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.

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.

It took me how long to finish this chapter? More than a week! 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... 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 ) and that the next will be better.

Who am I kidding... can't get worse right?

A "Challenge accepted" would fit this situation buuuuuut.... that's one challenge I'm happy to screw up.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next chapter.