Author's Note

This is your last warning. From this chapter on, there will be blood...
Happy Halloween ;)

The Fourth Chapter

THE FOURTH CHAPTER

“Are you sure you want to do this, Twilight?” Spike asked. It was later that evening and Twilight was underway in the process of packing. With graceful motions using her magical levitation spell, she packed the few things she would need for her small journey. Aeon’s note, her copy of ‘Spooky Tales & Legends’, the train ticket Princess Celestia had sent her, some pocket change, a piece of snack to eat during the trip and some other insignificant items. She was departing with the early morning train, so her packing preferably had to be done before heading to bed.

“Yes. It is crucial to my research for me to learn more about his experience with Tantibus.”
“But Twilight, did you not read what Princess Celestia had written? He hasn’t spoken a word for years!”
“Maybe I can change that. After all, I know what happened to him. I saw him in my dream. If it was real, that is.”
“When will you come back?” Spike wondered.
“The trip should only take one day. I’ll leave early in the morning and you can expect me to be home by dinner time.” Twilight added while closing up her saddlebag. “There, I’m set for tomorrow.”

Twilight could now only wait for the fatigue to catch up with her, and then for the morning to shine. As a matter of fact, she was quite eager to fall asleep. She was hoping that she could at last discover what happened to Maverick and Aeon. Also, Twilight could not help but to feel a small resemblance between Decker and herself.

Spike on the other hand did not think too much of Twilight’s new passion. She was always chasing a new myth or legend, trying to prove or disprove its existence. If you are a friend of Twilight you will quickly get used to her constant research and studying, he used to think.

To begin with, Spike used to come along on her trips and assist her in her travels, but now he had just accepted her love for discovery. Besides, someone had to take care of the library while she was gone.

The train will drop me off in the center of Canterlot. From there, it should just be a twenty minute walk to the Canterlot Mental Institution. That ought to be easy, as long as I remember where to go and which roads to take. Twilight went through her plan and routes one more time before finally blowing out the candle, falling asleep soon after.

All of the ponies backed off into their own corner, not trusting anyone else but themselves. Maverick’s thoughts were racing to find a possible escape plan. There were no windows and the main door was as blocked off as it could be. There were also remnants of a large staircase, covered in a torn up red carpet, leading up to the second floor, but it was just rubble and impossible to climb. There were four other doors in the hall. Two of them were one on each side of the giant staircase. The other two were on the other walls, opposite from each other. All of them were locked. Maverick ran up to one of them and began bucking on the door in hopes of breaking it down, but it did not as much as budge.

“What are you doing?” one of the female ponies asked. It was one of the unicorns. She had light blue fur matching the fur of Aeon. However, she had a pink mane whilst Aeon’s was light brown.
“I am looking for a way out of here!” Maverick shouted back. The startled unicorn backed off at the sudden outburst and attitude coming from the colt. The other ponies, now gripped by hysteria, started searching for a way out just like him.

The female pegasus was jumping frantically next to the broken staircase.
“I… I can’t fly!” she shouted panicking.
“Well of course, my dear. That would be cheating.” Decker stated while at the same time writing down in his journal what he had just said. That notebook, everything he knows about Tantibus is probably written in that notebook. If there only was a way for me to get a hold of it. Twilight added, unfortunately as a powerless spectator.
“What do you mean?” Maverick ceased his battering on the door and faced him. Maverick’s internal voice grew more agitated, with rising suspicion and contempt. That professor… How come he knows so much about this place?! More than he should if you ask me…
“Well, flying and magic would be an unfair advantage in a challenge like this. Makes only sense to deactivate it. You there, the yellow and red mare…”

The unicorn with canary yellow fur and bright rose mane looked over at Decker and retorted, “My name is Glory.”

“Well, Glory.” He corrected himself while with his hoof pushing forth a small vase in her direction. “Here. Make this float.”

The unicorn did her best, concentrating all of her energy into her horn, but the vase simply would not budge. It remained in its wobbly place on the creaky planks below.
“I can’t.” she confessed, giving up her struggle.
“And neither can we earth ponies. We are level now. This mansion wants a fair battle.”

Finally, Maverick had had enough of this know-it-all and spoke a piece of his mind. “And why do you know so much about this shit-hole?!”

Somewhat offended, the dark brown pony turned around to face the aggressor. “Mind your language, mister.” Keeping his composure, Decker continued. “But as for your question; when I first heard of this legend, I found it truly fascinating. For weeks, I studied its origin, rules, locations, and competitors. Quite frankly, it was only a matter of time before I ended up here myself.”

The female pegasi turned to the professor, asking him “If you are such an expert, why don’t you tell us how to get out of here?”
Decker, who was now the center of attention, answered. “Well, you see. There is one way for you to escape Tantibus, actually.”
“What is that?” The second unicorn commanded.

Still retaining his calm, he peacefully made his way across the immense hall. With creaky steps echoing and enveloping the room, he approached the bloodstained wall. There he simply pointed at the still dripping letters. “Win.”

“Are you crazy?!” Glory yelled.
“What if we refuse?” Aeon suggested while getting up on unsteady hooves. He looked quite frail. Weak and a pacifist... How did he win? Twilight thought with morbid curiosity.
“Well, I am afraid it is not that easy for us to…” Decker began but was abruptly interrupted as the candles in the crystal chandelier blew out. “This again…”

One of the mares shrieked for a moment, startled by the sudden darkness, but three more followed when the light came back. It was only Maverick and Decker that did not lose it at the sight of the newly added arsenal of blunt and edged weapons. In the center of the room, they could now find everything from sledgehammers and axes to swords and knives. There was even a morning star lying fairly close to the broken staircase. Maverick flinched and Decker once again took notes.

“Why do you keep writing in that thing?!” Maverick shouted.
“Well, my chances of survival are very small. I might as well write down as much information as I can so that someone in the future may find it. And maybe…” Decker looked straight into the eyes of Maverick and straight into the observing eyes of Twilight, as if he knew she was present, “Just maybe… Figure out a way to stop this challenge once and for all.”

“You guys are not going to… accept the challenge? Right?” Aeon said with a hint of panic in his voice.
“I’m not going to. But the end result is inevitable.” Decker replied.
“Neither am I!” shouted the female pegasus, who did not seem to get the ‘the end result is inevitable’ part.
“I’d rather commit suicide than end the life of a fellow pony. So make that four of us!” Glory stated.
“Then it is settled! We aren’t going give in to the insane rules of this maniac!” The other, light blue unicorn finished proudly.

The ponies grouped up, trying their best to laugh it off while ignoring the underlying despair. Decker seemed to only fake interest in the superficial chatter, only nodding when it felt appropriate. He was instead deeply engrossed in his own notes, as if he had made a discovery or something else worth writing at lengths about. Twilight wanted to wonder what, but something else caught her interest more. Unlike the rest, one pony did not join the group and instead walked unnoticed forward to a nearby sword.

The group exchanged identities to make it morally harder for anypony to even think about committing to the challenge. The female pegasus was first to introduce herself; and she was named Skydance. Twilight also overheard Aeon confirming his name.

Soon, it was the light blue, female unicorn’s turn to introduce herself. “Well, my name is Dawna. I have a big sister, mom and dad. In my free time…”

Dawna’s words were left hanging in the sustained atmosphere of the bitter, old and worn hall of this mansion. As a last effort from her failing muscles she raised her hoof in fierce pain and stroked her own throat. The hoof was now dripping red as she brought it forth. The dying pony attempted to scream but the exertion of using her vocal cords was met with insufferable agony and choking gags of blood.

Her hoof met the steel blade that had penetrated her from her neck. As the steel blade was slowly retracted through her flesh she fell down onto the floor and Dawna was no more. As the body was forming a growing puddle on the floor, everyone’s attention was directed at the pony responsible.

With a firm stance, soulless expression and a killer stare, Maverick was ready to strike again.