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.

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.