadly she found no way to tell.

Taking a few steps back she looked on the other side. Her only hope was to stay as far away from the broken parts as possible. Gathering her courage, she sprinted towards the hole, leaping over it. Landing on the other side, a few steps away she heard more wood creak and break off, the sound of wood hitting the stone ground echoed up. She shuddered, happy that she made it.

She took a step forward-

Crack!

Twilight stumbled as her hoof disappeared in the brittle wood. Luckily, nothing more seemed to break. Twilight groaned as she pulled her hoof out of the walkway. She was lucky again, no splinters found their way into her skin.

Stepping over the hole, Twilight carried on, much slower than before, checking every step.

After a few seconds of carefully checking every step, she looked up and saw that she had made it halfway over the walkway. To her left was the wooden platform. Looking over, she noticed something that hadn't been there before.

A rope was now connecting a slat above the platform and the wall to the far end.

'A way over?' Twilight mused, leaping over onto the platform. Looking up she noticed how thick the rope was. It was created solely for this purpose, creating a way over. Looking over to the other wall, Twilight saw a Govi, it's dark skin almost disappearing in the shadows surrounding it.

Twilight looked up to the rope.

She gulped.

Gathering her courage she jumped up, grasping the rope in fronthooves, wrapping them around it. Pulling herself up, and bending her body she also wrapped her backlegs around the rope.

And like a worm, or a caterpillar she began to inch her way forward.

After a few moments of panicked climbing she felt her head softly connect to the wall, turning her head she saw the stone beneath and took a deep breath, a sigh of relief escaping her.

Pulling herself up again she unwrapped her backlegs, lowering them. Dangling from the rope she let go of the rope. Sadly, the alien feeling of landing on only her backlegs made her tumble down to her haunches.

"Ow..." She complained, standing up she rubbed her buttocks. "Stupid dumb rope..." She looked up.

She was now standing right in front of a Govi, a Dark Soul. Unsure of what to do next, she turned away to the tunnel. Taking a look inside she noticed the darkness.

Turning back around she gazed at the Govi.

Michael had said that the Dark Souls were incredibly evil. Twilight knew she wanted nothing to do with them but the words of her doppelganger came back to her.

'An immortal body.' Twilight mused. 'Possibly even a reversal of the undead state...' She looked at the Govi, it's foul stench made Twilight choke.

Did she really want to risk it? Did she really want to take something so dark into herself?

No, she didn't.

Turning around, she glimpsed into the darkness of the tunnel again.

She sighed.

Snapping around, she fired one of her spikes into the Govi.

And to her big surprise the Govi fell apart, instantly revealing the Dark Soul beneath.

As if the soul... wanted her to take it.

She saw the soul reach out towards her. There was no flailing around, no searching for a new host. The soul knew exactly where she was.

'Think about this...' She looked at the soul. 'It's something incredibly evil, something that might turn you into a monster. Do you really want that?' She argued mentally. 'But it might also bring me back to live.' She countered. 'And I'm already a monster. I'm undead.' She mused. 'Pro? Immortality. Contra? Evil. Pro? Possibly returning back to live. Contra? Still evil.'

After a few moments she shook her head. 'Decide now Twilight, show some backbone! Either you take it, or you don't!' She sighed.

A moment later, and very hesitantly, she reached out to the soul. She felt the dark tendrils of the soul wrap around her leg, pulling itself closer, it's mouth opened wide.

And then something happened.

The soul screeched. And instead of willingly pulling itself closer she saw the worm like creature trying to turn away, to flee, but it's tendrils wouldn't let it. They pulled it closer and closer and-

The worm disappeared in Twilight's hoof.

Twilight looked down her leg, she saw the worm dig through her flesh. Through her shoulder and over her ribcage, stopping over her heart.

Twilight gasped, falling to the floor.

Something happened. She felt the worm dig deeper, tearing his way through her heart. At the same time she felt unbearable pain, echoing through every pore of her whole being, even her soul was aching.

And then she screamed, a loud shriek of agony as the worm disappeared in her heart, his tendrils breaking out of her chest.

But something was different. The former purple appendages were now a bright blue, turning around and snapping back at Twilight, wrapping around her body, melting deeper into her.

She felt something stirr inside, something dark. She felt anger, hate, wrath, agony, fear, solitude and so many more things. Things she never felt before, not in that intensity.

Rolling around on the floor in agony she noticed new pain growing in her back. She felt the bones of her wings snap back into position, she felt the tendons regrow she felt the skin crawling back over them and Twilight's eyes drooped, the darkness inside her pulled her consciousness deeper.

Opening her eyes she looked around.

Her eyes widened.

Right in front of her was a gigantic dark soul. But as before, something was different. The soul seemed calmer, the tendrils were groggily waving around, glowing in a bright, yet dim blue light.

"That's..." She heard someone stutter behind herself. Turning around she saw her broken doppelganger lying on the floor, blood escaping her mouth and her broken limbs. "Impossible..." She gasped, coughing up more blood. "That... wasn't... supposed to happen..."

"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

"Shut up!" The other coughed up more blood. Twilight's eyes widened again as she noticed that the blood had turned purple. "You... weren't supposed to..." She groaned. "That's...." Standing up on wobbly legs she looked at Twilight. She took a deep breath, Twilight noticed that her cheeks began to rip, the doppelganger unhinged her jaw like a snake, lunging at Twilight, a shout erupting from her throat.

"YOU ARE MINE!"

Shocked, Twilight closed her eyes as the jaw of the monster came right for her.

A second later she heard the sound of ripping flesh, and something warm sprayed on her face. Opening one eye she looked up. Her doppelganger was right above her, gargling, blood dripping down her ripped lips. One of the tendrils had snapped forward, piercing the monstrosity.

"Th.... thi... this.... is.." It coughed. "N... ot over." Taking one last deep breath it looked into Twilight's eyes.

"For... we are... man....yy." It whispered.

A second tendril snapped forward, slicing the doppelganger in two.

Twilight looked in shock, as the purple rain painted the darkness around her. Turning around, she looked at the Dark Soul. Like before, the soul seemed calm. But something was still different. The feelings, the dark feelings from before. All the anger, the hate and all the other feelings, were gone.

And then one of the tendrils snapped forward, slapping Twilight across the face.

She woke up. Lying on the floor between pieces of the Govi. Pain echoed through her cheek.

Sitting up she rubbed her cheek frantically. "Oooooooowwww...." She whined. "Ohh... By Celestia! That hurt!" She hissed in pain.

'Stupid dumb soul...' She grumbled. Standing up, one hoof still at her cheek, she looked around. And then she felt something.

Opening her wings she saw her beautiful feathers. Fluttering her wings she heard the soft rustling of her downs, tickling her coat. Tears began to blurr Twilight's vision as she hugged her wings, rubbing her cheek against the soft feathers.

A second later she looked up at her horn. Concentrating a little bit she saw it ignite, emitting a faint purple light.

She placed a hoof on her ribcage. There it was. Twilight smiled as more tears began to well. The sweet rhythmic thumping of her heart.

She was alive.

For a moment, Twilight felt nothing but bliss. She was the happiest creature alive right now. And nothing would-

Twilight peaked her ears as a familiar rattling reached her ears. Looking up she saw one of the flying monsters right over her, his mouth wide opened-

Jumping out of the way, she barely managed to dodge the bile shot.

Igniting her horn again she looked up.

Nothing happened.

"What?" Twilight yelped as another shot barely missed her. Looking up again she concentated again, her horn ignited.

And fizzed out.

Dodging another shot, she concentrated, creating one of her spikes. The spike flew up, piercing the creatures chest. The creature screamed as it's soul began to burst through it's chest, ripping the creature apart.

Twilight stood there, ignoring the bodyparts of the monster that fell down, she looked up to her horn. it was defintly ignited and working but something...

Her eyes widened as she spread her wings, flapping them as hard as she could. She felt nothing.

She stopped, understanding now. This land, Deadside, was using a different kind of magic. She wouldn't be able to use Equestrian magic here. Her wings and horn were useless right now.

She frowned.

A second later a weak smile replaced the frown. Atleast she had them back.

Shaking her head because of her musings, she looked back at the dark tunnel behind herself. She ignited her horn, hoping to manage atleast a simple illumination spell. And to her delight, it worked. The light was very faint, barely noticeable in anything brighter than that cave but it would atleast allow her to walk through it without breaking her muzzle.

Treading carefully through the serpentine tunnel she exited on the other side. Extinguishing her horn she looked up. Right in front of her was an entrance. Walking closer she placed a hoof at one of the walls, looking at it's smooth surface. And she felt the magic residing within the walls, humming quietly.

Stepping over the border between the natural stone ground and the created floor, she exhaled sharply, almost like a cough and in an exhausted fashion, her tongue sticking out. The temperature in the room, the heat, had suddenly become unbearable, beads of sweat already began to roll down her forehead.

She remembered the coal room. 'Maybe... it's the same?' She walked through the hallways, carefully checking the walls.

A bright orange glow caught her interest as she walked around a corner. Her eyes widened and in reflex she took a step back.

The whole room in front of her was filled with magma. Bright glowing magma, it's heat wafting through the temple, almost roasting her alive.

'What is this place?' She looked at the walls, the floor and everything else in the room as she took another step back, her haunches touching the cold walls. The pool of magma appeared deep. Looking over the pool she noticed a Govi standing on the other side, bathing in the orange glow of the magma, a small staircase leading into or maybe more precise, out off the magma. Furrowing her sweat drenched brows she looked at the weird architecture.

'Maybe... the magma can be drained?' She asked herself. 'But for what purpose? She shook her head. 'Why create an insurmountable barrier between unwanted guest and the Dark Soul if you could do something as easy as drain the pool?' She looked at the magma. The more she looked at the staircase the more she felt aggravated. It almost looked like a swimmingpool and the staircase was to leave the pool. But that couldn't be it, right?

She shook her head, turning around. She had wasted enough time and there was no way over right now.

'Still have to check the other tunnel.' She whispered in her head. 'Maybe I can find something in there.' Walking back the way she came she exited the temple, the temperature dropping to the already familiar yet unnatural coldness.

Twilight wavered, reaching up with a hoof. The massive changes in temperature left her dizzy, she shuddered as the sweat on her skin felt like it would freeze.

Shaking her head softly, she began to walk back through the tunnel, not even bothering to ignite her horn.

Back through the tunnel, she returned to the destroyed Govi and the rope. Looking up at the rope, the dizziness made her waver again.

'Urgh.... I shouldn't try that right now...' She grumbled, sitting down, waiting for the dizziness to subside. After a moment she lowered herself down, lying on the cold ground, she closed her eyes, ears peaked, and waited for the world to stop spinning.

Her swirling mind, now in a moment of respite, began to wander around.

And it stopped at the doppelganger in her mind.

'For we are many?' Twilight thought about it's words. 'What did she mean? Who did she mean?' She pondered about it for a few moments, thinking about it from every possbible direction. 'The "we" and "many" means that she wasn't alone. Did she mean that there are more like her in me? Or in the Dark Souls... or in Deadside?' Twilight opened one eye. The world had stopped spinning and she sat up, rubbing her tired eyes.

'Maybe I will find answers...' Standing up she looked to the rope, jumping up and wrapping her legs around it, she began to climb back. 'Maybe...' She stopped as her backhooves hit the slat over the platform. Turning her head she flinched as she saw the edge of the platform. She was in a real awkward position, and hit herself mentally.

She thought about the last time. She had lost her balance and had stumbled to the floor. Last time though, she had the space, the worst that could have happened was a bruised butt.

This time she had the confined space of the platform, one misstep and she would fall down again. And a bruised butt would be the best to happen.

She gulped.

Letting go of the rope with her frontlegs, dangling headdown, she looked at the platform half a meter beneath her.

She took a deep breath.

She opened her backlegs and felt the pull of gravity.

Landing on her outstretched frontlegs, like a hoofstand, she quickly balanced her rear onto the platform before her legs buckled beneath her.

Landing on her back, all four legs splayed, she lay on the platform, a sigh of relief escaping her.

Standing up and dusting herself off, she looked at the rope.

'I hope I never have to do that again.' She shuddered, turning to the heightened walkway.

Leaping over onto the creaking and groaning wood, she pressed herself against the wall. A reliefed sigh later she turned to the tunnel, taking careful steps towards it.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally stepped into the tunnel, leaving the creaking wood behind.

Walking through the dimly lit, serpentine tunnel she exited into the same pit she had been before, the pit with the button, this time though on an higher level. Twilight's eyes widened. In front of her, across a bridge, was a big entrance. It's circular shape giving the whole building a weird look. Carefully walking over another wooden walkway, a much less creaking one, she stopped at the bridge. The building reminded her of the hut she had seen before.

'Weird architecture...' She looked at the weird alcoves that were on both sides of the entrance. 'I wonder who build this.' Walking slowly over the thin bridge, she entered the building.

Heat was radiating through the entrance.

'Another set of magmapools? Or coalpits?' She pondered, small beads of sweat already appearing on her forehead as she noticed two paths. One left, one right.

Following the right pathway she quickly noticed that the whole entrance was shaped like an eight, the ways were connected in the middle. Stepping out of this weird hallway she stopped as the heat became almost unbearable again.

With an exhausted sigh she looked through the small hall she had entered.

Right in front of her was a small wooden... table? She wasn't sure, the whole thing was weirdly shaped, an obscure crystal hovering over the surface. Walking closer she noticed a small diamond shaped hole in the wood, the crystal covering it.

Reaching up to the crystel she felt it scrape her hoof sending a small jolt of pain through her leg.

Lowering her hoof again she looked around, ignoring the table for now. Tilting her head a little she walked around the table, quizzically furrowing her brows.

In front of her were two doorways, apparently leading into the same room. The weird thing about that was that their floor, was part of the coalpit that was surrounding Twilight.

'How did they get through?' She asked herself. 'Maybe the coals were added later? Maybe the building was abandoned and to protect their secrets they layered the floor with those coals?' She shook her head, a few drops of sweat flying off her forehead, interrupting her flow of thoughts. 'Maybe, maybe, maybe. I don't have any informations, all I can do is speculate, and I don't have time for that.'

Looking to her right she saw another room, a small leap across the coals later, she searched through the new room. The room looked like one big hallway, another coalpit dividing this side with the opposite side. With a raised brow she walked closer to the coalpit. Inside was something like a metallic raft, it's trellised surface wavering over the coals.

Looking up she noticed that it would be impossible to get to the other side without tools, more than five meters seperating the two sides. Looking back at the raft she began to understand.

'It's there to get to the other side.' She raised a brow. 'But why would anyone build this?' She scratched the back of her head. 'If these people wanted to protect something inside, why would they add something like this?' Interrupting her trail of thoughts again, she sighed. 'I guess I should just stop asking questions.'

Jumping onto the small raft she felt it sink into the coals.

And she instantly regretted her former questions.

The raft began to sink deeper, to melt into the coals.

Panick grabbed Twilight as she balanced over the raft as quick as possible, the loud hissing of the metal in her ears. After a second of panicked balancing she jumped over the coals and onto the other side of the hallway. Gasping and with widened eyes she turned around.

The raft began to float back up, it's molten form returning to it's former solid state.

Twilight gulped, wiping the sweat off her forehead. The raft had been a trap, yes a tool to get over, but also a tool to scare an intruder. If she had been a few seconds slower...

She gulped again. Turning around she looked down the new, much longer, hallway in front of her. She saw a few adjacent rooms, all seperated by the same coalpit and Twilight understood. The floor of the pits were never supposed to be used. The doorways she had seen before had been used to fill the gaps with the coals. Precautions to keep intruders out.

The whole setup reminded her of a temple.

She nodded, answering a few of her own questions. 'The wooden construct at the entrance...' She thought about it and the weird hole in it. 'Maybe some sort of sacrifical altar?

Twilight peaked her ears, her thoughts interrupted by a distinct yet distant sound.

It almost sounded like gunfire.

Walking through the hallway, and leaping over the small gaps, she stopped as the sound became more audible. She nodded. The sound was gunfire coming from within the temple. Closing her eyes and flicking her ears she concentrated. She tried to indentify which direction the sound came from.

After a second of silence she heard new gunshots, coming faintly from her right.

Jumping over another gap she looked around, a quizzical expression appearing on her face.

The room had two paths leading into adjacent rooms but no obvious way to reach them. Searching for a few seconds she found a small ledge at the walls, leading into the two rooms, conveniently big enough to hold on to.

She gulped. Their purpose was clear, the question now; Should she risk it?

Leaning over the coals she could see into the other rooms. They seemed to be copies of the one she was standing in. She would have to leap up to the ledges to get over the coals and then, on the other side, leap back from the ledge to the floor.

She gulped again.

'Can I do that?' She thought about the task at hoof. 'Am I even strong or dexterious enough for that?' She heard more gunshots. 'That could be Michael. Maybe he came through a different entrance?'

Crouching down she looked at the ledge, concentrating.

Leaping up, her hooves connected with the ledge on the left wall, almost bouncing off of it, panick began to raise in Twilight as she felt her hooves slip.

Tightening her grip she managed to stay at the wall, dangling from the ledge over the coals. She felt the heat in the soles of her backhooves, the soft beads of sweat rolling down her body and hissing as they were evaporated.

'Great... I'm here...' She groaned, lifting herself a little. 'Now... I have to...' She moved her left hoof a few inches over. She gasped, already feeling exhaustion gnawing at her muscles and that after just two sets of climbing sidewards. She whined as she did another set.

Gasping quietly, she turned her head. She was now between the first and the second room, a small wall right behind her. She had to move atleast three more sets to get onto the other side. Concentrating on moving her aching muscles, she groaned, as she forced her hooves to another set.

She felt her hooves slip again, her strength depleted. 'No! Nonononono!' She begged. 'Come on! One more!' She groaned, turning her head she saw that indeed it was only one more set she needed to do. Mentally screaming at her muscles, she moved her aching body. Now, hopefully, in the right position she placed her backhooves at the wall, her grip getting weaker.

Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

And jumped backwards.

She felt the warm floor graze her haunches, tumbling backwards, she stopped as the back of her head hit the wall. Slumping forward and curling into a ball, Twilight groaned, wrapping her hooves around her head. She hissed at the pain in her head.

And at her own weakness.

"I swear, by Luna's bright moon." She murmured. "When I'm back I will go exercising with Applejack and Rainbow..." Sitting up she looked around. Her face went pale.

She was in a dead end. Standing up she looked around, the room was completly bare, the only way out was the way she came and-

Twilight groaned. The ledge continued on the other side, leading into another room.

Flattening her ears she sat down, rubbing her upperarms, trying in vain to get the exhaustion out of them.

Twilight flinched as she heard more gunshots and the screaming of a Duppie echo through the temple, not too far away.

"Hello?" Twilight shouted as the shots subsided, a soft growl escaping the Duppie.

"Yes?" She heard the distant voice of Michael LeRoi.

"Michael?" She pressed herself against the wall. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me... ehhh..." She heard soft steps leading to the room next to her.

"Twilight." She answered.

"Yeah, Twilight." The steps stopped. "Where have you been?"

Walking over to the edge, leaning over the coals, she looked down the hallway, seeing Michael do the same, he looked back at her.

"What do you mean?" She raised a brow. "You knew where I went."

"Well... you've been gone for hours." He answered. "Get over here."

"What?" Twilight looked at him. "Hours? That can't be..." She looked at the ledges. "And I can't get over... My legs are too fatigued."

He shook his head. "Really?" An annoyed sigh escaped him. "Wait a minute." She saw him disappear behind the wall.

A second later he jumped at the ledge.

And with kittenish ease he climbed over to her, jumping back on her platform and landing almost grazefully next to her.

"I hate you." Twilight groaned.

"Why?" He looked at her, raising a brow in confusion. "Did you... change?"

Fluttering her wings she smiled. "Yeah... got my wings back. And... for no particular reason." She added.

"Why didn't you..." He flapped his hands. "You know... fly over? Or are they just decoration?" He grinned at her.

"They are not!" Twilight pouted. "The magic here in Deadside is different. I can't use my wings or my magic."

A quizzical expression appeard on his face. "Okay... if you say so." He shrugged. "Whatever..."

Looking down at his equine companion he shrugged again. "I guess that's that then."

"Huh?" Twilight looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He pointed over his shoulder. "I've already cleared everything back there. Nothing left."

"Then... all the gunfire?"

"Duppies.... a lot of 'em." He answered. "But..." He materalized a spear with an surprisingly short handle in his hand. "Nothing my new friend here can't handle."

Looking at the long blade she raised a brow. "What's that?"

"It's called Baton." The spear disappeared from his hand as he drew out the prophecy, opening it he took out one of Les Cartes, holding it down to Twilight.

The card had a small picture of the same altar Twilight had seen before, the spear plunging into the hole on it's surface. "'That blade which pierces the nether and carries the spirit through it.'" She read the small text underneath the picture. "Okay, so this allows you to... teleport?" She looked up.

He shrugged. "Sounds like it, but I don't really care." He placed the card back in the book, desintegrating it again. "Stabbing my enemies is enough for me."

Twilight facehoofed, a sigh quickly following. "Whatever..."

He smiled. "Come on let's get out of here."

Twilight nodded, she looked back at the ledges.

"Hey." She looked back. "What are you doing?"

She raised a brow. "You said..."

He nodded. "Yeah but weren't you too fatigued?"

She nodded.

"Here." He materalized a worn out and patched up teddy bear, holding it down. "Touch that, and don't move."

"Eh? Okay..." Twilight raised a hoof to the teddybear.

A loud high pitched scream assaulted her mind.

Twilight jumped, a yelp escaping her as she took a step away from Michael and the bear.

She felt emotions run through her mind, emotions and sensations. Fear, agony, disappointment, panick.

"What was that!?" She looked around. She was hyperventilating, searching for the source of the scream.

Michael looked at her, dumbfounded. "You... heard his voice?"

"What do you mean his voice?" She almost shouted at Michael.

He kneeled down in front of her. "This teddy belonged to my little brother... he died while holding it. His feelings and emotions are contained in the bear and create a link between Lifeside and Deadside." He explained, his voice sad. Looking at the teddy he frowned, his expression turning desperate. "Only I should be able to hear his voice."

Twilight gulped as the panick began to subside. "Tell me, what the bear does."

"He allows me to transport my soul to preassigned places in Deadside." He held the teddy down to Twilight. "Come now."

Twilight hesitated. "Do you... hear his scream everytime you hold the bear?" She asked.

He looked down at her. "Sometimes." He answered. "Most of the time it's just his voice, things he said before he died."

Twilight gulped again. Slowly reaching up she felt the soft fur of the bear brush her hoof and she heard soft sobs echoing through her mind. Pain, fear and sadness accompanying it.

Twilight felt her heart ache. Tears began to well.

And then she felt something, in the back of her stomach, something like an undertow. She felt her body begin to bend, to twist, her vision became blurry.

She heard a voice, anticipation and happiness residing in it.

"Come on slowpoke!" The voice echoed through her mind.

Twilight gasped as she felt her body land on ground, her hooves connecting softly. She wavered, her stomach churning.

"You okay?" She heard Michael ask her.

"Ohh... my head..." Twilight sat down, grabbing her head.

She heard his soft chuckle. "Hey, the first time I used the bear it made me so sick I had to throw up."

Twilight nodded. "Sounds... like a plan." She turned away emptying the content of her stomach on the floor.

"Wow..." He looked at Twilight and the 'contents' she had just lost. "Did you happen to drink some of the Deadside water?"

Twilight retched, looking at the bile in front of her. It was dark red, almost blood like and it smelled like iron. She nodded.

"Well..." He patted her back. "Be happy you got that out of your system before you found a way back to Lifeside."

Taking deep breaths she stood up, wiping her mouth, more coughs exiting her.

"Where... are... we?" She asked between coughs, looking around. A second later her eyes widened. They were back where Michael had found the prophecy.

"Back at the Hall of Prophecy." He answered.

"Why... here?" She turned away, spitting out in hope to get the foul taste of her tongue.

"The second coffingate is just after this room." He explained. "Closest point." Looking down at her he raised a brow. "Better?"

Twilight nodded, spitting again. "Yeah..."

"Then let's hurry." He turned towards the ramp.

"Right behind you." She whispered following him the way up.

Author's Note

Okay... this chapter feels.... too long. And it feels like I suck at creating an immersive atmosphere. I still hope that it's just me.

Let me know what you think about this.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Asylum: Gateway

Following Michael through the coffingate, Twilight saw him jump down the bridge, stopping in front of the next gate on the level below.

As before he placed his hands on the cross like pedestal. And just like before the small vein like wires began to pulsate, pumping something into the coffingate.

Unlike before though, something happened to Michael. She saw small arcs of lightning appear around his hands, a dark purple connection began to form between the cross and the slots around the coffin, his whole body was trembling, shaking maniacally.

"Michael!" Twilight jumped down, reaching out-

Twilight yelped as one of the arcs hit her hoof, repulsing it. Twilight looked down at her hoof, at the small singed patch of coat on her fetlock.

A second later Michaels erratic shaking stopped, the cross repelling his hands as the connection between cross and gate disappeared, the door of the gate bursting out, splattering over the ground.

Heavily panting, Michael fell to one knee, sweat rolling down his forehead.

"Michael?" Twilight walked closer. "You okay?"

He nodded.

"What happened?"

"The gate..." He looked up to the slots. "It drained me of the energy, if fed on the Dark Souls."

Twilight's eyes widened. "You mean you lost them?"

He shook his head. "No... The energy will regenerate... I just need some time." His breathing was heavy as he stood up, leaning against the wall.

She looked up to him, a worried expression on her face. "Is that going to happen with every coffingate that we meet?"

He nodded. "Probably."

"You sure you can handle that?" She raised a brow. "I mean... what if it begins to drain your lifeforce?"

He shook his head. "These gates... only drain... the energy of... Dark Souls." His breathing was heavy and fast. "If... the energy is insufficient... it will just stop the connection and repulse me."

Twilight looked at him quizzically. "How do you know?"

"I... found one of those... before." He panted. "It replused me instantly... pushing me away." Raising an arm slowly he pointed at the gate, more precisely at the slots around it. "Look..."

Leaning forward Twilight looked into the dark corner, some of the slots were hidden in the shadows. But she saw that two of them were colored in a deep purple.

"What does that mean?" She looked back at Michael.

Pushing himself away from the wall he wiped his forehead. "That I need..." He took another deep breath, his breathing slowly returning to a normal rhythm. "Atleast that much of energy to open the gate."

"So... two souls?" She asked.

He shook his head. "No, in this case three."

Looking back at the slots she tilted her head in confusion. "Three?"

"Yeah." Taking out the prophecy, grabbing another one of Les Cartes down to Twilight.

Looking at the card she saw that a man, someone very similar to Michael, was floating in the middle of the card. Just like the coffingates, ten slots were around him. Unlike the slots around the gates though, these slots were filled with lines. The first slot had only one line, the second two and so on. The tenth slot was filled by twenty-five lines.

Twilight understood. "So these lines tell you how many souls you need to open the representative gates!"

He nodded, the card disappearing in the tome again. Closing it quietly he burned it again.

Twilight frowned. "But then..."

"Then?" He looked at her.

"We might have a problem later on..." She smiled uncomfortably at him.

"Why?"

"Hehe..." She forcefully giggled, taking a step away from Michael. "I ehm... kinda... tookonesoul." She quickly mumbled.

"What?" He leaned closer. "Could you repeat that?"

"I... took one soul." She mumbled again.

"Again?" He leaned even closer.

Twilight sighed in defeat. "I took one soul." She answered clearly.

Michael looked at her with an indefinable expression. If she had to guess it was somewhere between slowly understanding and disbelief.

"Thats how you got your wings back." He looked at her.Twilight answered with a small nod. He sighed quietly, turning around. "Do you know what that means?"

Twilight flinched, taking a step back. "I guess..." She answered.

"If... and only if-" His expression turned dark. "-I need the soul later, I will take it from you."

Twilight looked at him in shock. "Take it?"

His gun appeared in his hand, poking her muzzle. "My Shadowgun rends bodies, severing all connections a soul may have to its body." Twilight gulped. "Or in short; It rips out souls." He withdrew the gun from her face. Turning around he walked through the coffingate, almost ignoring her.

Twilight gulped, following him with her eyes. 'Maybe I should run away?' Her mind was unsure what she should do. Yes, he might be her only chance to find a way out but at the same time she now became his target. She shook her head. 'He knows this place better than me... even if I try to run away he will find me.'

Maybe she could find a way to extract the soul without killing herself? Preferably with keeping her living body.

"Hey!" Twilight jumped as Michael looked back at her. "You comin?"

Twilight gulped. Slowly nodding she followed him through the coffingate. She had no chance for now.

On the other side, through another short tunnel, was a pit. The pit had a walkway leading up to the level they were on right now. On the opposite side and inside the pit, the one inside facing the way Twilight and Michael were coming from, were two more coffingates. Walking around the pit she noticed another Baton table inside.

She pointed down. "Look, another table for Baton."

"Ether." He answered.

"Come again?"

"The tables, they are called Ether." Twilight nodded.

Jumping down into the pit, Michael drew Baton, slowly walking closer.

Stopping by the Ether he looked at the small crystal hovering in front of him now."Let's see how this works..." He drew the blade through the small crystal. A soft humming began to fill the air as the crystal dissolved, surrounding the blade with a golden light. Plunging the spear into the table, Michael was engulfed in the same light, small arcs of energy zapping through the air.

A second later he dissapeared.

Looking at the Ether, Twilight sat down, waiting for Michael to return.

After two minutes of waiting Twilight stood up pacing around.

'What's taking him so long?' She glimpsed at the Ether. 'If it had been dangerous he would have returned instantly... right?' Her mind wandered. 'Maybe the crystal needs some time to recharge? Or maybe they only allow traveling in one direction? Or...' Twilight's mind was still making up more and more possibilities as she heard the sound of crumbling stones coming from above.

Looking up Twilight saw Michael jump down into the pit.

Raising a brow she looked at him confused.

He shrugged. "Coalpit." He answered nonchalantly.

"You died!?" Twilight stepped away from the Ether.

Michael nodded with a uncomfortable smile. "Yeah, the other Ether, the exit point of this one, was in the middle of a coalpit. All I saw was the orange glow and some wooden platforms before the heat burned me.

Twilight looked at Michael with a shocked expression.

"Did it hurt?" She suddenly asked.

"Well golly." He answered sarcastically. "Does it hurt when you burn your... hoof at a stove?" Twilight nodded. "Well there you have it of course it didn't hurt!" His voice was annoyed and dripping with sarcasm.

"Sorry..." Twilight answered, flattening her ears.

Shaking his head, Michael walked around the Ether. "Did it hurt?" He mimicked Twilight. "Well duh... bitch." Climbing the walkway he glimpsed at Twilight, an angry expression on his face.

'It's not my fault that you burned... idiot.' Twilight's mind replied huffily. Ignoring her mental complaint for now, she followed Michael up the walkway.

Back on the upper level, Twilight turned to see Michael standing in front of a path of shadows.

Walking closer she looked into the dark tunnel.

"Ready?" Michael asked quietly.

Twilight nodded. "Yes."

Nodding himself, Michael began to walk into the path, the darkness quickly swallowing him.

Twilight sighed, a shudder quickly following, ruffling her feathers. "I hate these things." She stepped onto the path.

Following the way, Twilight looked around nervously and like before she saw the walls contracting, taking her deeper, reminding her of a snake again.

'Stupid dumb brain... stop thinking about snakes!' She grumbled, trotting through the darkness. This time though, much calmer, she noticed something. Counting in her head she quickly discovered a rhythm at which the walls contracted. Going a little faster she counted again and noticed a change in the rhythm.

'Before it was five seconds, now it's three seconds.' She began to sprint and again the frequence changed. 'Now it's every second.' And not shortly after she saw a light at the end of the tunnel, a sick and dim light, but a light nonetheless.

After another small sprint the walls contracted for the last time as Twilight walked out of the path, stone underneath her hooves again. She wrinkled her nose, something was smelling badly. Turning around she saw the walls returning to their immobile form and her mind pieced together what the path of shadows were.

'They actually are mimicking a snake.' She looked into the darkness, waiting for Michael. 'The difference: The faster something travels through them, the faster they contract, speeding up the travel.' She was amazed at the construction. 'Very interesting.' She made mental notes. Maybe later, once she got out of here, she would be able to recreate something similar.

Turning around again, and actually watching her surroundings, she found herself in another big cave. A big quadrangular metallic pipe, bigger than Twilight, was protruding out of the ground, leading up to a brick wall. Beneath the pipe, the ground decreasing, was a lake. Walking closer the foul stench began to overhwelm Twilight's nostrils and she saw things floating in the water.

"Urgh..." Twilight retched, covering her nostrils with a hoof. "What is that?"

"Sewage." She jumped, turning around she saw Michael walk up to her.

"Seriously... stop it!" She complained. "I'm gonna have a heart attack at some point because of you."

Shrugging, he looked at her. "Yeah yeah. I see you got in front of me again."

Twilight nodded, still keeping her nostrils closed, breathing through her mouth. "Yeah. It seems the path of shadows accelerates your movement. The faster you move, the faster it makes you travel."

"Interesting." Michael looked at her.

"Right?" Twilight answered eagerly, gazing back.

Shaking his head he walked up to the pipe, looking up. "Not really, no." He jumped on to the pipe, climbing up.

Following him, she jumped up the pipe, the metal beneath her hooves vibrating weakly. Soft clunks echoed through the pipe as they followed the pipe.

Michael stopped and Twilight looked up. In front of them, the pipe they were standing on, turned down, leading into the sewage. Luckily, another pipe, just a jump away, was protruding out of the water and turning towards the wall, leading to a small entrance on the right side. To the left was a similar entrance, blocked by massive bars.

Michael, unfathomed by the height and distance, jumped forward, grabbing the edge of the other pipe. Hoisting himself up with a small groan he stood up, walking towards the entrance.

Looking up, Twilight noticed quickly that she would never be able to get high enough to take hold of the edge.

"Michael!" She shouted after him.

"What?" He looked back.

"I could use some help." Twilight replied, pointing at the pipe.

He sighed, turning around, he walked back. Laying down on the pipe he reached as far down as possible.

Reaching up as far as she could, Twilight noticed that there was still too much distance between them.

"You gonna have to jump the rest." He stated plainly.

Twilight looked down, into the sickly green water. She gulped.

"I swear by Celestia, if you don't catch me I will kill you."

"I don't know what a 'Celestia' is..." He replied. "But I guess you shouldn't jump to short then."

Twilight crouched a little, tensing her muscles she leaped up as far and high as she possibly could, her leg reaching out to Michael's hand.

His hand wrapped around her hoof.

And Twilight shrieked as the pipe slammed into her muzzle, dangling from Michael hand she reached up with her other leg, rubbing her nose.

A groan escaped her as she glared up into Michael's eyes.

"Hey... dont look at me like that." Michael heaved her up. "Not my fault that you jump like that." A soft groan later, Twilight now standing next to him, he stood up. "You're heavier than you look." He grinned, taking a step-

And groaned in pain as Twilight's backhoof connected with his shin. "Ow... what the fuck?" He glared down at her, rubbing his leg. "What was that for?"

She glanced back, a small trail of blood escaping her nose. "You know... stuff." She snuffled, wiping her nose. "Damn nosebleeding." She walked over the pipe and onto the small ledge leading inside, leaving small droplets on her way.

Michael shook his head. "Woman..." He said quietly, following Twilight.

"I heard that!" Twilight glared back at him.

"Yeah you were supposed to." Michael answered.

Walking through the, thanks to Twilight's magic, dimly lit corridor, they entered another part of the sewage system. Small yellow candles illuminating the room, and that just barely.

Twilight looked through the small room. She noticed small columns, a small rill and another jump that needed to be done. Turning to her left she saw a small entrance in the wall, something akin to a door blocking it.

Looking up the ledge, Twilight saw a small hallway leading deeper. Her eyes wandered and she saw a computer like construction on the left side, pipes and wires leading into the wall.

Walking in front of her, Michael kneeled down.

"Get up." He ordered.

"What?" Twilight looked at him, raising a brow, still a small trail of blood dripping down her muzzle.

Pointing up the ledge he raised a brow himself. "So you suddenly can jump that high?" He asked almost annoyed.

She looked up. And like before she saw that it was far too high, she shook her head.

"Then get up." He pointed on his back again. With a nod, Twilight stepped closer. Wrapping her frontlegs around his neck, pulling herself on his broad back and wrapping her backlegs around his chest.

Twilight blushed a little as his hands wrapped around her backlegs, shoving her a little higher on his back. Walking to the edge of the rill, he looked up.

"Hold on tight." He let go of her legs. Twilight tightened her grip as Michael crouched down a little, she felt his muscles tense as he jumped up, his hands grabbing the edge. With a deep groan but barely any effort, he hoisted them up. After he took a few steps away from the edge she lowered herself back to the ground.

"Thanks." She nodded at him.

"Yeah, yeah." He walked inside, looking through the adjacent room.

Walking over to the weird construction, Twilight took a closer look at what she thought to be a computer.

Confusion quickly raised in Twilight. The whole construction was weird. She saw no keyboard or any other way to type something, all the thing had was a black screen and a big square shaped hole.

"Hey Michael!" She shouted into the other room. A second later she saw him come back out. "Do you know what this is?" She pointed at the machine.

Shaking his head he walked closer, kneeling in front of it he got a closer look. "Could be a keyhole of somesorts. Or maybe something completly different." He shrugged. "But right now we should just leave it be." Turning around he looked towards the opposite wall. "Oh, almost missed that." Following his gaze Twilight noticed a small hallway in the opposite wall. The walls were drab enough to create a visual illusion if one wasn't able to stare directly at it.

"That's gonna safe me some backpain." Michael walked to the semi hidden entrance, peaking around the corner. "It's clear." He walked inside.

'What's that supposed to mean, "saving him some backpain"?' Twilight shook her head as she followed him.

The hallway lead up and around the other room. Exiting on the upper level she looked back into the room below. 'Oh... that's what he meant.' Twilight walked closer. Down below she saw the entrance they had stood only a few second ago and she saw that Michael would have had to carry her all the way up.

Turning around she saw Michael disappear into the only other hallway.

Shaking her head due to his inability to wait, Twilight followed him.

A few steps into the confined corridor, she flicked her ears, flattening them a few steps later. The sounds of a big machine; Hissing of steam, giant pistons, rattling of chains, was filling her ears.

Looking down the hallway she saw Michael walk down the hallway.

"Michael! Wait for me!" Twilight called out, quickly following him she saw him walk further and-

Disappear behind a massive plate.

Twilight came to a halt, half a meter away from the plate that was now retracting into the wall. A second later it moved out again, blocking the path.

It didn't take long for Twilight to connect the dots. The hidden pistons were moving the plate. The whole procedure repeated itself every two seconds.

Twilight gulped, looking at the plate. She could see that the thing was half a meter thick and would probably be strong enough to crush her. She would have to time it perfectly.

Walking closer to the plate, she was now almost brushing against it. She waited for the perfect moment, counting down in her head.

'1....2....3!' Twilight walked through the small created gap-

And yelped as her tail got caught in the machine, pulling at it.

Luckily, the machine released the hair the very instant that it opened again, leaving only the soft stinging pain in Twilight's hindquarters.

'Stupid machinery!' She groaned, looking back she flicked her tail to straighten it again. Blowing a raspberry at the plate she turned around, looking down the rest of the corridor.

In front of her, maybe a dozen meters away was another plate working in the same fashion.

Walking closer, Twilight saw the corridor end beyond the plate, leading out into an open space. Repeating the procedure she did before, this time her tail carefully tucked away between her legs, she looked out.

Her eyes widened and her mouth stood agape as she looked up.

Right in front of her, looming over her, was the same black tower she had seen before.

But the distance had tricked her.

The tower in front of her, the whole thing-

Was bigger than Canterlot Castle!

More than a little awestruck, Twilight jumped down into the giant courtyard. Looking around the courtyard she felt a tingle run down her spine. The courtyard was a halfcircle, interrupted by massive columns, roofed bridges connecting them with the main tower. Searchlights were panning through the yard, searching for intruders. The whole thing had a sense of dread to it, like a monstrous carcass.

Something grabbed her.

Twilight yelped and kicked around struggling heavily.

"Stop that!" Michael shook her, Twilight calming down a little. "We have no time!" He began to sprint to a small lit bridge in the middle of the yard.

He suddenly ducked, almost dropping Twilight. More than a little confused Twilight looked around.

In one of the columns stood a creature, it's black skin barely visible in the dim window. Apparently it was pointing with something at Michael and-

The object spat out a short burst of light and Twilight saw something flying towards Michael. He ducked again, barely doging whatever the creature had done.

"What was that?" Twilight almost fell out of his grip again as he ducked for the third time.

"They are shooting at us!" Sprinting through the darkness and dodging an upcoming searchlight, they finally managed to get out of the shooters line of sight.

Softly lowering Twilight to the ground, Michael panted as he looked up. Twilight saw that they were at the foot of the tower. A wooden bridge was connecting the entrance with the rest of the courtyard, an orange glow escaping the uncovered parts pit. Following Michael's gaze up the tower she gulped.

She felt like an ant.

Looking down again she noticed more weird architecture.

This monstrosity of a tower, this insult to the eye-

Had an entrance the size of a standard human door.

'That is...' Twilight looked at the door, tilting her head slightly. '...in a disturbing and weird way somewhat cute.'

Walking towards the small door she placed a hoof on it, she felt the cold metal and saw the two massive braces in the middle, keeping the wings of the door closed tightly.

"How do we get in?" She looked back, at Michael.

Who wasn't there anymore.

"Michael?" She furrowed her brows, looking around.

Nothing.

"Michael!?" She raised her voice a little.

A soft groan to her side made her shriek and jump, summoning one of her spikes.

"Seriously..." Michael groaned, hoisting himself up. "We are on enemy territory and you scream around like that." He shook his head.

Blushing a little she looked away as the spike disappeared again. "Sorry."

Shaking his head again he pointed over his back. "There is no way for you to follow me through this." He stated plainly.

"What?" She walked over to the pit, looking down. She saw a metalic walkway leading to a corridor and deeper into the tower. "But there is a walkway we could-"

"A few steps deeper we would have to climb again." He folded his arms. "And I'm not particularly fond of the idea of jumping over burning coals with you on my back." Kneeling down her looked into her eyes. "And what if someone shoots at us again? I can't dodge like I usually do with you on my back."

"But-"

"No buts..." He interrupted. "This is for our best."

"And what about me?" She looked at him with pleading eyes.

Shaking his head, standing up, he looked down into the pit again. "I don't know... maybe you can look around. There are probably more than just two ways in." Looking back at her, a smile on his face, he shrugged. "And if not, just wait here." And with that he jumped down, a soft clunk of the walkway echoing up as he disappeared into

More than a little shocked she looked into the pit.

Turning around, she groaned quietly. 'This... idiot! He's just going to leave me here!?' Pacing over the bridge she looked around, the searchlights still wandering from left to right, back and forth.

There was no use, she would have to-

The door gave of a massive clunk. Shocked, Twilight turned around looking at the door.

The two massive braces had moved, unlocking the door.

"Michael?" She whispered.

The door split.

Twilight shrieked as a monstrosity walked out of the door.

The skin of the monster was a deep dark black, like moving coals. Wearing a heavy, leather apron, covering it's upper body, the creature looked at Twilight.

Twilight gulped as the creature began to move closer, a long black rifle in it's hands.

And then it groaned, a deep distorted scream of a pig as it raised the rifle, pointing at Twilight.

Twilight ducked, a reflex she didn't know she had, as an earnumbing bang echoed through the courtyard.

Ducking deeper, Twilight took a step back, looking at the monster as it pointed the rifle at her again.

Jumping out of the way, Twilight summoned one of her spikes, sending it straight into the creatures chest.

A groan escaped it.

And that was all the spike did. The creature raised the rifle for the third time and-

Twilight felt a massive pain in her shoulder as the shot pierced her flesh. Gasping and panting she fell to the ground, grasping her shoulder as her blood began too splurt out, drenching her coat.

'Stand up!' Her mind screamed at her, looking up she saw the creature point the weapon at Twilight's head. 'STAND. UP!'

Twilight rolled out of the way of the shot, jumping up she ran towards the creature. Using her unharmed shoulder she shoved the monster over the egde, right into the coals.

A massive loud scream echoed through pit, almost deafening Twilight as she sat down, covering the wound.

The creature burned, flailing around as it's dark skin began to crumble off, revealing green skin.

Twilight smiled in triumph. And then her head began to waver, she felt dizzy. She felt the world twist and move around her.

Falling onto the bridge and into the puddle of blood her wound created, her eyes dropped, a tear escaping.

"I'm sorry..." Was the last thing she whispered.

Author's Note

Not much to say about this.

Okay I have a lot to say about this... but I won't.

My only complain? I still suck a writing atmosphere... I read this chapter and I feel... disconnected. Please guys, if you think so too, let me know in the comments.

And *cough cough* spoiler (not really though) Twilight is not dead.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Asylum: Cathedral of Pain

There are things that ponies like to see, hear, feel and even smell when they wake up.

The first rays of the sun as they enlighten a meadow after a soft summer rain.

The giggling of little foals, running through the house on a sunny saturday morning.

The warm embrace of a mate, cuddling closer as he whispers beautiful things into your ears.

The strong smell of a nice hot cup of coffee.

Twilight opened her eyes.

She saw blood, death and gore.

She heard the ripping of flesh, screams of terror and agony.

She felt the seething of a wound, the coldness of metal bars.

She smelled blood, vomit and other indescribable things.

She closed her eyes again, a deep groan escaping her as she tried to move, her shoulder aching.

She heard the soft clattering of keys, the rusty screeching of a door. Slowly opening her eyes again she looked into the adjacent cage, a female undead cowering in a corner, pressing herself against the opposite bars, trying to be as small as possible.

The creature didn't care.

Her panicked screams filled Twilight's ears. Panicked screams that changed into lustful moans as the creature sunk a meat hook into her shoulder, right behind her collarbone. The soft scraping sound, metal on bone, haunted Twilight's hearing as the creature began to pull her out. The weak attempts of the undead as she tried to escape.

A second hook was rammed into her jaw, piercing the soft flesh underneath, blood running down the hook, splattering to the ground.

The female stopped struggling, gargling up more blood as she was dragged away, looking pleadingly at Twilight.

Twilight flinched, closing her eyes she turned away from the scenery, ignoring the sounds of the creature as it pulled the female across the dark room.

A second groan. A deeper groan. A closer groan.

Twilight looked up.

Right in front of her cage stood another one of them, this one had green skin, wearing the same heavy leather apron she saw on the black one before. Two hooks in his disfigured hands.

The creature hung one of the hooks into the bars of Twilight's cage, dangling from the metal, as it pulled out a set of keys.

Like the female before, Twilight began to move away from the door as far as her body allowed. The pain in her shoulder hissed at her, screamed at her.

The creature inserted a key, softly rattling as the lock-

Didn't open.

A sound, maybe an disappointed groan, escaped the creature as it took out the key again. A second later it inserted another key.

There door stayed shut.

The monster groaned again, slamming it's fist into the metal bars, electing a yelp from Twilight, tears began to well in her eyes. She looked away. She didn't want to see it open the door. She didn't want to see it reach in. Flattening her ears she tried to shut out all sounds, concentrating on her own heartbeat.

It tried another key.

And another.

Twilight began to shake, dreading the moment that the lock opened.

Clack!

Twilight was fullout crying by now. Whimpering in the cage, sobbing quietly.

She felt something brush against her coat, something warm and she began to scream in panic.

Whatever it was raised Twilight, carefully heaving her out of the cage, ignoring her flailing.

"You are still heavier than you look." Whispered someone as she felt warm arms wrap around her. She stopped her flailing, her screams died down and she looked up.

And Twilight cried, she cried tears of happiness. She shed the happiest tears possible.

And she shed them on Michael's strong shoulder.

"Shhh." He whispered, stroking her mane. "It's okay now."

And Twilight cried...

Until exhaustion pulled her into the darkness again.

***

She didn't know how much time had passed. But she heard something new, she felt something different.

She heard the soft humming of a machine, a soft vibration shaking the ground she was lying on.

She felt something warm stroke her neck, slowly, softly, in a soothing fashion.

Twilight stirred, moving her tired muscles.

"Hey there." Whispered someone.

Opening her eyes and looking up she saw Michael looking back at her.

"Hi..." Twilight shuddered as Michael's hand wandered down between her shoulders, softly stroking the coat between her wings.

"How are you?" His voice was soothing, quiet, comforting.

Yawning, she sat up, Michael's hand disappearing from her coat. "Better..." She answered in a soft whisper. "Thanks to you."

He smiled at her. "Glad to hear that."

Twilight nudged him.

"Huh?" He raised a brow.

Pouting a little she looked into his eyes. "I'm not heavy..." She complained.

And then something entered her ears, the deep yet melodic sound of a male laugh. A deep bellowing laughter.

A second later Twilight joined in, her giggle quickly rising to a wholehearted laugh.

And then the moment was gone.

The room they were in right now, more like a small cell, was shaken, it's motion stopping.

"What was that?" Twilight stood up, finally looking at her surroundings. They were in a small cable car, the walls cushioned with crimson silk. In front of Twilight, underneath the only window, was a simple handle. Two small signs were accompanying it. The first said 'Gateway', the second, on which the handle was resting right now, said 'Cathedral'.

"Cathedral?" She looked at Michael. "Where are we?"

Shaking his head he stood up. "I have no idea. I found this after I rescued you." He looked at her. "Which was a pain in the ass." He added with a smile. "You being unconscious and all."

"Sorry..." Twilight flattened her ears. "I got surprised and..." Her eyes widened and her hoof rushed up to her injured shoulder, feeling-

The soft skin of her coat, undamaged skin. The wound was gone.

Confused she looked at Michael. "But... how?"

She saw Michael kneel down in front of her, his smile fading. "You possess a Dak Soul... do you know what that means?"

She shook her head as answer.

"You are different now." He explanation was quick. "You are stronger and faster than anybody else. And as long as the soul is connected to your body, it will regenerate. The souls are based on immortality and they grant whoever possesses them said immortality. Do you understand?"

She looked at him with an confused expression.

"So... I can never die?" She asked. "Even if I get torn apart by them?"

Michael shook his head. "The creatures here all have the capability to seperate body and soul. If they kill you, they will rip out the Dark Soul, leaving only a corpse."

"Then what about you?" She raised a brow. "Won't they get your Dark Souls if they kill you?"

He shook his head again, pointing at the mask in his chest. "The Mask of Shadows keeps the souls safe. I told you I'm immortal." He smiled. "Well, truly immortal."

Twilight nodded.

"Good... now-" He stood up. "-I hope you are a quick learner because... you're going to need the souls power if you want to continue following me."

Twilight gulped. "I'll give it my best!"

Drawing his gun he placed his other hand on the small door of the car. "I know."

Slowly opening the door, pointing out with his gun, he checked the surroundings.

And ducked back into the car as shots hit the door and wall.

"Stupid guards!" He groaned. "They are too far away for me."

Looking out Twilight saw a long, high and wide corridor, massive smokestacks littering the walls, breathing black smoke. At the end, slowly moving towards them, pointing their rifles at them, were two more of the black monsters. Shot after shot hitting the car.

"Can you reach them?" Michael looked at her.

She looked towards them "I don't-"

"Try it!" He interrupted her.

She gulped, followed by a nod. Concentrating she created one of her spikes, focussing on the nearest guard.

Throwing it she saw the spike disappear in the flesh of the monster and like before, the monster staggered a little but nothing else happened.

"Come on Twilight!" Michael ducked as the shots began to work their way through the metal of the gondola. The monsters were halfway through the corridor.

Shattering the spike in the creature she saw it falling to it's knees, dropping it's gun, but still alive.

Leaning out, Michael pointed his gun at the kneeling monster, a highpitched scream escaping the gun as he fired across the hall. The shot hit the creature. Falling on it's back and rolling over the floor the creature began to flail and scream before the light of it's souls rended it's body, escaping with a loud pop, splattering it's purple blood all over the floor.

"Good!" Michael leaned out, jumping out of the way of another shot he ran up to the monster, firing at it steadily. After a few shots the creature began to waver, falling on it's butt, looking up to Michael.

A second later it's soul burst through the hole in it's throat splitting the head apart.

Twilight sighed in relief as she walked out of the car, down a small staircase, and up to Michael. Looking around, her eyes widened.

The cable car that had brought them here was dangling from massive chains. Dozens of meters beneath the car, and apparently very deep was magma, filling the rest of the giant pit. Looking up she saw the one way rail, of the car leading into darkness.

Twilight was awestruck as she followed Michael through the hallway, looking around. She saw two corridors leading out, one on the left, one on the right.

She heard a door open.

Turning around, expecting another monstrosity, she saw Michael walk through the doorway, entering a dim corridor, a door at it's end.

Taking a deep breath she followed him quietly.

Michael walked through the door, instantly ducking, gun in hand as he rolled over, firing shot after shot into the guard on the right.

"You take left!" He shouted back.

"Okay!" Twilight looked at the guard in front of her, which ignored her. She saw it looking through it's mounted telescope.

Jumping forward, she quickly turned, bucking the monster in it's chest, she felt and heard it's bones cracking as it stumbled backwards falling on it's back.

'What the?' Twilight never knew she had such strength! And then it finally clicked. 'The Dark Soul!' She summoned a spike, hovering right over the guard. Throwing the spike right into it's chest, pinning it to the floor, she heard it's pig like voice, screaming in agony.

Shattering the spike she saw the creature's chest explode, it's soul bursting out of the wound. Turning around she saw Michael-

Coughing up blood.

His left arm was missing, blood was dripping to the floor from multiple wounds, some barely deep enough to draw blood, some exposing his innards. The creature behind him, one hook in his ribs, the other in his shoulder, was kicking him into the hollow of his knees.

"Fuu....ck..." He gargled up as the guard in front of him placed the barrel of it's gun on his forehead-

"Michael!" Twilight's voice echoed through the hall.

BOOM!

Michael's head was gone, splattered over the ground and the monster behind him, withdrawing it's hooks from Michael's body.

And now they came for her.

Jumping out of a flailing charge, she used one of her spikes to pin the hooked monster to the wall, it's squeal almost deafening to Twilight's ears, dodging another shot she jumped up, summoning another spike.

Crushing her spikes, killing the one pinned to the wall, she send a rain of broken shards down onto the armed guard, which shielded itself from the deadly hail and didn't see Twilight land, running around it she summoned her first spike again, piercing it's spine and it's throat, lifting it off the ground as it gargled up it's blood.

The spike burst, scattering it's purple liquid through the ornated room.

Panting heavily, Twilight looked around, searching for more enemies. She saw the dark and shady elegance of the room. A giant hole in the middle of the room, a small staircase right behind it, illuminated by the braziers on both sides and a stained glass mandala over the entrance. The stairs were leading up to a massive lizard symbol adorned door, the lizard symbol also adorning it's doorcase. She saw five corridors leading out of the room, all emblazed with symbols; A Sword, two crossed spears, a nail, lightning and two crossed fangs.

She panted, taking deep breaths to calm her fast beating heart. Michael was gone, she knew he would return but it would take time and she didn't know what awaited her. She needed to remain calm.

After a few more moments she sat down, gathering her thoughts and taking deep breaths, using the meditation method Cadence taught her, she quickly felt her heart return to it's steady rhythm.

She was alone now, but that was nothing too new. She had survived before, she could do it again.

Standing up again she looked up to the weird symbols over the door and the corridors.

She had never seen any of them. Unsure what to expect she walked up to one of the corridors, on the left side, the one with the crossed fangs, peaking inside. The corridor had a stairwell leading down, turning to the left.

Following the staircase she entered a plain hall, magma was filling two rills on each side, creating a path to a giant staircase.

She felt the heat on her skin as she followed the path, walking up the staircase. On both sides of the staircase, gleaming in an orange glow, were more smokestacks.

Twilight stopped.

In front of her, at the end of the staircase was a broken and twisted pony carcass. It's skinned flesh glowing in the orange light, she saw barbwire wrapped around it's frontlegs, spreading her ribcage. Her abdomen was missing, everything beneath her ribcage was gone. And deep in her chest, splitting open her ribs, sat a massive retractor, Twilight saw emptiness where the heart used to be, red dust whirrling around the emptiness. Leaning closer, studying the form of the skull, she believed that it once was a mare, her skinless skull grinning at Twilight, her empty eyesockets staring at her.

She shuddered as she looked back at the vortex of red mist in the mares chest, the retactor in it's center.

The whole thing looked ritualistic.

'Who would do this?' She took a step closer.

Something began to pull at her.

She took the step back again, the undertow disappearing.

'What the...?' She walked closer again, the red mist touching her skin, pulling at her, trying to pull her deeper into the retractor. Raising a brow she reached out, touching the retractor.

And the undertow became stronger than Twilight. She saw and felt her skin beeing peeled off, disappearing into the retractor. A second later her leg disappeared, ripped out of the socket of her shoulder, the undertow became stronger and stronger.

Twilight screamed, as she saw parts of her chest disappear in the mist, she tried to get away, to-

She disappeared completly, sucked into the carcass.

At the foot of the stairs, leaning on a cane, was a man, quietly chuckling, his bloody mouth twisted to a wicked grin.

"I hope you're going to have fun with our newest addition." He turned around. "And I hope you won't kill her too fast, Shiv." The man disappeared into the darkness.

And something echoed through the halls.

"For we are many."

Author's Note

Now, to clear up any form of confusion and to explain it those who don't know the game.

In the game there are only five ways. The lizard door, the sword path, the crossed spears path, the nail and the lightning path, leading to the five serialkillers. I created the sixth, the crossed fangs corridor, to let some of my own ideas flow into the game. This won't happen thoo much, don't worry. Aside from the sixth corridor, the rest of the cathedral is the same as in the game.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

P.S. The next chapter is going to be completly selfmade. Everything happening in it has no connection to the original game.

Reticent "The Hyena" Shiv

The Hyena

Twilight woke up in blinding white.

Shading her eyes from the bright light she sat up.

Her eyes widened.

She was sitting in a padded cell and the bright white of the walls was blinding her.

Looking down at herself she gasped.

She was a human again. Though her body looked different than the one she was used to see from Canterlot High. Her skin was a pale, almost sickly white. The few strands of hair that were flowing down her shoulders had a dark color, almost black. Blood was smeared across her nude body, especially her upper body and her thighs. She noticed the blood on her hands, looking down she saw that she had been lying in a pool of blood the whole time and probably smeared the blood over herself while being unconscious. Standing up she turned around, searching for the source of the blood.

She gasped.

Behind her was the same disfigured and dismembered pony carcass, exactly the same that was hanging in Deadside, grinning at her. The retractor in it's chest was missing though.

'What's going on?' She looked around and noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Covering her body with her bloody hands as good as possible she slowly opened the door.

And gasped again.

The whole windowless hallway, the complete white corridor, from floor to ceiling, was covered in blood. Corpses were littering the floor, their heads bashed in, arms and legs twisted and broken, their former white clothes painted in red. Even the walls were cracked, deep bloody fissures were gaping in the cement.

Turning back into the cell, Twilight emptied her stomach into a corner of the cell. The stench! Even the bloodfalls hadn't smelled like that! Coughing and wretching she wiped her mouth and looked out again, barely surpressing the urge to vomit again. She was stuck here and this was definetly not a place she wanted to be.

She began to sneak through the hallway. At first she had tried to not walk through the blood but after a few steps she noticed that it was pretty much impossible, there was just too much everywhere. Following the hallway for a few steps she stopped. Leaning down, she looked at one of the victims, a man, searching for the cause of his death. Most of his body was still intact, he had only lost blood through his mouth and nose. Furrowing her brows she turned the corpse around and opened his shirt, looking at his dark chest.

Twilight gasped, staring at the wound.

His whole right side, his ribcage, was bend inwards, almost all of the bones were broken and Twilight figured out that internal hemorrhage was the cause of his death. He had bled out!

'What could have done this?' She stood up, looking over some of the corpses. They all had very similar wounds. Massive dents in their appendages; heads smashed in, arms and legs bend and twisted, ribcages dented and bend inwards. Some even had their arms and legs ripped off. Leaning down she looked down at the woman in front of her, something had hit her neck so hard that one of her vertebras had escaped through her throat, her head has almost been ripped off, only connected by skin and muscles.

Twilight began to panic. 'What did this!?'

Her eyes widened and if she had her pony ears they would flick now. Something was lurking, she was sure. She turned around searching through the hallway.

There was nothing, just the same corpses that had been there before. Nothing had changed. Twilight's mind began to panic. She felt something, a presence. Something was crawling closer.

She trusted her instincts.

Turning around she began to sprint through the hallway.

A door at the end of the hallway, the first door on this side of the hallway, caught her attention. A small sign next to the door said "Showers" and Twilight ducked inside. Heavily panting she turned around and closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief as she closed her eyes, leaning heavily against the door. The sense of dread dissipated, disappearing in the moist air and soft splattering of water.

Slowly opening her eyes she looked through the room. The room was devastated too, many of the shower cubicles were destroyed, broken doors hanging off their hinges, some of the booths were completly torn apart. Some of the pipes were busted spraying water through the room, mixing with the blood on the floor, drenching the few corpses that were inside.

Twilight began to shake in fear, wrapping her arms around herself as she began to walk through the room. She felt some drops of the cold water land on her skin, mixing with the blood, but she ignored it for now, continuing her walk through the tiled room, searching for another way out.

There was none.

All Twilight found were lockers at the far end of the room, behind another wall.

Something opened the door.

Crouching down and hiding behind the wall, she took deep breaths to calm herself, to keep herself from screaming. She heard footsteps, something was moving through the room. She heard wet splashes as someone or something stepped into the puddles of water.

'Calm down Twilight!' She covered her mouth with her hands, biting her lips. 'Just calm down, think!' She heard the steps coming closer. She had to run, it was the only way. But would she be fast enough?

'Unless...' She looked at a few of the lockers. They were empty, the doors ajar.

"I know you are in heeeeereee~" Someone, a female voice, giggled. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

Twilight jumped up, stepping into one of the lockers, and closing the thankfully well maintained door, no scraping or squeaking escaping the oiled hinges.

Holding her breath she looked out through the grooved door.

A woman, a nude woman, stepped into her sight, a long metal pipe in her hand. Her bright skin was covered in blood, her waist-deep former blonde hair drenched in red.

'Not covered!' Twilight's mind screamed. 'Garnished!' Twilight saw bloody handprints covering her breasts, her buttocks and the inside of her thighs. She saw two lines of blood in her face, and over her entry body, weird unlogical patterns all over her, like war paint.

The woman stopped right in front ot Twilight's locker.

Looking down at herself she groaned as she saw that the water had washed off small parts of the dried blood.

"Oh come on!" She complained angrily. "Stupid water!" She raised the pipe with two hands and smashed it into an adjacent locker. Twilight heard and felt the creaking of the metal as it bend under the strength of the hit, covering her moth with her hands, she bit her lip. She bit down so hard that blood began to seep into her mouth.

But she managed to stay quiet.

Swinging her pipe like a maniac the woman bawled. "Do... you... know... how... hard... it... is... to... find... fresh... blood... in... here!?" She screamed into the room, smashing the walls and some of the locker between her words, even one of the corpses on the floor got a good hit. Huffing and panting she stopped looking down at herself, she saw sweat rolling down her body taking off more of the blood.

She facepalmed. "Great..." A sigh escaped her. "Just greeeaaaaat~" Her voice was suddenly chipper. And then she laughed, a manical and high laughter and Twilight recognized it, this hyena like laugh. And then Twilight felt the unnatural feeling of being watched, as if the woman in front of her was looking directly at her. A second later her hair parted enough to allow Twilight a glimps at her neck, a tattoo adorning the soft skin. A long winged dagger, a maelstrom of wind surrounding it's tip.

'How is she still alive!?' Her mind was screaming in panic. And Twilight felt the cold grab of fear taking hold of her heart as she remembered this womans or more precise, this mares brutality. 'I thought she died in that asylum years ago!?'

Still laughing, the woman walked back the way she came, a crash and the change in the sound of the water told Twilight that she had smashed more on her way out.

Twilight flinched as she heard a deep guttural scream, a shout of pure anger.

"YOU STUPID PIPES!" She screamed and Twilight heard more smashing and crashing going on. "ALL THE BLOOD IS GONE NOW!"

Cowering in her locker, Twilight waited until she stopped her rampage and left the room, the door closed with a loud boom. 'Hopefully she's gone... and never comes back.' Twilight gulped. Slowly opening the locker she peeked out, seeing the destruction the woman achieved. Big parts of the wall were just gone, fissured and broken. Many of the lockers were dent and squashed. Her eyes went down to the body on the floor.

Twilight shuddered, turning away from the corpse, she was just happy that the man had already been dead. Raising her hands she began to rub her temples with her middle and index fingers.

Reticent "The Hyena" Shiv was still alive.

Twilight remembered the stories Shining Armor had told her about her. Apparently she had finished the academy as one of the best bat pony guards in years. Shining Armor had personally trained her. Months after joining the royal guard, it was about this time that Twilight heard her nickname and experienced her weirdly melodic laugh, she was dismissed again. Apparently she had killed multiple foalnapper without any given order and in a very brutal fashion, drenching herself in their blood. Twilight heard that a year later she died in an asylum, by suicide. That had been three years ago.

Leaning at the wall she looked into the showers and saw a lot more water rain down than before. Turning around again she saw some clean white closes in one of the lockers, a towel accompanying them.

She facepalmed at the strange directions her mind went. 'Now is definetly not the time to take a shower!' Her eyes fell back on the clothes and she shrugged. 'But I don't need to be naked.' Grabbing the plain white pants and shirt she quickly put them on, surprised at how well they fitted. As if they had been made for her.

Walking back through the showers, and drenching herself in enough water to call it "taken a shower", and soiling the innocent clothes with the dried blood on her skin, she leaned out of the door, looking through the hallway. The showers were the only thing on this side of the hallway, she would need to walk back and try the other side. But since there was only one way...

Twilight gulped as she sneaked out, her clothes dripping with water.

And then she heard something. A soft thud, like someone had dropped something soft and heavy.

Slowly turning her head she saw Shiv stand behind her, her manical gaze, her snake like eyes, piercing Twilight's.

"Fooooooound youuu~" She lilted, raising the pipe in her right hand.

Twilight ducked with a loud yelp, the hit missing her barely, she heard and felt the wall crumbling as the pipe dug deep into the wall.

Twilight looked at the hole in shock. 'That... could have been me!' She scurried backwards as that crazy women began to pull the pipe out of the wall with no effort at all. Twilight yelped again as she spread her legs to dodge an overhead strike, cracking the floor she had been on a second ago.

"Stop moving!" Shiv complained. "How am I supposed to crack your skull if you move like that?"

"How about you don't?" Twilight shouted, scurrying backwards again.

"Oh good joke!" She cackled as the pipe missed Twilight yet again, breaking the already dented head of a corpse even more. "Oh come on... boooring!"

Twilight had to escape, there was no way of fighting her. Standing up and turning around she began to sprint through the gory hallway, doging the corpses in her way.

Looking over her shoulder she saw that Shiv didn't chase her, she just stood there, following Twilight with her cold gaze.

Twilight contiuned running, past the cell she woke up in and a dozen more adjacent cells, around a corner and-

Twilight was outside now, in a square shaped courtyard, a big meadow in it's middle, the bright moon illuminating the grass. Panting heavily she looked around. The courtyard was fenced-in and connecting two buildings, the building Twilight had left, and one on the opposite side. A baldachin cast long shadows on the ways underneath them. Sprinting over the meadow to the other building, Twilight panted, grabbing the knob-

And found the door locked.

She turned around, painfully slowly.

Behind her, standing in the moonlight was Shiv, her weapon resting on her shoulder. Her expression was calm almost serene.

"Oy... who are you anyway?" She asked, slowly walking closer. Twilight walked back until her back grazed the wall. Leaning closer she looked deep into Twilight's eyes. "I'm sure I killed everyone in Block-D..."

Twilight whimpered.

Shiv shrugged. "Welp... won't change much... you are here, I have that trusty pipe of mine... you understand?" She wiggled her brows.

Twilight ducked with a scream as Shiv swung the pipe right at her head, the pipe cracked the wall.

Shiv grabbed Twilight at the collar of her shirt, lifting her up, pressing her against the wall as she pulled the pipe out of the wall again.

"You know..." Her voice was malicious, dark. Her expression had twisted into a visage of pure anger. "I hate people who don't tell me shit and then have the audacity to dodge me all day." The grab around Twilight's shirt disappeared, Shiv's hand wandered down to her throat. "I'll ask you one last thing... and you better answer or I swear by Discord's stupid face that his statue is doing, your death will be slow and very painful." Her mien turned soft, almost motherly. "Okay sweetie?" She smiled.

Twilight gulped, too scared to do anything else.

"Okay~" Shiv chirped. "How the fuck did you get in?"

"T-t-the-"

"And please stop stuttering..." Shiv rolled her eyes. "I hate stutterer..."

She gulped again. "The carcass." She whispered after a long deep breath. "In the cell..."

Shiv's eyes widened and her hand left Twilight's throat as she took a step back.

And then she began to chuckle, rising into her loud hyena like laugh only a moment later.

After calming down she looked at Twilight, her mouth twisting into a wicked grin. "Yes.... Yes! YES!" She squealed in delight, grabbing Twilight's throat again, pressing her against the wall. "You have one too right? A Dark Soul!" She laughed as Twilight nodded in shock.

And suddenly she stopped, her mien turning completly dark.

Twilight coughed up blood as Shiv rammed the pipe into her stomach, piercing her entirely, she even felt it exit through her back, pinning her to the wall.

And with the most calm and most serene face ever, rivaling even Celestia's, she leaned closer to whisper into Twilight's ear.

"You will be my little blood dispenser."

Twilight eyes widened even more as she felt the pipe exit her body, blood splurting out. Shiv grabbed her by her throat again, pressing her into the wall, cutting off her breath.

"Believe me-" Her face began to twist and change. A skull with black eyes, replaced it, her body changed into a mess of rotten flesh, her fingers were replaced with bloody claws as she lifted Twilight up, still pressing her against the wall, her voice was changing into a deep, raspy and guttural purr. "-After some months of pure pain you will begin to cherish it, to like it. And I'm sure Legion won't mind the one soul, not as long as I keep you as my pet. After all once we are done with this meager world there will be no more fresh blood left but yours..." She pulled Twilight down, licking her face with a long snake like tongue. Twilight could hear the pipe clattering to the floor.

And cried out in pain as she felt Shiv's other hand disappear into the wound, widening it, drenching her hand and foream in her blood.

"Your cold sweat..." She moaned. "Is soooo good..." Twilight coughed blood into Shiv's face as her hand exited her body again. Raising her bloodied hand she licked the blood of her index claw. "And your blood is even better." She moaned again, lustful this time, lowering her hand onto her skinned chest, printing the blood onto her flesh with another moan. "You will be formidable." She cooed.

Boom!

Twilight fell to the floor as Shiv's grip disappeared, her blood spraying against the wall. Sitting against the wall she looked up and saw Michael stand in the middle of the courtyard, the moonlight made his dark skin look even darker, his gun was pointed at Shiv.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." He exclaimed, lowering his gun he walked closer. "She belongs to me." He stopped a few meters away from her looking down on her.

A deep primal, animal like growl escaped Shiv as she turned her head to look at Michael, the big bullet wound in her head, right where here eye was, began to close, to regenerate, quickly. Standing up her body returned to the form of the blonde woman.

"If that isn't the party pooper we were warned of." Shiv's voice turning to a soft purr. "I know why you are here." She pointed at Twilight. "And that's definetly not because you want a share of that."

"I'm here to kick your ass." Michael answered.

"Is that so?" Shiv laughed, her bellowing laughter echoed into the night sky. "We're going to see." She lowered herself to a crawl, like she was a prowling animal. "This little slaughter is just the beginning you know?" Her grin widened. "I won't kill you... Legion told me about your little mask. But once I'm done with you I will drag you back to Deadside and we will start with the cleansing of this world! And after that I'm going to have so much fun with this little whore!"

"Why are you doing this?" Twilight coughed up more blood, covering her wound.

"Because it's fun to kill..." She snarled back at Twilight, turning to her she grabbed Twilight's face her with her hands. "It's fun to stalk, to prey, to hunt, to slaughter... and I'm doing this all for someone who couldn't care less about the why!" She barked her manic speech straight into Twilight's face.

"And I thought Deadside had all the crazies." Michael pointed his gun at Shiv.

Shiv's eyes widened. Turning around she looked at Michael with pure madness in her eyes, pointing at him. "And you! You will be my biggest prey!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

And then something weird happened. It looked like a puppetter had cut the ropes of his puppet. Shiv just stood there, her head falling on her chest. And like a whisper she began to move back into the darkness.

"For We Are Many!" Shiv's voice echoed through the whole courtyard even though she barely whispered the words.

Michael pointed his gun into the darkness, waiting for her.

That's when Twilight noticed something. The moon, high in the sky, illuminated the courtyard in a way that all four paths were cast in deep shadows.

"Michael..." She coughed. "The paths..."

"I know." He nodded, his gun still pointing at where Shiv stood before. "I figured as much..."

And suddenly a primal scream errupted from the shadows to Michael's right, something lunged itself at him, throwing him to the ground, swiping at him with it's claws before throwing him through the courtyard. A second later it returned to the shadows.

"Michael!" She yelped as she began to crawl over to him, blood was splurting out of multiple wounds in his upper body.

"Don't!" Michael raised a hand, signaling her to stop. "I'll get this done... don't-"

The darkness right behind Michael growled. Michael turned his head and together they saw Shiv's monstrous form walk out of the dark, her arms raised, readying herself to attack in an overhead smash.

Michael rolled out of the way as her fists crashed into the ground, dirt flying up. Pointing his gun at Shiv he fired at her nonstop, ripping off some of her rotten flesh. Shiv screamed in pain as she turned tail, fleeing into the darkness again.

A second later something growled right next to Twilight and she screamed as she felt Shiv's hand wrap around her leg, pulling her into the darkness.

And then she screamed even louder as something dug deep into her midsection, rending her muscles. A second later she heard and felt the vibration of a deep wholehearted moan as Shiv began to suck Twilight's blood.

With a loud pop and slurping sounds Twilight was flung across the yard, the moon illuminating the giant bite mark right under her rips.

Twilight felt her body going numb. Her mind, no her soul, screamed at her. The bite had even wounded her soul. She tried desperatly to move, to sit up, to do anything.

Sadly all her body managed were weak twitches.

"Yes..." The darkness whispered. "Soooo goooooood..."

And then it growled again.

"She. Is. Mine!" Shiv lunged at Michael from behind him, her wounds closed and her jaw opened wide, ready to-

Michael grabbed the pipe she had dropped earlier, jabbing it deep into Shiv's chest, piercing it.

She screamed, grabbing the pipe she began to flail around, pulling at the metal in her chest. Michael was still holding on to the pipe, his gun pointed at Shiv's face as he-

Shiv smacked his face, sending him flying across the yard.

The pipe followed swiftly, missing him though, digging deep into the wall.

"YOU. WILL. PAY!" Shiv screamed in rage as she began to walk across the yard with twitching claws. "I. WILL. SKIN. YOU. ALIVE. AND. EAT. THE. SHREDDED. LUMPS. FOR. BREAKFAST!!"

Michael sat up, groaning as he grabbed his broken jaw.

Shiv dug her claws deep into Michael's abdomen, shredding his flesh. "YOU. WON'T. NEED. YOUR. LEGS. ANYMORE!"

She screamed in unison with Michael, her scream born in rage and anger, his in agony, as Twilight's ears caught the sound of ripping flesh. "FOR. WE. ARE. MANY!" Michael's legs flew across the yard in a bloody rain.

Suddenly Shiv screamed in pain, recoiling as Michael's blood and body began to burn in a bright yellow, turning him to ashes.

Interrupting her flailing she jumped at Michael's burning body. "NOOOOOO!" She screamed at him as he raised his hand, his middle finger extended, right in Shiv's face.

And with a deep guttural growl she ripped the burning body apart.

Returning to her human form again she panted and wheezed, looking at the still burning speckles of blood on her skin. Her gaze wandered back to Twilight.

She jumped at her, grabbing her neck with both her hands, shaking her furiously.

"HOW COULD HE DIE FROM THAT?!" She screamed into Twilight's face. Loosening her grip around Twilight's neck she stood up, pacing around, mumbling to herself as her wounds began to close. "No fun... that guy is a total buzzkill... dying like that...." She raised a hand and began to nibble at her nails, still mumbling.

And then she stopped, her eyes wandered back to Twilight.

Her mien softened. "Hey there sweetie.... how are you?" She walked over to Twilight, carefully picking her up in a soft embrace.

"Sh-sh-sh-shhhh." She whispered. "It's okay... that big dumb mean- ARGH!" She shoved Twilight away, rubbing the small bitewound in her shoulder, looking at the blood in shock. "You... you bit me!" Her eyes narrowed. "Okay..." She almost sounded sad. "Be that way!" She walked over to Twilight, grabbing her hair and pulling her up. "So I guess you won't need those anymore!" Her fist crashed into Twilight's jaw, shattering some of her teeth. "Huh?! HUH?! YOU GONNA BITE ME AGAIN?! HUH?!" She screamed at Twilight, pounding into her jaw.

Dropping her unceremoniously, Twilight gargled up more blood, bone fragments and teeth.

Shiv sat down right in front of her, cross-legged, a warm expression on her face. "Come on sweetie." She began to stroke Twilight's face. "Don't be like that..." She slapped Twilight's broken jaw. "And I won't be like this!" Her fist crashed into the already broken mass of Twilight's mouth. "Okay? Okay..." She embraced Twilight. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.... I know I need to treat my little dispenser better or I-"

BOOM!

Shiv's head exploded, bone shards and blood rained down on Twilight as Michael stood behind her, his gun pointed at the stump that once was Shiv's head.

Kicking her over Michael stepped onto her belly, pointing his gun at her heart.

And fired away.

After thirty shots, Twilight stopped counting, the body twitching at every bullet that entered her.

Suddenly Shiv's legs bend the wrong way, lunging up they kicked Michael in the chest, sending him flying. And Shiv's destroyed upperbody erected, standing up. Her arms were still lying on the ground in a giant pool of blood. The legs began to change into the monstrous version, long black claws protruding out of the skin. They took a step forward-

And fell to their knees, wavering.

BOOM!

The last shot was deafening, seperating the rest of Shiv's upper body and lower body.

The rest of her body, even the blood on the ground began to stirr, to tremble and in a bright piercing light the rest of her chest was ripped apart revealing the sick purple light of a Dark Soul and a key.

Coughing and wheezing, Michael rubbed his chest.

"Oh... that bitch... broke my ribs again." He hobbled over to Twilight, looking at her broken and mangled body. "Why aren't you just regenerating?"

A shudder went through Twilight. Michael kneeled down.

"Look... the Dark Souls only work with your volition. You need to want! Do you understand?"

Twilight blinked, her numb body had no other way of telling him anymore.

"Now... concentrate... and regenerate!"

Twilight closed her eyes. She pictured herself as good as she could, she had never seen a mirror image of this body after all. And to her surprise she felt a warmth spread through her body. Opening her eyes she saw long blue tendrils grow out of her broken jaw, wiggling back and forth, regrowing and rebuliding the bones of her face.

Michael looked shocked at her, or more specific the tendrils in her face.

He gulped. "You said you had a Dark Soul!" His eyes widened even more. "This... this is no Dark Soul!" He pointed over to the pulsing body of the Dark Soul. "That is a Dark Soul! Why are the tendrils blue?"

Slowly, some feeling returned to Twilight's tongue and she gargled up something inscrutable. The rest of her body apparently still too damaged.

"This... makes no sense!" He stood up and began to pace, rubbing his chin with one hand and his chest with the other."

After a few more moments, Twilight finally felt some strength returning to her vocal cords. "I... don't know..." She gargled up, her voice extremly raspy, her jaw ached with every sound she made.

Michael looked down at her, an annoyed expression on his face. "Concentrate on regenerating... we will talk once you're back to not being half dead."

Twilight gargled something in agreement. Closing her eyes she felt a soft tingle go through her body as the warmth spread even further, healing other damaged parts of it.

A groan escaped Michael. Opening her eyes she saw that Michael had taken Shiv's Dark Soul, the tendrils softly wrapping around his body. A second later he shuddered, rubbing his neck.

"Damn... I hate this feeling." He kneeled down, picking up the key that was lying between Shiv's blood. Standing up he began to walk to the locked door. A second later he disappeared into the darkness of the building.

Twilight blinked.

And her eyes widened in shock.

A suit wearing man was kneeling in front of her, his blood stained mouth twisted to a wide grin.

Twilight blinked again.

The man was gone.

But she could have sworn that something echoed through the darkness of the night.

Something that sounded suspiciously like: For we are many.

Author's Note

I have to say, while I probably still suck at atmosphere, I like this chapter. It just feels crazy enough that it could have happened in the actual game.

Tell me what you guys think of this chapter. Hopefully it was pleasant to read.

Oh and the next chapter will return to the madness of the actual game. So yay... I guess?

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Back to Deadside

Twilight groaned as she sat up, her body tingling and aching. Michael had been gone for a few minutes now, looking through the second building.

Standing up she held her stomach, feeling the smooth skin beneath the shirt, she opened up the two lowest buttons and looked at her unscarred body.

She heard a door close.

Looking up she saw Michael walk towards her, a bloodied retractor in his hand.

"Back in one piece?"

Twilight nodded as answer.

"Well then." He turned towards the first building. "Let's go."

Twilight furrowed her brows. "Wait..."

He looked back.

"Didn't you want to-"

"I decided that it doesn't matter." He answered, turning back he continued his walk. "Let's get out of here."

'Strange...' Her eyes followed him. 'Did something change? Did he find something in the other building?' She turned around and looked to the former locked door.

"Hey!" Twilight jumped. Turning to Michael she saw him peek out of the door. "Let's go!" He almost ordered.

Twilight mentally shrugged, nodded and followed him. Inside the building she walked the short way towards the correct cell.

"Oh great..." Michael's groan escaped the cell. Raising a brow Twilight looked inside. The carcass was lying on the floor.

"What is it?" She looked at the retractor in Michael's hand.

He pointed at the carcass. "It looks like it broke during our battle with... whatever her name was-"

"Shiv." Twilight answered.

"Whatever..." Michael shrugged. "I tried to put the retractor back in but all it did was make the whole thing fall down. And it also looks like the retractor couldn't even fit the small body... I think we can't go back this way."

Twilight eyes widened. "And... how do we get back?"

The retractor in Michael's hand disappeared in yellow flames and was replaced by the teddy.

"Only one way." He reached out with the teddy.

Twilight slowly placed her hand on the teddy. She flinched as a feeling of dread assaulted her, a shriek of a child echoing through her mind.

The weird feeling of being pulled away, the undertow, returned to her stomach as the world first became blurry, then vanished.

"I'm scared mikey!" The same voice as before echoed through her mind. Twilight closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks caused by feeling that weren't her own.

The world stopped spinning and twisting and Twilight opened her eyes, wiping her face, with her hooves, she looked around and instantly recognized where they were.

Fighting the urge to vomit she sat up, coughing softly.

"The Hall of Prophecy again?" She asked between coughs.

Michael nodded. "It's the easiest way through Deadside." He looked at Twilight. "Unless you wanna go back to the Asyulm and try to find a way back to the path of shadows."

Twilight shook her head. "I'm fine..." She retched. "...I guess."

Standing up, Michael began to walk towards the ramp. Twilight followed him quietly.

And shuddered.

Walking through Deadside in total silence was a strange experience. It gave her time to think about the things that had happened to her, she had done and the things she had seen. Undead humans, a talking snake with a skull for a face, Duppies, weird leeches, flying humanoids and grotesque creatures wielding rifles and hooks. Aside from the undead humans and the snake she had fought and killed atleast one of each. She had been shot, pierced, impaled and ripped apart, seen temples and tower bigger than Canterlot Castle. She had-

Michael jumped down.

Focussing again, Twilight looked down and saw that they had reached the pit from before. The Ether was glistening softly, the coffingate loomed quietly.

Michael placed his hands on the pedestal and like before the veins began their pumping and the purple connections appeared too.

This time though, Michael seemed to be less weakened by the whole process. The lid of the coffingate burst open, revealing a tunnel.

"How are you feeling?" Twilight asked.

"Much better than before." He answered. "I guess having much more souls than needed is a good thing."

"Much more?" Twilight raised a brow. "How many do you have?"

He smiled. "Fifteen."

"Fifteen?" Twilight's eyes widened. "Isn't that already like level four?" Michael nodded. "How?"

He shrugged. "I got lucky I guess. But it doesn't really matter. Important is that we continue."

Twilight nodded.

Michael stepped through the coffingate, walking through the tunnel, weapon in hand. Following him quietly, Twilight noticed that the tunnel began to decrease, spiraling down. After a few moments the tunnel ended in a cave. Stone walkways continued the path, leading deeper and deeper.

Michael looked down.

Then jumped.

Twilight gasped, looking over the edge she saw Michael land on the ground below like it had been a step he had just dropped down.

Michael looked up, waving her down.

"Come on!" He shouted up.

"Are you crazy?!" Twilight shouted back.

"Maybe." Michael answered. "But the drop can't kill you. The worst case is that you need to heal yourself again."

Twilight looked down.

And shook her head, walking along the path.

Michael shook his head, turning away he walked out of the cave.

After a minute of walking, Twilight found herself at the bottom of the cave, a narrow tunnel leading out. Walking through the dark tunnel she felt the temperature rise again. Exiting the tunnel she found herself staring at a weird, small bridge leading over a small coalpit.

Raising a brow she looked around. There were two ways around the coalpit, safer ways than a narrow bridge. To her left was another path of shadows leading to an unknown destination. To her right was a coffingate, seven slots filled with the dark colour. Right behind the bridge was another coffingate, four slots were darkened. Looking over she saw Michael walk over the bridge back to Twilight, rubbing his neck.

"Finally..." He groaned. "Took you long enough."

Twilight scoffed. "It took me maybe a minute!" She replied huffily.

"A minute too long." Michael answered. "Whatever..." He turned around. "There are two ways open." He looked at Twilight. "Maybe we should split up?"

Twilight looked up to him with narrowed eyes.

Something was wrong.

"Did something happen?" She asked. "You're behaviour changed."

He shook his head. "No, it's just that we can safe time by splitting up. We can make sure that the Dark Souls stay where they are and remove all possible nearby hostiles." He explained quickly.

Twilight had to admit, it sounded logical.

'But still...'

Michael turned around, pointing at the nearby path of shadows.

"I will go and check this one out." He looked at Twilight. "I opened up the level four gate on the other side, why don't you go that way?"

'Something is off...' Twilight was confused. Michael's whole demeanour had changed since their battle with Shiv.

Twilight shrugged. Maybe it was just her imagination.

"Okay." Twilight nodded and Michael nodded back. Turning around he walked to the path of shadows, looking back once he smiled before disappearing into the darkness.

Twilight's instinct told her that something was off, something was horribly wrong. But she couldn't quite put her hoof on what it was. It just felt... different.

She shook her head again before walking around the coalpit, past the level seven gate.

Maybe she would get answers if she asked him head-on. But maybe it was just her imagination.

Focussing again she looked at the other coffingate and sure enough the lid was gone, exposing the dark cave behind it.

Twilight sighed at the sight of more caves and more tunnel.

Walking through the gate she entered the small cave. Inside were multiple stalactites, stalagmites and even columns. A pool of blood was seperating the entrance, a path of shadows and another coffingate. Leaning a little over the pool she saw that five of the gates slots were coloured.

Looking back at the path of shadows, Twilight jumped over the blood and walked towards the path, entering it.

And like before she saw the path contracting, pushing her deeper and deeper. This time though, Twilight took her time walking through the path. It gave her time to think.

'What's wrong with Michael?' She furrowed her brows. 'The sudden change in his demeanour and the desinterest in my Dark Soul... what changed?'

Shaking her head she cut off her musings. There were no answers right now. All her questions could be answered by Michael and maybe, just maybe, he would answer them the next time she talked to him.

A light at the end of the path forced Twilight to focus again. She had reached the end of the path and was greeted by stone walls.

To her left was a way leading up, over multiple ledges, leading up to another tunnel. To her right, the way decreased, leading to what seemed to be a dead end. Walking down she noticed that there was some sort of doorway, even though it was blocked by three wooden planks, three drums standing in front of the blocked off path. Furrowing her brows she walked closer. Touching the planks she saw small engravings appear on the wood. She didn't know what they were but after pressing against the wood and noticing how sturdy it was, she turned around, looking at the drums.

There had to be some tool she could use to pry this open. She walked to the drums, looking down on them. There was nothing weird about the drums. Tapping one of the drums though she noticed that they seemed to be made out of one solid block of wood, there was no hollow sound, just hoof on wood.

She furowed her brows again but shrugged mentally. She would remember them but right now they weren't of importance.

Walking back from which she came she climbed up the other way, leading along the wall. Jumping over the few ledges she found herself staring into the dark tunnel. Igniting her horn she noticed that the darkness didn't seem to recede. Ignoring that for now she walked forward, her coat brushing against the wall she began to feel her way through the tunnel. After a few moments of darkness she found herself on the other side, a hole in the ground and in the cave roof catching her gaze.

She walked closer to the hole in the ground. It was big enough to fall through and seemed to be the only way to continue. Looking up she saw through the hole in the ceiling but couldn't see anything, the dark tower obstructing her view.

Looking down the other hole she saw that it lead into... a pool?

Leaning down as far as possible she tried to see more but all she could see was a pool like depression.

She turned away, looking through the rest of the cave. It was a dead end, the only way was either back or down the hole. She looked back at the hole and the pool below.

Twilight wasn't scared of heights, having wings and the capability to fly does that to you.

But this was something else. She would have to jump down, dozens of meters. Memories of her fall back in the Wastelands rushed to her mind. The drop had broken her leg and had lead to her gruesome evisceration.

Michael's jump from before replaced the ghastly memory. He had jumped down a similar height and nothing had happened to him.

Twilight gulped. She remembered what Michael had said.

'The Dark Souls only work with your volition. You need to want!'

She took a deep breath. She felt her heartbeat, it was loud and heavy, beating against her ribs. It almost felt like it was pleading with her, to not do what she had planned.

She exhaled sharply.

She closed her eyes, focussing her mind on this simple task.

She opened her eyes.

And jumped.

She felt the air brushing through her coat, she saw the ground racing closer, she felt fear rising in her. The fear to be crushed, her mind was overwhelmed by the former memory. A broken leg. One of the worst possible injuries an equine could have. She felt her mind, her volition waver.

And then she landed.

The ground beneath her hooves cracked as she lost her balance, topling over she felt her chin make contact with the ground.

With a groan Twilight sat up, rubbing her chin.

Something moaned.

A moan that made Twilight's hairs stand on end. The pained moan of a female.

Turning her head slightly, Twilight saw a woman stand in a corner. Her empty sockets were looking at Twilight.

Twilight felt her eyes wander down.

And then widen.

The woman's small body was heavily mutilated. Her hair, ears, eyes, lips, jaw, throat, breasts, finger, toes, buttocks even her vagina were missing, thick, long scars were the only things that kept the flesh together.

Twilight gasped in shock.

The creature before her, once a human woman, was no longer... anything. Every part of her body that would have turned her into a functioning individual was gone. The state she was in right now couldn't even be called being alive. It was just... emptyness.

Twilight looked away.

She pitied her.

A second later she send a spike into the womans chest.

And as quickly as possible, Twilight shattered it again, ripping the body apart. A weak pulsing soul replaced the wretched woman.

Turning away, Twilight suppressed a sob and looked around. The pool had no exit. Looking up she saw some boxes stacked in a corner.

Maybe she could use them to get out.

Walking towards the wall of boxes she looked up. The boxes looked heavy and were caked with blood, but they were also high enough stacked to give her a way over the wall.

Twilight looked up to the nearest edge. It was far out of her reach. She wouldn't be able to jump high enough.

But she had to leave this pool. She gulped, her hair still standing on end. It felt like the whole pool was filled with cruel menace, harbouring the monstrosities that mutilated the woman beyond the point of existence.

She wanted away, just far away.

She jumped up.

And hit the wall of boxes, falling back to the ground.

Shaking her head and looking up, she jumped again.

She landed on her haunches.

Groaning quietly she stood up, rubbing her hindquarter.

Panic began to rise.

She was stuck.

She jumped up again.

And again.

Tears began to stream down her face. She wanted to leave. She was scared, she feared this place. She feared to end up just like that poor woman.

She jumped again.

Twilight slipped, a pained scream escaped her as her muzzle connected with the wall of boxes sending her back to the ground. Holding her bleeding muzzle she looked up to the edge, the way out and how it was taunting her. So close and yet so far away. Cursing between pained gasps she sat up. Raising her hooves she saw a split in the skin, a deep cut, bleeding profusely. Pressing one hoof on the wound she tried to suppress the panic in her mind.

She needed to calm down or she would die. Or maybe even worse. Suffer eternally.

Her mind wandered back to their battle with Shiv, the wounds she inflicted on Twilight's body and the way they healed.

The bleeding got weaker and the panic began to subside, slowly but surely.

She had healed a giant hole in her stomach. Her mind wandered further, back to the where she accepted that she was undead and to the first soul she acquired.

The soul had healed her, repaired damage far beyond comprehension.

Twilight took a deep breath as the last traces of her panic disappeared.

Whatever could happen to her, she could repair it. As long as she had a Dark Soul she would be able to heal it, to regenerate it.

Raising her hoof she saw that the wound had closed, only her bloodied muzzle remained. Standing up she looked back to the boxes.

Her mind was weakened. The sight of the mutilated existence the woman was forced to live had scared her so much that her mind became clouded by fear, self-doubt and pity.

And these feelings caged her, suppressed her.

She took a deep breath.

She was still scared. And this fear would never subside as long as she was stuck in Deadside, but she had to accept that she also had ways to fight. Ways to survive.

And she had to use them to their full potential.

Twilight closed her eyes, listening to her heartbeat. The hard, quick thumping in her chest.

She opened her eyes.

And jumped up.

A weak smile graced her face as her hooves reached the edge. Pulling herself up she turned around-

Something blue quickly disappeared behind something that looked like a train. Twilight narrowed her eyes. But she couldn't see anything blue. Maybe her eyes placed tricks on her? Had it really been her imagination? Shaking her head she looked around and saw a long rope right over her head, connecting the pool she was in, leading over another pool, and ending on the wall of a small building, a small courtyard seperating it and the train.

Jumping up she grabbed the rope, wrapping her legs around it she began to climb over. Soft moans began tp escape the second pool. Looking down she saw, two-, no three more more tortured undead. Parts of their bodies missing. They were lacerated, mutilated and eviscerated.

They existed to suffer, to fill the courtyard with their moans.

It would be merciful to free them from their torment.

Twilight stopped, hanging headlong on the rope.

Three spikes later the moaning disappeared and was replaced by silence.

Ignoring the tears that escaped her eyes, she continued to climb.

Twilight felt the wall brush up to her skull. Looking down she saw the ground a few meters beneath. Releasing the grasp of her hindlegs she dangled from the rope. Letting go and landing gracefully on her backlegs, she less gracefully tumbled to her haunches.

Sitting up she rubbed her hindquarters again.

'Seriously...' The weak pain began to subside. 'Rainbow will never stop to tell weird jokes if I get home with a bruised butt.'

Bemused by her thoughts she stood up, looking around the small court she was now in.

To her right was the small building, an open door inviting her. To her left was-

Twilight's eyes widened as she slowly walked towards the train.

Right in front of the entrance to the train was something small, something soft.

Something cyan.

Twilight gulped as she lifted the small object.

It was a feather. A small cyan coloured feather.

Twilight took a deep breath. 'No... no it can't be!' Her mind began to wander, trying in vain to find an plausible explanation for her finding. But every direction, every explanation lead back to one thing. This was Rainbow's.

A gust went through the courtyard, ripping the feather out of Twilight's grasp and taking it away.

She gulped.

"It can't be..." She whispered desperate. "Please..."

Turning around she walked through the open door and entered the train. The inside of the train was endowed with red velvet and small bluish lights.

The door closed behind Twilight, a loud and dry click escaping the metal.

A tremor went through the train as Twilight heard it's loud high pitched, and strangely scream like, whistle echoing around her. A second later a jolt went through the walls as the train began to move.

Twilight gulped again as the train speed towards his destination, taking her with it.

Author's Note

Boah... seriously. Writer's block is such a pain in the ass. :flutterrage:

It took me how long to finish this chapter? More than a week! :raritydespair: And I'm sincerely sorry for the massive delay. I tried to get this done as quickly as possible but things kept coming up and... :pinkiesick: I'm just sad that it took so long.

And I'm even more sorry for this chapter. It feels... rushed and weird and I think it lacks quality but I won't touch it anymore. It may be bad and too long and weird but it's still better than rewriting it a dozen times and still not finishing it.

So yeah, I'm sorry for this chapter. Let's just hope that you still liked it (somehow :facehoof: ) and that the next will be better.

Who am I kidding... can't get worse right? :pinkiecrazy:

A "Challenge accepted" would fit this situation buuuuuut.... that's one challenge I'm happy to screw up. :pinkiegasp:

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Death of Friendship

Twilight slowly walked through the rattling train, the soft carpet dampened the sound of her hooves.

Twilight's mind was still racing, still screaming. She told herself that it was impossible for Rainbow to be here, that it had to be something else.

A jolt went through the entire train as the high screaming of the brakes assaulted Twilight's ears. Flattening them she continued her walk through the empty train. So far the only things she had seen were empty cages and the velvet walls. A few moments later the train stopped, a soft tremor going through it as the engine stopped with a loud hiss.

The high train whistle announced the end of the ride.

The sound of a opening door made Twilight peak her ears.

Running through the carts she quickly found the door leading out.

Twilight stopped in her tracks.

In the doorway was another feather.

Picking up the feather she noticed it's pristine condition. The feather came from a very well groomed wing.

Twilight gulped.

Dropping the feather, she looked out of the train. The train had ended inside a large building, dark brick floors and walls were surrounding it. Stepping out of the train and looking around she saw a dead-end to her left. To her right the way widened leading up to a massive pipe and a small platform with a cablecar. Beneath the pipe and the cablecar was just one giant coalpit, it's orange light and heat filled the entire room.

Something bothered Twilight. She was inside what seemed to be the tower again but there was no one here. No guards or anything else. This place was void of any life.

Twilight walked around the train, her eyes taking in more details. The right side of the room had a large closed door leading deeper into the building. A little bit into the room, over the pit, was a balcony. A small door could be seen.

Twilight furrowed her brows at the weird architecture. But she quickly stopped thinking about the how and why. Nothing would answer her questions.

Turning around she looked over the pit and saw that the pipe connected the platform she was standing on and another smaller platform on the other side of the room. A closed door marked the end of the room.

Twilight walked towards the cablecar, it's gaping door was inviting her. Looking inside she saw that the cart was a replica of the one she had been in before, on their way to the cathedral. Walking inside she saw the small lever. It was pulled down, resting on 'Cageways', the other side had 'Engine Block' engraved. And inside the small hollow slit of the lever, right below the engine block engraving was another feather.

Twilight understood. Someone was leading her around. That someone used something she would react to, something he or she knew was important to her.

The question now was, should she follow?

'It could be a trap.' Twilight mind replied. 'On the other side... it could show me the way out.'

Twilight was weighing her options. She could either follow the obvious trail or ignore it.

Pushing the lever up, bending the feather inside the machine, she felt the door close behind her. A soft humming began to fill her ears.

She simply had to check.

Twilight looked out of the window. She saw the dark path of the cablecar, illuminated by the orange glow of the coals beneath.

'What if...' She interrupted herself for a second, gathering her thoughts.

'What if it is Rainbow?'

She shook her head. 'Can't be.' She reassured herself. 'There is simply no way!'

'But what if?'

'NO! No if's, no buts, no nothing!' She argued with herself, denying the obvious answers. 'It's not Rainbow!'
She felt a weak tremor go through the cart. Looking up she saw that the orange glow of the coals was missing, replaced by soft yellow lights as the cart began to slow down.

There were answers. And she would find them, no matter what it meant.

Twilight took a deep breath, reassuring herself.

The cart stopped.

The door was opening, revealing...

A riveted iron wall and a ramp leading down. Stepping out of the cart she looked around. She was in the middle of a big room, the walls, the floor, even the ceiling were riveted. Her hooves created soft sounds that echoed through the darkness. Walking down the ramp, her view no longer obstructed by the cable car, she saw another ramp on the other side leading up to a broad corridor.

Twilight shuddered. For an engine block it seemed pretty quiet and cold.

Walking up the other ramp she stopped at the end.

On the floor was a book, it's green cover had small splatters of red all over it. Twilight recognized the book, walking closer and picking it up she saw that the pages were torn and sprinkled with red.

Twilight gulped.

Dropping the book she turned around, looking into the corridor. And to her shock she saw another set of feathers lying on the ground, torn pages next to them.

She followed the trail of feathers and pages through the weakly illuminated corridor and a set of doors.

The door closed behind Twilight, a loud click told her that the door had locked, and her eyes widened as the smell of oil assaulted her nostrils.

She was standing in a room, much larger than Canterlot Castle's throneroom. Like the rest of the engine block, the walls, floor and ceiling were riveted and poorly illuminated.

But the most prominent feature of the room-

Were giant pistons.

She wasn't even sure how big they were, since they were resting in the floor, but the small parts she saw told her that they were monstrous. Twilight couldn't even fathom how deep they extended into the ground. She was suddenly happy that the engine wasn't running, a machine this large would probably deafen her.

'Who build this?' She looked around. She had seen some engines, back in Canterlot, but nothing of this scale. 'And what's even fueling this thing?' She furrowed her brows. Something this monstrous would eat up resources in an unfathomable scale. She wasn't even sure she could move one of the pistons with her alicorn powers, since they seemed to be made of solid blocks of steel. Each probably weighed multiple tons.

Shaking her head she stopped her pondering. Again, with most of the things in Deadside, no one would answer her questions. Best to stop thinking about it and continue with her search.

Looking around she noticed more feathers leading towards the first piston. Looking up, Twilight narrowed her eyes, as she tried to look past the machine.

Was there a path behind the machine? And if yes, who-

She stopped her trail of thoughts. There were no answers.

Following the feathers she stepped into the darkness of the engine. Twilight shuddered. It was a weird feeling to walk through an engine block. She never even imagined the possibility of something this large to exist.

Breathing a sigh of relief after stepping out of the engine, she turned around, looking up the whole construction. In the end she had counted four giant pistons. And she was eternally happy that the machine wasn't running. She gulped as that thought crossed her mind.

Shaking her head, she turned around. A narrow ramp lead up to a small, dark corridor.

A massive clunk echoed through the whole engine and Twilight felt the piston right behind her begin to stirr. Panicking, Twilight began to run up the ramp. Another clunk went through the room and Twilight stopped, looking back at the engine.

Her eyes widened.

The last piston had moved, it was now obstructing her way back.

Twilight gulped.

The piston had stopped on it's peak and was now protruding a dozen meters out of the floor.

Twilight took a deep breath, calming her thoughts. She would find a way back, but for now she had to continue.

She turned around and-

Something blue disappeared into the darkness, the sound of heavy steps echoed through the corridor.

"Rainbow?" Twilight shouted into the darkness.

Twilight eyes widened.

"Come on Twilight!" A voice answered. Rainbow's voice answered.

"Wait for me!" Twilight sprinted through the corridor, up another ramp and through the darkness.

"Sheesh Twilight!" Rainbow's voice echoed through the hallway. "You're an alicorn and still so slow?"

Twilight ignored Rainbow's teasing, she felt tears roll down her cheeks as more and more of Rainbow's voice echoed towards her.

"Get it together Twilight." Rainbow snorted. "No need to cry."

Twilight sprinted into a giant room and-

The light in the room went on, illuminating giant boxes with barred fronts.

And a loud screaming growl echoed through the hall as something hit the bars, shaking the whole box.

Twilight fell to her haunches, shocked and scared by the thing right in front of her.

In the box- no, the cage, was a giant version of Shiv's monstrous form. It's dark skin was glistening red in the bright light, it's skull and eye sockets were turned towards Twilight, like it was looking at her. It's giant fist crashed into bars, shaking the box again.

"What is that!?" Twilight scurried away until her back hit the wall. She was breathing heavily.

"Oh those? Just ignore them." Rainbow answered. "They can't do anything to you."

"But what are they?" Twilight shouted back.

"I don't know. All I know is that they can't leave the cages."

Twilight gulped, shaking in fear as the monsters fist hit the bars again.

"Rainbow?" Twilight pleaded. "Where are you?"

"Follow the way." She answered. "You're almost there."

Twilight trembled as she stood up, walking around the cages. Looking around she saw more and more of them, each locked away in cage. Dozens, hundreds of them.

BOOM!

Twilight jumped as one of the barred cages behind her burst open. The creature stepped out of the cage, rubbing it's claws together, growling and salivating.

"NO!" Another voice echoed through the hall.

And Twilight's eyes widened as the monster looked up. A second later it looked back down, a deep guttural growl escaped it.

And it turned away, walking back into it's cage.

"Come on Twilight!" Rainbow teased.

Twilight turned around, sprinting through the darkness. She wanted away, as far as possible from those horrendous monsters. Just away. She wanted back home. She wanted to feel the warmth of Celestia's sun again. The embrace of her friends, their voices.

She just wanted to flee from everything.

A door opened before her, a small ramp lead up to a second door.

The door closed behind Twilight. A massice click locked it behind her.

Twilight's teary eyes widened.

The room was empty. All it had was a large metal throne and nothing else.

"Hey Twi." Rainbow smiled at her, sitting on the throne. "Pretty cool eh?"

"Rainbow?" Twilight's voice was wavering. "What... What are you doing here?"

"Oh you know." Rainbow shrugged. "Being badass and stuff."

"No! What are you doing here in Deadside!?" She shouted at her friend. And then she noticed the small changes. Rainbow's mane was much longer, hanging down and covering the right side of her face. It looked pretty cool, but impractical. She also looked older, her coat and mane had lost some of their brilliance, the colours looked a little paler than they used to.

Rainbow's frowned.

"Oh... that." Rainbow hopped off the throne and began to walk towards Twilight.

She stopped right in front of Twilight, her head hanging low.

"Before I begin..." Her voice was sad, she looked up and Twilight saw tears rolling down her cheeks. "Can I get a hug?"

Twilight was confused. Rainbow never showed much affection, unless it was a group activity. She felt Rainbow wrap her forelegs around her and Twilight returned the hug.

Rainbow began to cry. Soft sobs shook her as she cried into Twilight's coat.

After a minute or two Rainbow let go of Twilight, a giant smile on her face.

"Oh Celestia... you don't even know." She sobbed, wiping her eyes. "I really missed that."

Twilight flattened her ears. "I don't... what?"

Rainbow giggled, a giggle void of any humor.

"Oh right, time and stuff." She took a deep breath as she stood up, turning away she walked back to the throne.

She turned back and her gaze was stern and almost angry.

"Do you know... how long you have been here?" She asked.

"Hours..." Twilight answered. "Maybe a day? I'm not sure."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah... for you it may have been a day. For us?"

"Seven years Twilight." Rainbow's voice was empty, bare of any feeling.

Twilight eyes widened.

"Sunset Shimmer came back through the portal and told us." Rainbow continued. "She told us of your accident. And we all, Fluttershy, AJ, Rarity, Pinkie... we all were shocked that you were gone." She shook her head as she bit down on her lip and her eyes became watery again. "Do you know what it does to you? To see your friends break? One after another?" She almost shouted at Twilight.

"What do you-"

"Our friends Twilight!" Rainbow interrupted her. After a second of silence she continued. "Pinkie was the first. Barely two days after your death. It was the last party she ever planned. Your 'We will never forget you' Party. The day after she ended up in an asylum. Screaming about how you were suffering and how she had to kill herself to help you."

Rainbow gritted her teeth. After a deep breath she looked up to the ceiling. "Fluttershy disappeared a week after that. Just up and gone into the Everfree Forest. No one saw her since than, even Zecora couldn't find her anymore." Twilight felt how tears began to well and Rainbow took another deep breath. "AJ got hospitalized. She was dehydrated and had managed to destroy her vocal cords by screaming and crying."

A very faint and weak smile grazed Rainbow's face. "She handled it the best... even though she became mute." She whispered. "Rarity lost her touch. After your death she created more and more dresses but no one would buy them. Later on I read that every fashion critique complained how her dresses would only fit one type of coat. Yours."

Twilight felt more and more tears fall down her face.

"She is working in Manehatten now... for Coco Pommel." Rainbow's expression had turned dark and she stopped.

"What... what about-"

"Me?" Rainbow interrupted her again. She scoffed. "Me? The element of loyalty? I had lost every reason to exist. I couldn't do anything to help my friends. None of them wanted my help and it... it crushed me." She sobbed. "I felt useless and alone. No one cared what I had to deal with. I developed a drinking problem, started fights and after some years I..." She sat down, looking at her hooves as more tears fell. "I never..." She gulped. "I never wanted any of this to happen." Her voice became empty again. "I was thrown into prison after a bar fight... I... I..." She looked away.

She snapped back at Twilight. "It was an accident! I never wanted to kill that stallion!" She screamed.

Twilight gasped, covering her mouth with her hooves.

"I never wanted any of this..." Rainbow hid her face behind her hooves. Heavy sobs echoed through the room. "And then... he showed up."

Something changed. Twilight was suddenly sitting right in front of the throne, looking up to see a man, Rainbow was lying on his lap. He was dressed in a morning coat, a bright orange shirt and purple pin-stripe trouser. His bloodied mouth was twisted into a grin as he petted Rainbow.

Twilight gasped. She remembered him.

"Good day, Twilight." His soft and melancholic voice echoed through the room. "And welcome to your personal nightmare."

"Who.. who are you?"

"'And he asked him, 'What is thy name?' And he replied, 'My name is Legion, for we are many''."

Twilight's eyes widened again. She was too shocked to even think.

Rainbow sat up, jumping off Legion's lap, she began to circle around Twilight. "He came... and safed me. He freed me from the pathetic life I lived, waiting for death in that dark cell. He gave me a reason to exist, something no one, not even Celestia managed to do." Her tears were long gone and she smiled. "Oh and while we're at it. Celestia went missing too. Luna is sitting on the throne right now."

Twilight looked at her friend.

"What happened to you?" She asked, too scared to hear the answer.

"To me?" She raised a brow. "I was freed. Freed from myself."

"I don't recognize you anymore!" Twilight sobbed. "What happened?" She pleaded. "Please..."

Rainbow's hoof crashed into Twilight's face, sending her flying through the room.

"Please?" Rainbow laughed. "There is nothing you can do Twilight. I understand now. Legion showed me another way. No one, not you, not Celestia, not even Tirek can take this away from me anymore."

Twilight sat up, holding her jaw.

"I'm finally free." Rainbow whispered. "Free to do as I please. To live by my own rules."

"Even if it means killing innocent ponies?" Twilight screamed at her.

Rainbow shook her head. "No Twilight. Legion isn't interested in Equestria. He wants Earth or whatever it's name is. I'm just one of his judges. I'm sitting at his side, I'm his left hand, leading the killing blow to the sickness that is humanity, the arc that will blind their eyes and free them from their frail existence." She began to laugh, a laugh Twilight never heard before, high pitched and manic.

"What happened to your loyalty Rainbow?" She shook her head. "You betrayed yourself!"

"I. AM. LOYALTY!" Rainbow shouted. "I was loyal to you and our friends, even to Celestia. And look what happened. They left me to rot the moment you were gone."

Twilight stood up. "You make me sick Rainbow."

Rainbow scoffed. "Suit yourself." She lowered herself to a crawl, ready to pounce. "And now di-"

Legion cleared his throat.

Rainbow flinched, looking at him with an uncomfortable expression. "Do I have to?"

Legion nodded.

"But it's so laaaaaame." She complained.

Legion stared Rainbow down.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Fine! Whatever!" She groaned. "For we are many! There! You happy now?"

Author's Note

Not much to say.

I'm afraid I lost some of my touch, the chapter feels weird again but not as bad as the one before. Maybe you guys can tell me if I'm right or wrong.

Oh and by the way, I will split the ending into two parts, just like the game. So yeah... have fun with that, I guess.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Magic and Loyalty

Twilight barely had time to dodge Rainbow's first attack, jumping out of the way of a pounce. Rainbow's wings were extended, the tips of her feathers were glimming softly in a cyan light as she turned around, her wings pointing at Twilight.

"I lost so much Twilight." Rainbow growled. "I lost so much and no one cared. And since no one cared about me anymore I began to care less and less about others or myself." She lunged at Twilight, stretching her left wing in an attempt to stab Twilight.

Twilight took a step back, dodging the stab, she ducked beneath a jab, using her shoulder to shove Rainbow away.

Rainbow tripped, landing on her stomach. Looking back at Twilight her mien was dark, her voice vibrated with anger. "And soon after, I begun to hate." She stood up. "I hated my 'friends' because they thought that their problems were more important than our friendship. I hated myself because I wanted their help. I hated Luna and Celestia, I hated all of Ponyville." She bend her body, her left wing was kept low, pointing to the ground, her right was extended and pointed up. "And soon my hate became unbearable. I fled into rage-" Rainbow lunged forward, twirling around she used her right wing in a slashing motion, like a blade.

Twilight dodged, jumping to the side.

But Rainbow was faster.

Twilight felt air brush through her coat as Rainbow turned quickly and attacked with her left wing. Twilight yelped as she felt heat rush through her shoulder as Rainbow's feather singed through her coat and skin. The smell of burning flesh assaulted Twilight's nostrils as she stumbled backwards, looking at the bloodless and cauterized wound.

Rainbow didn't stop. She jumped forward, crushing into Twilight. They rolled over the floor, Rainbow kicked and jabbed, while Twilight just tried to get the cyan pegasi off of her.

Rainbow managed to get the upper hoof. She sat on Twilight's stomach, looming over Twilight, her wings extended as she readied herself to cut through her friend.

Twilight eyes widened as she saw the wings rush down, heading right for her neck.

Time slowed down.

And Twilight finally had time to look at her friends face. The angry look, the pained expression. Sadness, anger, pain. All of them and more feelings were reflected in Rainbow's eyes and complexion.

But one was missing.

She lacked confidence. Her face and eyes didn't have the glimmer she had whenever she tried something hard, there was no determination in them.

Time continued and Twilight used her lower body to throw Rainbow off balance, the feathers cut deep into the iron floor as Twilight, for the first time in her life, used her hoof to hurt somepony. She slapped Rainbow across the face.

Stunned, Rainbow held her cheek as Twilight shoved her off of her.

"I can't..." Twilight swallowed her tears. "Even begin to understand Rainbow." She looked at her former friend. "To see them lose themselves, to lose yourself in the pain and the agony of loss. But..." At this point she was looming of Rainbow. "You, the real you, had never given up that easily. You would have fought till the bitter end. You would always find a way. That you are here right now, talking shit about how you are Legion's left hand..." She shook her head. "That's not y-"

Twilight coughed up blood.

Rainbow's left wing was digging into Twilight's chest, smoke was rising from the wound as the coat around the feather began to blacken.

Rainbow scoffed. "The Rainbow you just described." The wing burned deeper and Twilight felt how her breathing got shallower as her lung began to simmer. "Only existed in the confinement of Equestria's rules. She was never free to do as she wanted. She was caged in the rules and laws of a world that hated her."

Twilight gritted her teeth, raising her forelegs she grabbed Rainbow's wing. She ignored the burning feeling in them or how her hooves began to blacken. She pressed down on the appendage in her grasp. She felt Rainbow squirm and trying to pull back.

"Twilight... wha-"

And Twilight wanted. She wanted to hurt Rainbow.

And with a deep earshattering crack Rainbow's wing broke.

Rainbow's agonized scream echoed through the room as she squirmed and pulled, even kicking at Twilight to get her away from her wing.

But Twilight's grasp was stronger. She pulled at the wing, keeping it in place as her eyes narrowed. She focussed and right behind her four of her spikes appeared.

Twilight felt two teeth break as she gritted them even harder, and with a flick of her mind she shoved all four spikes into Rainbow. One into her left shoulder, two into her hips and one right through her abdomen and spine, pinning her to the floor.

Rainbow's screams got louder, her right hoof was pulling at the spike in her shoulder.

And with a cry of her own Twilight placed her right backleg on Rainbow's chest.

The sound of ripping flesh filled the ears of the two ponies as Twilight used all her strength to rip off the broken part of Rainbow's wing which was still digging into Twilight's chest.

The broken part landed with a soft thud as Twiligh dropped it unceremoniously, pained gasps and wheezing accompanied Rainbow's harrowing screams.

Twilight wobbled. She felt the lack of air finally getting to her as she fell back on her haunches. She closed her eyes, grabbing her chest.

'Lungs...' Her mind whispered. 'I need to...' She felt cold relief spread through her pierced and charred chest as her Dark Soul began to work.

A crack and the feeling of strength returning to her made Twilight open her eyes.

Rainbow had broken the spike in her shoulder and was now working on the one in her abdomen. Heavy gasps escaped her as she growled, her bleeding wing was resting on her side.

Twilight coughed. She felt lightheaded as she concentrated. She created two more spikes, and with that reached her maximum of five and shoved them both into Rainbow's shoulder.

And Twilight saw smoke rise from the spikes as each began to heat up, singing Rainbow's coat, she saw Rainbow's mouth open and she heard the far away sound of her screams.

Twilight's eyes drooped, she struggled to stay conscious. Her lung still wasn't healed and the spikes were using up the rest of her energy.

'I... I can't.' She felt the spikes shatter, one after another and her strength returning. Slowly opening her eyes. she saw Rainbow lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

The two ponies were coughing and wheezing.

"Not... bad... Twilight." Rainbow spoke between deep breaths, she glimpsed at her. "But... your... attacks... lack... killing... intent."

Twilight finally felt blood flowing through her lung again and her first reaction to that was to cough it up.

Rainbow sat up. "You... can't win... like that." She pulled herself towards Twilight.

Twilight felt how Rainbow's hoof landed on her shoulder, softly hitting it. The attack was painfully weak and felt more like a nudge.

Twilight raised her own hoof and hit Rainbow's nose. But her leg was as weak as Rainbow's and it looked more like she was booping her.

She felt a soft tremor go through her body as Rainbow's hoof connected again with her shoulder. And she saw the same happen to Rainbow as Twilight continued her 'booping' assault.

The two were sitting next to each other, trading 'punches' and not soon after the two began to giggle at their weak attempts.

"This... is so stupid..." Rainbow murmured, Twilight coughed in approval.

Suddenly a loud clunk echoed through the room, pushing the two apart and throwing them each into a wall, Twilight landed on her haunches coughing up more blood. Rainbow landed on her stomach, groans and pained gasps escaped her.

Legion was standing, a cane-sword resting in his hand and a deep dent in the floor beneath it.

"You disappoint me Rainbow." His voice was cold. "You know that your enemy isn't even trying to kill you and what do you do? You hold back your strength." He glared at the cyan pegasi. "Maybe I should take care of this?"

Rainbow's shook her head as she sat up.

"The end is nigh, Rainbow." Legion whispered. "Finish this. Now."

Rainbow stood up, looking at Twilight.

Twilight looked back at her.

"Twilight?" Rainbow's voice was distant.

"Yes?" Twilight answered raspily.

"I missed you." A sad sigh escaped her. "A lot."

Twilight nodded, not saying anything.

Rainbow readied herself, her wings spread wide and glowing. "Ready?"

Twilight summoned two spikes, hovering over her. She nodded again.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes as she began to move towards Twilight, her walk quickly turning into a sprint.

Rainbow was in reach, her wings pointed at Twilight, she jumped and-

Author's Note

*in Mortal Combat announcer voice*

CLIFFHANGER!

Yeah, this is the... welp next to last chapter. The two endings are the last thing coming up, and yes they will also be seperate chapters but I will publish them simultaneously.

I hope you had fun so far.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter/s

Death of Magic, The End is Nigh

Twilight looked deep into Rainbow's eyes. She felt heat spread through her chest, at the same time a numbness followed it's wake.

Twilight looked deep into Rainbow's eyes.

"I..." Twilight felt her voice weaken. But there was one thing, one last thing she had to say.

"I forgive you." She whispered.

Rainbow's right eye began to twitch.

"You forgive me?" She scoffed, pulling out her broken wing out of Twilight's chest. "You really don't get it... do you?"

She turned her wing, placing it on Twilight's throat. "I couldn't care less about your absolution." And with a flick of that wing Twilight's head rolled to the ground.

Shaking her head she dropped Twilight's body unceremoniously, ignoring the bright light that began to burst out of the wounds or the sound of ripping flesh as the Dark Soul freed itself from it's cage, tearing Twilight's body apart. The soul's pale blue light began to darken and turned purple again.

"For we are many." Rainbow whispered.

Michael walked into the room, a weak smile apeared on his face.

"Luke! There you are." He walked towards the throne, his brother sitting in it. "What are you doing running away like that?"

Luke kicked his legs in silence, looking up to his brother.

"Luke, speak to me kid." Michael almost pleaded.

Luke smiled at his brother. "Hiya Mikey." His weak voice echoed through the entire room. "Glad you could make it. I've been waiting for you. I was scared, scared they were gonna catch me. That you weren't gonna come get me."

Michael walked closer, giving the teddy bear back to his rightful owner. "Here Luke. You should have known I'd always be there for you bro."

Luke shook his head, his voice began to quiver. "There were bad things in the dark, badder'n than the boogie man." He looked up with scared eyes. "They did stuff to me. Stuff I don't wanna think about."

"Oh god, I'm sorry Luke."

Suddenly Luke's entire demeanour changed. "Hey, you wanna hear a joke Mikey?"

Michael kneeled down in front of his brother, nodding at him. "Sure..."

"Once upon a time there was a murderer and his victim walking hand in hand towards some deep, dark woods. The victim squeezes the murderer's hand real tight and says, looking up pleadingly with his big, brown eyes: 'I'm really scared mister, of them deep, dark woods'."

Michael stood up, looking at his brother in shock. "What the hell Luke?"

Luke continued his joke, a smile on his face. "And the murderer, he sighs and says: 'You're scared? How the hell'd you think I feel? I'm gonna be walking back through them on my own!'"

The sound of dark laughter echoed through the room.

And a snicker coming from behind the throne.

"What the...?"

Luke rolled with his eyes. "Great... you destroyed the mood, Rainbow."

Rainbow tried in vain to contian her laughter. "Sorry... sorry..." She snickered quietly.

"Who are you!" Michael shouted at his brother.

The room around the throne flickered, revealing a man in a grey morning coat, orange shirt and purple pin-stripe trousers, a cane-sword resting on his lap as a cyan Pony stepped into his sight.

"And he asked, what is thy name? And he replied, MY NAME IS LEGION, FOR WE ARE MANY!" He stood up, looking at Michael. "And you, Shadow Man, are Legion also. The souls of the many fill your vitals to bursting."

"To hell with this obscure shit!" Michael replied taking a step away from Legion. "I don't need it! All I need to know is that I'm gonna take you down!"

Rainbow scoffed in reply as she sat down next to Legion.

Legion shook his head. "You really don't get it, do you? You're even more of a posturing fool than I first believed."

Rainbow stood up as Legion began to walk towards Michael. "When I came up with my grand and incredibly brilliant plan - which you will know as The Prophecy - all those years ago-"

"What?! You created the prophecy?"

"Of course I did, you pillock. Surely you didn't believe all that bollocks about the old gods imparting the knowledge to the ancient? The only god back then was me. It was I who spoke to the ancients in their dreams and planted the seed for my triumphant return." Legion smiled.

"Of course, all those years ago, I couldn't have hoped for a more willing puppet. Luckily, the puppet is you, Michael LeRoi." His voice changed, mocking Michael. "And of course, now that you have kindly presented poor Lukey with his teddy bear, it is impossible for you to leave."

"You bastard!" Michael stuttered as reply.

"Thank you." Legion replied nonchalantly. "I suppose you've read Les Cartes? For it is written: And Legion took the power of the Dark Souls unto him... I knew that the Dark Souls would be difficult to get and I needed someone to bring them to me." Legion's smile widened. "And here you are - replete with their immortal power, a power I require to energize my Dark Engine and project my armies across the veil to Liveside."

Legion raised his sword as Michael took another step back. "As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall-"

"I'm bored now." Rainbow interrupted Legion. "Can we get this over with?"

Legion looked back, slightly annoyed.

A second later he sighed and shrugged, turning back to Michael. "Amen to that."

Rainbow spread her wings, lunging at Michael.

Michael drew his gun, pointing it at Rainbow and-

Saw his right hand soar through the room as Legion's sword cut it clean off, right at the wrist.

Rainbow crashed into Michael, her wings were plunged into Michael's legs.

And Michael screamed as the heat began to burn away his skin and the smell of burning flesh reached his nose.

Rainbow stepped away from Michael as Legion stepped closer. Kneeling down he grabbed Michael at his throat, lifting him up he threw him across the room into the throne. Rainbow jumped forward, pushing him into the seat as the mechanical cuffs closed around Michael's wrist and around his feet.

Rainbow flew through the room as Michael hit her with the stump of his arm, flailing around and trying in vain to get off the throne.

"Shouldn't have cut his hand off..." Rainbow groaned as she rubbed her lip, spitting out some blood.

"Minor problem." Legion replied, walking closer he kicked Michael into the stomach and stopped his flailing. He grabbed Michael's free arm, placing it on the arm rest he plunged his sword through the flesh and into the throne, pinning him to the iron.

Somewhere below Michael something began to hum softly and Michael felt how something began to fester on the power of the Dark Souls.

Legion circled around Michael with a wide smile.

"This is how the world ends, Michael." He leaned forward, speaking straight to Michael's face. "Not with a bang, but with a whimper."

Rainbow appeared from behind the throne, something in her wing.

Holding it up, Michael looked into the dead eyes of Twilight.

"Twilight's sending her regards." Rainbow mocked.

And Michael felt how the power of the Dark Souls began to deplete, sucked away from him. He felt his own powers grow weaker and weaker, disappearing into the ether.

And Michael screamed, louder than ever before as unbearable pain began to eat away at him.

"Amen to that." Legion whispered.

Rainbow rolled her eyes as she walked away from the throne. "Whatever..."

BAD END

Author's Note

Holy crap, Legion talks a lot! Seriously, I didn't remember him to be so talkative. Welp, I guess it doesn't really matter in the end.

So yeah, bad end first. The good end is coming right up.

Thank you all for staying with me, reading this monstrosity that I call a story till the bitter end. I hope you had fun and if not... welp I guess it doesn't change anything.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next story

Death of Loyalty, A Way Home

Twilight's eyes were closed, she had pointed the spikes at Rainbow right as she had lunged at her.

She heard a loud cough and something warm sprayed across her face.

Slowly opening her eyes she looked up and saw Rainbow pierced by her spikes, hovering in the air.

Rainbow looked back at Twilight.

And Twilight saw something like regret appear in her eyes.

"Say... Twilight..." Her voice was raspy and weak, blood was running out of her mouth. "After all this... do you still call me a friend?"

Twilight felt the soft stream of tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Of course Rainbow." She sobbed.

"Princess of Friendship indeed." Rainbow whispered. "Say... can I get... one last hug?" She asked, even weaker.

Twilight bit her lip as she lowered Rainbow, wrapping her legs around her friend, Rainbow returned the hug.

And her eyes widened.

"Temple of Life..." Rainbow's barely audible voice reached her ear. "Follow... the feathers.... and you..." Rainbow's voice got weaker and weaker. "The... way... home..." Rainbow's hooves slipped off of her.

Twilight cried as she felt something shaken Rainbow's body and with the sound of ripping flesh, light escaped Rainbow's wounds and a Dark Soul burst out of her.

Twilight jumped back, away from the purple soul, caked in Rainbow's blood.

Legion clapped his hands, his sword resting in his lap. "Oh what tragedy." His voice had a mocking tone. "Who knew that-"

"SHUT UP!" Twilight's voice boomed through the room, silencing Legion. "You will never understand what just happened. You, Dark Souls, Michael, the apocalypse..." She screamed in agony, the blood of her friend on her body. "I don't care about any of that... but you will never understand." She snapped at Legion. "YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND!"

Legion grabbed his sword, a scoff escaped him as he stood up. "I don't even pretend to care."

Twilight growled at him, she readied herself, calling out some of her spikes.

"Oh Twilight." Legion shook his head. "Do you really think you could hurt me with-"

Twilight interrupted him as she shoved one of her spikes into his right shoulder. A small trail of blood began to seep out of the wound.

Legion shook his head, he grabbed the spike and pulled it out, crashing it in his hand.

"You are bleeding." Twilight scowled at him, her voice was ice cold. "If you can bleed, you can die."

Legion scoffed. "And you think you can do that? Kill me? You alone?"

BOOM!

A hole appeared in Legion's left shoulder.

Twilight looked up and saw Michael stand in the door, his gun was pointed at Legion.

"She is not alone!" He bellowed.

"And what about it?" Legion scoffed again. "What are two ants supposed to do against a god?"

Another bullet hit Legion and with a groan he fell to the floor, grabbing at the wounds in his chest.

Michael walked closer, pointing his gun at Legion.

"Get up! Get up you bastard!" Michael shouted at him.

Legion rolled on his back, his sword still in hand. "Alas, it would appear that I am done for." His voice had a sarcastic and mocking tone.

"You didn't reckon on the fact that the Dark Souls we possess would give us even greater power - power enough to take you down!" Michael shouted into his face, anger reflecting in it.

Legion slowly stood up, scoffing at Michael as he brushed over his chest, the wounds simply disappearing like dust.

"Well, you might think that. But unfortunately, and once again, you are woefully mistaken."

A deep groan ripped through the room as Legion began to shake, the sound of ripping flesh filled the ears of Michael and Twilight as Legion's body stretched, tearing the clothes off of him.

"What the?" Michael took a step away from Legion.

"Michael?" Twilight looked at Legion as his body became bigger and bigger. It deformed, grew tendrils, claws and a long spiked tail. A giant toothless maw opened up on his tomach, harboring a giant blade. His body faintly resembled a Dark Soul the way it stretched and bend. Taking off, Legion began to float through the room as-

Twilight screamed. The floor she was standing on crashed down, creating a crossed walkway, leading down into darkness.

The giant metal plates landed in a room below, an earpiercing clunk deafened Twilight for a second.

Twilight looked up and saw how a big part of Legion, the long spiked tail, split off, falling down into the room she was in.

"AND NOW YOU DIE!"

Legion's distorted voice echoed through the rooms as Michael began to fire away.

Twilight gasped as the part of Legion in front of her began to stirr, claws began to grow out of it's sides as it tail began to erect, standing on the claws like a scorpion. Something began to hiss and Twilight saw a purple liquid drop off it's spikes, burning holes into the floor.

Twilight gulped.

'One drop and I'm done for.'

Small holes opened up in the body and Twilight saw small spikes grow out, pointed at Twilight.

Twilight jumped as the spikes were fired at her, digging deep into the wall.

Twilight's eyes widened as the wall around the spikes also began to corrode.

She summoned one of her own spikes, sending it right into it the creature.

And Twilight screamed in shock as she jumped away from the long tail piercing the floor she just stood on.

Twilight shattered the spike and a small fountain of purple blood gushed out of it but the scorpion continued, pulling it's tail out of the floor, turning towards Twilight.

Twilight began to circle around the scorpion, dodging it's attacks, and sending spike after spike into it's body, shattering them the moment they dug into it's flesh.

After a few minutes of dodging and attacking Twilight became desperate. She didn't even know if her attacks were actually hurting it. The scorpion continued unfathomed, it followed her ramming it's long tail into the ground or firing at Twilight with it's spikes.

And everytime one of the spikes missed her, or a drop of the scorpions poison dropped to the floor she felt her gaze glued to the holes they were burning into the wall and floor.

Her mind worked feverishly. She had to do something or at some point it would corner her and-

Something heavy crashed into walkway above and Twilight felt the plates tremble as the tail-scorpion began to flail and stomp around. It began to shrink, it's poison seeping out every pore, burning away the monstrosity.

Twilight looked around. She found a small ramp leading around the room, up towards the walkway above.

She sprinted towards it.

Running up she saw Michael stand in the middle, pointing at Legion. He was saying something but Twilight was too far away to understand him. Suddenly an arc of purple escaped Michael, a dark purple lightning crashed into Legion as Michael did... something.

Legion's agonized screams echoed through the room as something above them exploded. Twilight looked up and gasped as she saw a massive part of the ceiling come down, breaking through the walkway, and bending her ramp.

She jumped over it, looking back she saw the ramp bend even further, breaking under the weight. She looked up and saw another, bigger part crash down, seperating her ramp from the walkway above. She came to a halt, looking towards the edge of the walkway. It was too far away for a jump. Michael walked over the walkway, looking around.

"Michael!" She screamed, he turned around and saw her. He laid down, extending his arm as far as possible.

"Jump!" He shouted.

"What? I can't-"

"Either you jump or you die!" He interrupted her, he looked up as more and more parts came crashing down and more machinery behind the walls exploded.

"Do it!" He ordered.

Twilight gulped, walking back she looked at the distance between them.

She had one chance.

She sprinted towards the edge, jumping at the very last moment and-

Twilight fell down a hole, it's sticky surface reminding her of flesh. It felt like she was falling down a vein.

She shuddered as she landed on the same squishy surface. It bounced slightly, cushioning her landing. She stood up, looking around the new room she was in.

After their escape Michael had helped her back to the Temple of Life, the temple she had been in before, back in the Wastelands.

He had helped her over the coalpits, carrying her while he simply walked over them, telling her some of the things he did after he had disappeared back in Shiv's realm. Something in there had killed him and he couldn't find a way to return, the way back to Shiv's portal had been blocked off. The one imitating him was probably Legion, deceiving her, even though Michael wasn't sure how he opened the coffingates. He had shrugged it off. Legion would know ways around them.

After they were seperated he continued his search for the Dark Souls. He didn't even know if she had been still alive. He had fought his way through temples, gathering ancient tattoos that allowed him to touch, walk over and even be engulfed by fire.

He had stopped at the entrance to the hole she had jumped down a few moments ago and had seen her off, waving at her.

It was weird to be alone right now, surrounded by squishy, fleshy walls. She shuddered again. She walked through the room, exiting it on the opposite side.

After walking through another long, and luckily flesh free, serpent like corridor she found herself standing in a half moon shaped room. In the middle was an empty podest bearing etchings of the sun, the crescent moon and stars. Right behind it was another Ether portal. Five corridors were leading into small adjacent rooms, each bearing a weird wooden altar.

She ignored the altars and looked around.

And then she found a feather. She followed the feather, entering one of the small corridors.

Sticking out of the back of the altar was another feather.

She furrowed her brows. Stepping closer she noticed a small hollow space behind the altar.

Quietly moving it she found a small, plain wodden chest in a hole.

Opening it she felt tears begin to well. Inside the chest was a group photo of them, in front of Twilight's castle, together with Rainbow's necklace, the red lightning was softly glimming.

Twilight grabbed both, teardrops landed on the photo. She pressed the necklace to her chest, crying softly.

She pictured her own Castle, standing in front of it.

She felt her own body bend and twist as the world whirled away.

And she heard Rainbow's voice echo through her mind. Together with her feelings, a feeling of pride washed through Twilight.

"See? I'd never leave my friends hanging."

The world stopped spinning and Twilight found herself standing in front of her castle, spike was standing on a ladder, cleaning a window. He was a little bit bigger than before.

Twilight sobbed. She felt Celestia's sun, she felt the grass beneath her hooves, she was seeing her number one assistant.

And she still cried.

She was finally back.

But it would never be the same.

THE END

Author's Note

Yay, the good ending! Or... well as good as possible. And look, feels!

For those who don't remember, the 'See? I'd never leave my friends hanging.' is actually one of Rainbow's lines. She said that to Twilight Sparkle right after she escaped Nightmare Moon's allurement.

And before anyone asks: ~~No I won't write a sequel. If someone's out there who would like to write a sequel, feel free to do so, just credit me.~~

I will write a sequel.

Okay, so this is the end of Welcome to Deadside, my weak attempt at a mature, gore crossover story. I can't say I'm sorry that I wrote this, it was funny, even though I feel like the quality dropped towards the end. But that may be just me.

So yeah, I hope you all had fun and... Yeah good day to you my fellow reader and...

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next story

Epilogue, Welcome to Liveside

Welcome to Liveside

Twilight was nervous. She stood in front of her mirror, staring at herself. It had been three days since she had returned and Spike had managed to overwhelm her. She barely had time to wash the blood off of her coat as he told her that Luna wanted to talk to her.

Twilight had scolded the little dragon, she had shouted at him and all he done was smile at her. He was just too happy to have her back.

Twilight sighed. She had managed to postpone the inevitable, not meeting with Luna or anypony else. She had locked herself away in her room, crying into a pillow.

Someone knocked at her door.

"Twilight?" Spike's muffled voice reached her ears. "Everypony is waiting."

Another sigh escaped her. "I'll be right there Spike." She answered.

'Spike really outdid himself.' She thought sadly. Somehow he had managed to organize a get together of all their friends, which were waiting for her right now. Shaking her head she turned around, walking towards the door.

The soft sound of music reached her ears as she opened the door. Slowly walking through her castle towards the banquet room, she stopped at the doorstep, glimpsing into the room.

Rarity was sitting at the table, smiling at something Cadence was telling her. Cadence caressed her belly while Shining Armor sat next to her a goofy smile on his face. On the opposite side of the table sat Applejack, moving her head in rhythm of the music, her stetson resting on her head.

Luna was standing at the far end of the hall, apparently talking to a column.

"Won't you go in?"

Twilight yelped and jumped into the banquet room as Spike appeared behind her, a big platter of food in his claws.

"Sorry!" He smiled at her. "Didn't mean to scare you."

She gulped as she looked into the room.

All eyes were looking at her in awe.

And then all tartarus broke lose.

She didn't even understand all the things they said. All she saw and heard was how they walked towards her, smiling, grinning and laughing.

They surrounded her, talking to her.

Scaring her.

Twilight covered her ears and closed her eyes. She tried to block out the words assaulting her ears, the smiles burning into her eyes. She just wanted to-

"SHUT UP!" Twilight's voice boomed through the room, scaring the attendant ponies, Spike dropped the platter.

She looked up and saw all her friends floating in the air, grasped in her magic.

"Just... shut up." Twilight whined, levitating them back to the ground and a few steps away from her.

"Twilight, darling what is-"

"No Rarity!" Twilight snapped at her, tears streaming down her face. "Just... no." She began to sob.

Somepony pulled her into a hug. Twilight wanted to struggle, to tell the pony to go away but-

The brilliant white coat stopped her.

She was resting in Princess Celestia's forelegs and she felt how more tears began to well.

"Shhh Twilight." Celestia whispered.

"Princess... I-"

"Shhh." Celestia interrupted her. "It's fine. You're safe."

Twilight clenched her teeth, sinking deeper into Celestia's embrace.

And the she cried, screaming out all of her anger, anxiety, fear and sadness into the sun monarch's coat.

"It's okay Twilight." Celestia whispered "We are here for you."

After minutes of crying and screaming Twilight finally stopped. Celestia was sitting next to her, an encouraging smile on her face.

"I'm sorry." Twilight whispered.

"You don't have to." Celestia answered.

"No... I am..."

Celestia nuzzled her. "Everypony get's scared when pressured like that."

Twilight stood up, taking a step away from Celestia. "That's... not it."

"Then what is it?" Celestia asked. Her mien saddened. "Are you sorry for..." She tapped her chin. "What were they called? Duppies?" Twilight's eyes widened. "Or the other creatures?" Twilight took a step away from Celestia.

"No." Celestia shook her head. "You-" She pointed at Twilight. "-are sorry because of Rainbow."

Twilight fell to her haunches, looking at Celestia in shock.

"How?" She felt her tears return.

Celestia stood up, walking closer to Twilight.

"NO!" Twilight stood up, walking away from Celestia. "Don't come closer!" She pleaded. "I don't... I can't..."

Celestia pulled her into a hug again.

"Shhh. It's fine." She whispered.

Twilight shoved Celestia away from her. Her expression was twisted by anger.

"It's fine?!" She shouted at the white alicorn. "IT'S FINE?! Nothing's fine!" Her voice boomed through the hall. "I am a murderer! I killed those creatures! I... I killed...."

Celestia nodded. "You killed Rainbow Dash." She stated, her voice bare of any anger.

Twilight nodded, her head hanging low as more tears fell to the floor.

"Twilight, look at me." Twilight looked up, staring into the caring eyes of her mentor. "We know what you did." She explained quietly. "And we understand why you did it."

"But... but..."

Celestia walked closer and pulled her into a hug again. "Shh Twilight."

"I'm a monster." She cried. "I killed her..."

"No Twilight." She felt Celestia stroking her back in a calming motion. "Legion killed her. He poisoned her mind with the idea of 'true freedom'. He used the circumstance that Rainbow was griefing to whisper lies to her, to pull her on his side."

"But... but I..."

"You didn't kill Rainbow Dash." Celestia whispered. "You-"

Twilight escaped Celestia's grasp again. "Why are you so okay with that?!" She screamed at her and the others in the room. "I killed a pony!" She sobbed. "Why aren't you angry?" She fell to her haunches, hiding her face behind her hooves. "Why are you so calm about that!?"

A hoof touched her shoulder and she looked up. Applejack looked back at her, a warm smile on her face.

"Applejack..." She whined. "Why..."

Applejack pulled her into a hug. And Twilight felt her eyes widen.

She looked over Applejack's shoulder and saw her friends staring at her. Their sad expressions and weak smiles.

"We know what happened, darling." Rarity stood up, walking towards Twilight. "We were shocked when Luna told us about it."

"Luna... how..."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Dreams, dear. And apparently yours became rather vivid."

"We know what happened Twily." Shining Armor's voice was sad as he walked next to Rarity, thick tears rolled down his face. "And... we might never understand how you feel but... we are just so happy to have you back."

"I guess..." Cadence looked at Twilight. "He's trying to say that... we know the why. And we understand the circumstances that forced you to do those things."

"But..."

"It's not your fault, Twilight." Celestia whispered. "And no one's going to blame you for that."

"But... I..."

"We still love you Twilight." Rarity smiled at her as she joined Applejack, hugging the crying mare.

Twilight whimpered. "I miss her..." She sobbed.

"We know." Celestia answered.

"It hurts."

Celestia nodded.

"Will it ever stop?" Twilight looked up to Celestia. "Will the pain ever stop?"

Celestia shook her head. "I don't know Twilight. That is for you to find out."

"I miss her so much." Twilight cried.

"We all do." Rarity answered now sobbing herself.

Twilight continued to cry, huddled together with her friends until, a few minutes later, she finally fell asleep, too exhausted for anything else.

And she dreamed about Rainbow Dash soaring through the sky, smiling at her.

And for the first time in days, Twilight smiled.

Author's Note

Whoopsie... I totally forgot to do an epilogue... so yeah, here you go! *runs away, hiding behind a corner*

I know it's not good but it just... feels right, you know what I mean? Of course you do.... or you don't which is fine too... I guess.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next stoy

Welcome to Deadside, The Marrow Gates

Author's Note

Greetings fellow reader.

As mentioned in the description of this story, it's an attempt, my second attempt, at writing mature and more specific gore. My first quickly descended into something that had gore, for the sake of gore. It was something I quickly deleted after I noticed how much the *cough cough* story had descended into bloody smut.

This here has a fixed frame, I don't have to be too creative to make it gory, the world itself does that for me.

So please, if you have something to say about the story, even if negative, do it in a friendly and constructive manner. After all, I want to become better as writer.

Sorry for the long author's note.

If possible, have fun with the story.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.

Welcome to Deadside, The Marrow Gates

The Marrow Gates

Twilight slowly, oh so slowly, opened her eyes. Hissing and groaning at the pain that was snapping through her whole body. She felt like she had been hit by a truck.

Which she had been.

She didn't remember much. Closing her eyes she reached up with her hooves, rubbing her skull.

She had been with her friends, her Canterlot High friends, walking through the town. They had been on their way to... a cinema? She groaned, more pain echoing through her body. She had noticed that her shoe had opened and kneeled down to tie it. As she looked up she saw that her friends, apparently not aware that they had left her behind, had already crossed the road.

She didn't look at the traffic lights as she walked on the street.

But she definetly saw the truck coming.

The next thing was pain. Unending, indescribable pain going through her whole body.

And for some reason, following a reflex she didn't knew she had, she embraced the pain, she cherished it.

It was as if the pain was something important.

"What's going on?" She groaned. Lowering her hooves she opened her eyes, looking at her surroundings. Her eyes widened. She closed her eyes, rubbing them, not wanting to believe what they showed her, she opened them again.

She was sitting on a rock in the middle of a lake. A sanguine lake.

A lake of blood.

"What in tartarus!?" Standing up she looked around, fear taking hold of her heart. "Where am I?" Her wings flared wide in shock.

But something was different. Twilight looked at her wings.

And shrieked in surprise.

Her wings were practically gone. They were broken, twisted and mangled, barely recognizable as wings. They looked more like bony legs of an insect. She wasn't even sure how she was still able to move them.

'When did this happen? What's going on!?' Her mind raced.

Something moaned, interrupting her trail of thoughts, something very close to her, resembling a voice. The voice of a female, behind her.

Turning around she saw into the dead eyes of a human woman, her naked body coated in wounds and scars. The bloodless flesh of her arms, her broken arms, reaching up to Twilight.

Recoiling with another shriek, Twilight slipped, tumbling down into the sanguine lake. The iron taste of blood, washed through her mouth, into her throat and down her esophagus. Flailing around, Twilight stood up, coughing and retching, surpressing the urge to vomit. The blood was reaching up to her shoulders, soaking into her coat, mattening her mane and burning in her eyes. Still coughing and blinded by blood, she began to wade away from the human.

'Where am I? What's happening!?' Her mind was practically screaming at her. Her instinct told her to flee, as far away as possible. 'A nightmare! This is just a terrible nightmare!'

Her panicked mind was looking around, seeing more and more shadowy figures appear around her, some far away, some close enough that she could see details. The man, his stomach cut wide open, the emptiness where his innards should be. The woman with the missing face, her broken jaw dangling from the tendons, her tongue ripped and shredded. The little child, his head spl-

Twilight screamed. She screamed in utter terror, in fear, in panic.

Tripping over a rock she lost her balance, stumbling facefirst into the blood again. Luckily she managed to close her mouth fast enough, the blood only entering her nose. Surfacing again, with blood dripping from her face, she shuffled around, finally getting her hooves back under her body, she stood up, fleeing from the monstrosities.

After a few more steps she noticed the blood getting shallower. With each step it became easier to move, faster, quicker.

And then she heard the heavy clops of her steps as more blood splattered to the ground.

Running for her life she followed the path, through fissures in the canyon jumping over holes in the ground and ducking away from more of the strange undeads.

After an eternity of panicked running, Twilight tripped again, landing on her stomach, her legs sprawled out. Gasping and wheezing Twilight lay there. She didn't know how far she had gone. All she remembered was jumping over a few cliffs and running through a cave.

And the moaning of the creatures, reaching out for her as she ducked away from their grasps.

Now she lay there, eyes closed, gasping and wheezing.

And then her ear picked up the sound of something familiar.

The crackling of fire.

Opening her eyes she sat up, ignoring the scrapes on her legs and stomach she searched for the welcoming warmth of the fire.

Her eyes widened. She was at the end of a path, in front of her, a giant clearing. In the middle of it were two massive stone columns, like teeth, pointing to the dark skies, a monstrous tower standing in the distance, splitting the sky, a vortex of clouds shrouding it's top. A hallway of fire lead up to a massive gate, a gate made of bones, looking like a ribcage, protecting the path behind it like a heart.

And a few steps away from her at the left column, sat a snake. The snake, a human skull as face and a tophat adorning it's head looked at her. It definetly saw her but decided to wait what she would do.

The snake looked different. Yes, scary but still different. More... for the lack of words, alive. It's eyes had the faint glimmer of sentient life in them.

Slowly standing up Twilight looked at the creature, her fear of snakes instantly taking hold of her heart. Her still panicking mind, screamed at her to just run away. But she knew that she couldn't run forever. She needed help.

Fighting her fear and panic, Twilight stepped closer to the serpent.

The eyes of the snake glimmered as it's smile seemed to widen, however that was possible.

"If that isn't one weird revenant." It spoke, in a heavy accented male voice. "Well hello little... pony?"

Twilight gulped. "Hello?"

"And it speaks!" The serpent wiggled, slithering closer. "Now that's somethin. A speaking undead pony."

Furrowing her brows Twilight looked at the snake.

It's face froze, expression changing. "Oh... you don't know it yet!" He slithered around Twilight, a cackle on his lips. "You're a newcomer...." Bowing down, he took a look at her belly, Twilight obstructed his view by quickly raising a backleg. "And still in one piece." His eyes falling on her wings, he frowned "Well mostly." He added. Slithering closer to her face his frown turned upside down. "Cooooool."

Stepping away from the serpents, putrid breath, Twilight gulped again. Though some questions burned on her tongue.

"What do you mean undead? Where am I?" She asked.

The snake laughed, a loud bellowing laugh. "Incredible! A talking undead pony that isn't aware of it's state."

"What are you talking about!?" Twilight shouted at the serpent.

"You are dead, dear." The snake answered. "Or... undead."

Twilight's eyes widened. "What? No! That's impossible!"

"Oh is it? Then tell me 'impossible undead pony'. "He writhered even closer, now staring directly into her eyes. "Did ya meet the weird human creatures in the canyons behind ya? Ya know the ones moaning and screaming, thirstin' for blood?" Twilight nodded. "And did you wake up in a lake of blood?" Another nod. "Well then, welcome to deadside I guess." The snake laughed again. "I'm your friendly host, Jaunty, keeper of the Marrow Gates."

"Jaunty." A voice behind Twilight interrupted. "You are a writhing doorstep, nothing more." Turning around Twilight looked into the burning eyes of a man, a man with a burning skull in his brown chest. His determined gaze looking at her.

Looking past Twilight, Jaunty smiled. "Hello Michael! I wondered if I'd every see your smiling mug again."

"The feelings mutual." He answered. "And what do we have here?" The man, Michael looked at Twilight. "Since when do you talk to revenants?"

Jaunt laughed again. "Oh, you won't believe it Michael, this one here's a newcomer, and she's totally adamant about being alive and all that stuff."

"I'm not a revenant!" She screamed at Jaunty. "And I'm definetly alive!"

Jaunty looked at her. "But girl, you are here..." He tapped the ground with his tail. "This whole place isn't called deadside because it has a nice ring to it you know?"

"But... but..." Twilight looked at the serpent with big eyes. "How?"

"Oh you know... being stabbed or shot, then there is drowning, burning, dissolving... oh, oh my personal favorite, decapitation by guillotine and being run over, suffocating...."

"Shut up Jaunty." Michael interrupted the snakes babbling. "And concentrate on what's important."

"Of course Michael." Jaunty answered.

"And stop calling me Michael." The man continued, annoyed. "Michael LeRoi has no place here in deadside, please refer to me as Shadow Man."

"Whatever you want Mike." Jaunty smiled. "So how's it been? Still hanging out with that old battle-axe?"

"How could I not?" Michael answered.

"Huh, I bet she filled your head with that fetid pillow talk about armaggedon and doomsday and all that junk until your head exploded." He continued. "Oh that's why you're here!"

Ignoring the joke, he shook his head. "She indeed mentioned one prophetic dream she had." He stated.

"Well did she now?" Jaunty turned around. "Looking at that big, black, bloody tower over there she might be right this time."

Twilight followed their gazes. She had noticed the tower before.

"Is that... unusual?" Twilight asked.

Jaunty turned around, looking at her. "No, no... that's totally normal, for giant monuments of evil to just appear." His voice was dripping with sarcasm. After a second he continued. "Of course it's not! Nothing has been there before, just clouds, and the sky. Sometimes a deadwing or two."

"Jaunty." Michael interrupted again. "Focuss, ignore her. Tell me what's going on here?"

"Ah Michael, I wish I could tell you something." He straightened his tophat. "All I know is that it appeared out of nowhere, and that it's a dark place." Looking at Twilight he added: "Dark as in gruesome, horrendous, not dark-dark."

"Thank you..." Twilight answered sarcastically.

Shaking his head, Michael's voice got an annoyed tone. "Anything about the dark souls?"

"Negative answer again." Jaunty answered. "All I know is what Nettie told me, neigh indestructible and terribly dangerous."

"Any idea where I could find them?" Michael asked.

"Hmm... you could try it in those old temples, between all those shiverers and moaners. I'm sure that the old ones guarded some." Looking up to the big tower again he shivered. "Let's just hope none of those damned souls found their ways into that blasted tower."

"If what Nettie is saying is true than some of them might already have." Michael walked towards the gate. "Open the gate Jaunty."

"Oh come on, you just got here." Jaunty pleaded.

"Just open the gate Jaunty." Michael answered, his voice practically ordering it.

"Have I ever told you how Attila and I played bowling with the severed heads of the french aristocrats?"

"Jaunty!" Michael shouted.

"Oh fine, fine." Jaunty turned to the gate. "Open sesame!" The gate opened with the creaking and cracking of breaking bones. "I'll wait here Michael, whenever you want to come back and chat. Maybe we can have some of that old hard stuff to lighten the mood."

"I don't drink... with snakes." Michael answered, walking through the gate.

Shaking his head in shock, Jaunty turned towards Twilight. "And what about you?" His smile seemed to widen again.

"I don't drink." Twilight answered, following Michael through the gate.

"Tch." Jaunty slithered back to his spot next to the fire.

The heavy clops of her steps in her ears, she followed the softer steps of the human, quickly catching up him.

"Hey!" Twilight shouted out to him. "Wait for me!" The man stopped, turning back.

A gun in his hand that he pointed at Twilight.

Startled, Twilight tried to stop, her hooves scratching over the ground before hitting a stone again, falling over, she slid a few teps further on her belly.

"Ow." She groaned.

"I don't have time for some random zombie to follow me around!" Michael stated, the gun inches away from Twilight's forehead. "I don't care what, who or why you are. So get out of my sight!"

Looking up to him, Twilight whimpered. "But... I need help and you..."

"I don't care!" He stated.

"But I might be able to help you too!" Twilight answered. "Please."

Lowering the gun he sighed, shaking his head.

"I don't have time for this." He looked at her. "I'm here to stop the apocalypse from happening, not playing babysitter."

"But-"

"No buts!" He stated, turning around and walking away. Leaving her to her thoughts alone.

'But...' Twilight followed him with her eyes, sadness rising in her.

It was of no use. He would never listen to her.

'Unless...' Twilight trotted through the cave, following him.

After a sprint through the cave, dodging more of the revenants she found herself in a much wider and bigger part of the cave. A spiral ramp at the edge of the room caught her eye, leading up to the second floor. In the middle of the room, standing in front of a pedestal was Michael, a big tome in his left hand, a deck of cards in his right.

Slowly walking closer, her ears perked, she looked at the man. His focussed eyes panning through the pages.

"What's that?" She asked.

Turning his head slightly he looked at her.

"A guide to 'get rid of annoyances'." He answered.

"Funny." She answered.

"I thought so too." He put the deck back into the book and placed it back on the pedestal. "But sadly..." He turned around, drawing his gun. "Only for me." He pointed the barrel at her, a weird turquoise bullet of energy, bearing a skull, gathering at the point.

Twilight ducked, the shot barely missing her, scorching some of her coat and mane, reacting quicker for the second shot, she jumped out of the way. Looking at him she saw determination in his burning eyes.

His voice, now much more menacing, was echoing through the hall.

"You want my protection? You want my help? Proof that you are worth my time!" He shouted, firing another shot at her.

Dodging more of his weird shots of energy she ran through the room.

But she quickly noticed that it was no use, the shots got more accurate with every one that he missed.

And then she was hit. One of them hit her right in the chest and she stopped in her tracks, looking down at herself. She saw the scorched coat, she saw the red skin underneath it. And then, like someone had shoved her mind, something clicked.

He would kill her.

And nopony would ever know what had happened.

She would never see her friends again.

Closing her eyes she heard the humming of his gun as he charged another shot.

She wouldn't allow that.

Firing up her horn she created a shield.

The shot hit the shield...

And went right through, scorching her left cheek and burning another hole in her mane, more hair falling to the floor.

'How!?' Her mind screamed. 'Nothing should be able to...' Her trail of thoughts interrupted as another shot hit her.

And this time something echoed inside of her. Something resounded. A high pitched scream. Something vibrant screamed at her. It was as if her heart was screaming. Another shot hit, scorching more of her coat.

Falling to her knees she looked up to the man, his ruthless eyes staring back, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Your soul sure is loud." He walked closer, placing the gun on Twilight's forehead. "Let me silence that for you."

Twilight closed her eyes.

She had lost.

She felt heat on her forehead, the tip of the gun practically drilling it's way into her skull.

'So that's how it ends...' She sobbed.

She heard the gunshot. Something splattered on her face.

And then screams. But not her own. Not the high pitched scream of that thing inside her.

It was a masculine scream, a shout of pure agony.

Opening her eyes she saw Michael in front of her, lifted of the ground, staring to the ceiling.

He groaned and turned his head, blood was rolling down his chin, dropping to the floor.

Twilight followed his gaze, her eyes widening.

Under him was a creature, a humanoid creature with long bone blades as forearm, which were prodding out of Michael's chest.

"Curse.. you.." He managed to spit out before the creature drew out one of it's blades.

"Meeeaaaaat...." It hissed before plunging the claw deep into his back again. The sound of ripping flesh, accompanied by the cracking of bones, and the raspy screams of the man made Twilight flinch.

"FUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKk-" He screamed before the fire of his eyes disappeared, his whole body turning into black ashes, rippling to the ground.

Twilight had watched the whole scene in shock. Her mind was denying that any of this was happening.

'It's a nightmare...' It whispered in her head. 'Just a nightmare...' The creature had closed in on Twilight, it's arms spread wide, the blades pointing at the mares body. Twilight didn't move. Her panicked body still denying any and all of this.

And then the blade met her shoulder, a giant tear appearing in her flesh.

The world went dark.

"Huh?" Twilight looked around. Her eyes only finding the darkness.

"Don't you think it's a little pathetic?" A voice behind her asked.

Jumping in surprise she turned around.

And looked into the eye of herself. The undead eye of a pony, it's grayish purple coat singed and torn. Bloodless gashes adorning her entire body. Broken wings dangling from her sides. Her mane and tail shorter than they used to be, ripped and felted. Her backlegs bend the wrong way, still carying her weight. The emptiness where her left eye should be, blood around her mouth.

"Look closely." The other spoke. "This is not a dream. This body-" She raised a hoof to her chest. "-will be yours." She reached out, touching Twilight's chest. She felt the hoof, but she felt no warmth, no bodyheat. Only the cold dead flesh.

"But only if you don't accept."

Twilight followed the hoof of the other, looking at her own chest.

"We will die if you don't accept the truth." She whispered. Tears began to well in Twilight's eyes, blurring her vision.

"You. Are. Dead." She stated, accenting every word.

"NOOOOOOO!" Twilight screamed.

And that something inside her answered. A massive purple shockwave send the creature flying, flinging it across the room. The wave began to dissipate, some of it in form of purple particles still lingering in the air.

And without her control, without her command the particels began to gather in front of Twilight, forming a spike.

Which then threw itself across the room, piercing the creatures chest and sending it into wall, pinning it there.

Twilight opened her eyes, looking at the creature, thrashing around, tugging at the spike in an attempt to free itself.

'Kill it.' That something inside her whispered.

'But...' Twilight began.

'DO IT!' It screamed. 'The spike won't last forever and once it's free it will continue to hunt you, it will never stop hunting you. And it will hurt you like it did before. And it will kill you!'

Still shocked, Twilight looked at the creatures thrashing, she saw cracks appearing in the spike.

'DO IT!' The voice ordered.

Twilight closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered.

And then the spike burst.

Ripping the creature apart. Thousands of shards flung themself through the flesh of the creature tearing it, parts of it splattering over the wall and the floor.

And in the middle of the red mist that was lingering in the air, slowly settling, was a glowing and pulsing pinkish orb, orbited by smaller once.

'Gather that.' The voice spoke. 'It will tend to your wounds.'

She began to walk closer to whatever that was.

'What has happened to me?' She whispered in her head, asking that other voice.

'You were unfortunate.' It answered. 'Dumb luck, cosmic case of unfairness, faith being a bitch. Karma, whatever you want to call it.'

'And what will happen to me now?' Twilight continued. 'Will I ever see my friends again? My parents? Anyone?'

The voice stayed silent for a few moments.

'There are two ways to answer this in a yes.' It concluded. 'Either you will find a way out... Or...'

'Or?' Twilight asked.

Oh how naive she had been.

'Or you will see them here again.' It finished.

Twilight fell to her knees again, her legs simply buckling away underneath her.

Tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Why?" She sobbed. "What did I do to deserve this?"

'Death takes indiscriminately.' It answered. 'Now dry your tears and continue.' It ordered. 'You won't find a way to return if you sit here crying.'

Twilight nodded. Slowly raising to a stand she looked at the weird orb right in front of her. It's light had gotten weaker.

'Quickly, take it.' It ordered again. 'Or it will vanish.'

Raising a hoof, Twilight stopped, inches away from it.

"What is it?" She asked in a whisper.

"A soul." A voice behind her answered, Twilight jumped, turning around.

And then looking into the burning eyes of Michael LeRoi.

"But... How?" Twilight stuttered. "You were... I saw you..."

Michael giggled, a dark grin appearing on his face as he began to move closer.

"I am the lord of deadside." He answered, his voice grim and dark, yet firm and bursting with determination. "Walker between the worlds, immortal voodoo warrior. As a god I stamp upon the writhing face of the deadside serpent, weapon in hand. My hand the arcing deathblow." He stopped in front of Twilight, looking down on her.

"Does that answer your question?" He raised a brow.

She nodded, paralysed by his words.

He nodded at the fainter glowing orb of the soul. "You should take it. It will mend your wounds."

Twilight looked at it, the soul. Turning away from it she shook her head.

"Why not?" Michael asked.

"I feel..." She began slowly. "Like I would lose my equinity. And I don't want to lose that." She answered.

"Equinity?" He looked at her confused. "Oh you mean humanity, just the horse version of it, clever." He grabbed the, now very faint, soul absorbing it into his hand. "But believe me, you being here means you already lost any sort of... equinity." He walked around her, towards the pedestal. Looking down on it he opened it again, taking out the deck of cards.

"Let's see what Les Cartes has to tell me." He looked at each card individually. Learning their hidden meaning, one card in particular peaked his interest. "One, two, four..." He continued whispering numbers. "twenty four, twenty five... makes.... 120." He concluded, tilting his head upwards, not looking at anything. "120 dark souls..." He whispered.

Something brushed against his leg and he looked down, seeing Twilight taking the book in her hooves.

"Hey, hey, stop that." He took the book out of her hooves. "That's important."

The book ignited, yellow flames engulfing it entirely, turning it into ashes.

Twilight's eyes widened, anger spilled into her voice. "You burned it?"

He nodded, igniting the cards in his hands. "Of course, how else am I supposed to carry them around?"

Dumbfounded by his answer she looked at him. "I don't know... a backpack maybe?"

He laughed. "Nobody got time for that." He shook his head, walking away from the pedestal towards the ramp.

"Wait for me!" She followed him.

He stopped, sighing quietly. Turning around he looked down on her. "Look, I know you want my help and all that crap, but I really have no time to babysit you."

"You won't have to!" Twilight answered.

"Are you sure?" He asked. "This place is nothing for the weak."

"I'm not!" She exclaimed. "Didn't I kill that monster?" She pointed towards the bloody wall.

"Oh yeah, you did." He answered. "But that was just a duppie, a lowclass monstrosity, barely noteworthy." He continued. "And look at you, this small fry kicked your ass."

Twilight looked at the ground. She knew he was telling the truth.

He sighed again, looking at her. "Look, if you can proof to me that you are strong enough to kill something bigger than that, I will take you with me."

Twilight looked up to him. "Okay... And what?"

He chuckled. "Well right now..." He panned through the room, spreading his arms. "I'm probably the biggest fry here in deadside, if you can kill this bod-"

Twilight interrupted him, piercing his chest with one of her spikes, pinning him to the wall behind him.

He groaned, looking at the spike.

And then he chuckled.

A humorless laugh.

"Is that all you got?" He asked, looking at her. "That's nothing, just a little pain." He grabbed the spike with both his hands, pulling it out of the wall and his flesh, his umharmed flesh. Dropping it unceremoniously he looked at her. "Come on. Show me something bigger."

Creating another spike, Twilight fired at him again, pinning him once again.

He sighed. An annoyed sigh. Looking at her with a bored and unfazed expression.

"Is that really all?" He asked.

"No..." Twilight answered. "But... what you said before..."

"Yeah?" He raised a brow.

"Are you really immortal?" She asked, looking deep into his eyes.

He looked back. "My soul is. My body not."

"And what happens if I destroy this body?"

"My soul will recreate it, over and over again. Until I'm freed of the curse."

Twilight raised a brow. "What curse?"

"The mask of shadows." He pointed at his chest. "As long as this mask exists and as long as I'm bound to it by contract, I'm immortal."

Twilight nodded. "That's a relief.... Thank you."

"For wh-"

Piercing his skull with another spike, Twilight finally saw blood seep out of the wound.

"I needed to be reassured..." She whispered sickly. "Murderous intent is completly alien to me."

Turning her head away, she shattered the two spikes. Feeling hot blood raining down on her, she looked back at him and saw the emptiness where his head should have been, and the dark hole where his ribcage once was.

A second later he already began to dissipate, turning into ashes.

Ignoring his dissolving body, something she never thought she would be able to, she turned towards the ramp, slowly walking upwards. Her eyes wandered up to the second floor. To be precise, the second floor was nothing but two platforms connected by a stone bridge with a hole in the middle. One of the platforms was glowing in a dim orange light, the other seemed to be a dead end, a massive coffin like statue at the wall, a small pedestal in front of it.

Jumping over the crevasse in the ramp, she continued walking. Reaching the platform with the coffin like statue, she stopped. Her eyes wandered over the pedestal, connected to the coffin with weird wires.

Walking closer to the coffin she noticed that the coffin lid had a weird texture. It was darker than the coffin, almost black and massive scar like growth seemed to be on it. She reached up with a hoof, touching it. And to her surprise the lid was warm, pulsating. Retracting her hoof with disgust she looked over the coffin. And above the coffin was something peaking her interest.

Twelve slots were around the coffin. The slots all had roman numerals, starting at one on the left side and ended by ten on the right.

'Weird...' She thought. Her eyes wandering over the weird connections between the coffin and pedestal. She poked one of them with her hoof, feeling the soft surface, the squishy structure. It felt like she imagined a vein to feel. Just a dozen times bigger.

"What is this?" She whispered, turning around to see Michael wander up the ramp.

"A coffin gate..." Michael answered, he looked annoyed. "Something my predecessor, Maxim St. James installed to keep the darkness at bay."

"What darkness?" She asked, looking back at the gate.

"Les cartes and the prophecy only mention it as something called 'Legion'" He answered.

Twilight nodded. "How do we get through it?"

"Well, to start with, you won't, ever." He stated, rolling his shoulders. "Only the bearer of the mask of shadows, a shadow man, can open these gates."

"Can you do it?" She asked.

He nodded. "I can try atleast." He walked to the pedestal, looking down on it for a moment. Then he placed his hands on the cross like pedestal, his left hand on the left arm of the cross, his right hand on the right arm.

The veins began to move the very moment his hands rested on the pedestal, in a pumping motion.

And even though nothing seemed to happen, the coffin lid, the gate, bursted open, revealing a path inside the stone wall.

"Weird door." Twilight stated. "Why so complex? So complicated?"

"Because doomsday is nothing to joke about." He answered, leaning into the path. "You think the armies of darkness would just stop at a wooden door which is locked?" He shook his head. "He needed something powerful to keep this place safe."

"Well, looks like he failed." She answered. "Considering that a monster was in here."

Michael laughed, turning around. "That wasn't one of the darkness's monsters. That was just a duppie. Just a tormented human soul, seeking for relief of it's hunger, twisted by evil intent."

Twilight raised a brow.

"If you are here for hundreds of years, unable to weaken the pain that brought you here." He continued. "It will make you insane. All the creatures you will see here are just unfortunate souls that suffer. They kill to stay alive in here, either they kill or they die." He walks over the bridge. "Lookie here." He whispered, jumping over the hole in the bridge.

Following him, Twilight leaped over the hole.

On the other side, Michael was kneeling in front of a weird mass of flesh, spikes serving as legs, massive ropes keeping the mass compressed and weird symbols written, no, tattooed on it.

"Was is it?" Twilight walked closer.

"A govi." He answered.

"And that is?" She asked.

He looked at her. "The reason why I'm here." He drew his gun, pointing it at the govi. A second later he lowered the gun. "Try to open it."

Raising a brow Twilight looked sceptically at him. "Open?"

He nodded. "In every of these govi's is a dark soul. It was sealed millenias ago to keep the world safe of it's power."

"What is a dark soul?"

"Pure darkness." He answered. "Pure, malicious evil. All the negative emotions in it's purity gathered in there. And it's alive."

"Is it really so bad?" She looked up to him.

He nodded.

"Then maybe we shouldn't open it." She took a step away from it.

"That won't do." Michael answered, pointing his gun at it.

The shot ripped a hole through the govi, dark purple tendrils like growths were prodding out of the hole, tearing through the govi. The sound of ripping flesh and a weird distorted squeal made Twilight shudder.

The flesh fell to the ground, freed of it's prison, the soul stretched it's long tentacles.

The soul looked like a giant mealworm, giant ethereal tentacles whipping around it, searching for something.

"Urgh... that's gross." Twilight took another step back. It's smell has already been bad before, the smell of decaying flesh. Now it had become unbearable. It smelled... Twilight couldn't even find words to describe it. It reeked of evil was the only thing she came up with, and that foul smell made her hair stand on end.

Michael simply nodded, a arm stretched out.

"Wait!" Twilight exclaimed.

But it was too late.

One of the tentacles had found his hand, wrapping itself around his wrist it began to pull itself into his palm.

The moment the worm like body made contact with his palm it opened a mouth, hundreds, maybe even thousands of pin like teeth showed, digging it's way through his flesh. The worm left no wound, the hole in his hand instantly closing again.

His eyes jittered as the worm dug it's way through his hand and forearm into his arm, wandering up. Twilight could see it's movement, it's way continuing through his dark shoulder, down his chest, over his ribcage and stopping right over his heart.

Michael fell to his knees, gasping for air, grabbing his chest.

And then he screamed, a scream of pure agony as the purple tentacles of the worm burst out of his chest, wrapping themself around his entire body, beginning to melt into his flesh.

"Michael!" Twilight screamed, taking a step closer.

His hand snapped forward, grabbing Twilight by her throat. Standing up he lifted her off the ground.

A second later he dropped her, Twilight fell on her haunches, coughing, rubbing her throat. Michael grabbed his own arm, struggling with it. A second later his hands snapped up, wrapping them around his skull. He screamed, a gargling scream of pain.

He fell forward, on his knees and elbows, his hands still around his head.

A moment later his screams stopped. Only his gasping remained.

"M-Michael?" Twilight asked, slowly taking a step back, fearing that he would attack her again.

"I... I'm... fine..." He squeezed out between heavy gasps. "Never.... felt anything.... like that..." He whispered. "Just... surprised."

"How... are you feeling?" She asked, still keeping her distance.

"Better..." He answered in a whisper. "Stronger..."

"That's... good isn't it?" She asked, fear spilling into her voice.

He slowly stood up, on wobbly legs, looking up to the ceiling. He smiled. A dark grin.

"Better than good." He began to chuckle, his voice raising to a loud bellowing laughter. The laughter of a madpony, Twilight's hair stood on end.

Taking another step back, she looked at him. Her fear told her to leave him behind, to run away. But there was nowhere to go.

His laughing died down. And then he turned towards her.

And smiled, reaching towards her.

Twilight flinched, closing her eyes.

His hand appeared on her head, carefully petting her. Opening her eyes slowly she looked up to him. His eyes showed the same determined eyes he had before.

"Let's go." He retracted his hand, turning away from her, towards the bridge.

Twilight looked past him, following him with her eyes. She watched him jump over the crevasse in the bridge. He reached the coffin, turning around he looked back.

"What is it?" He shouted back at her. "You comin?" He turned around, walking straight through the coffingate.

Twilight looked back at the pieces of flesh, the decaying flesh that once was the govi.

Shaking her head, she turned towards the coffin, running over the bridge, leaping over the crevasse she quickly followed Michael deeper into the darkness.

Down below, in the first floor, stood a man at the entrance. Wearing a suit, his mouth surrounded by blood. He looked up to the coffingate, a smile appearing on his face.

Turning around he walked back into the cave, disappearing into purple mist.

And a soft chuckle echoed through the caves, unheard by Twilight or Michael.

"It has begun..." Something whispered.

"For we are many."