Six Degrees of Suffering

"Hello?"

I called from outside the small hut. I didn't go near it though, I kept my distance away from the building. After receiving no answer, I began to come closer. As I took a few steps forward, I had just then noticed that a large area of bare dirt could be seen beside the small hut. Also, the hut itself looked newly made, it was just created with moldy, weak wood. Who would make a house with such old objects?

"Hello!" I yelled again.

...

No response.

Were the horses planning an ambush inside that house? Maybe they saw me back at the camp, after all, I was about two feet taller than the tallest horse I saw back there.

I started to feel more nervous about the situation. As I began to slowly advance towards the abandoned hut, I occasionally took a glimpse of the crystalline ore pendant wrapped around my neck, to know if there was any more of those ponies hiding.

I lightly stepped forward, feeling a few debris colliding with my bare foot. Hm. Now that I've thought of it, was the hut just a replacement? Was the original building destroyed, and the salvaged parts just reused again? That would explain the bare spot nearby.

As I entered the hut's vicinity, I began to notice small houses and birdcages, covering almost every inch of the house. Inside those, rotting remains of what seemed to be dead birds, dogs, squirrels, and other small animals. Brownish red splotches all around the cages seemed like dried blood when looked close by.

Instantly smelling the decaying stench of the dead bodies, I started to move more quicker. I covered my nose with my right hand, the stench becoming more and more unbearable.

Stepping in front of the door, I pressed my ear lightly on the wooden structure, listening for anyone that may still be inside.

...

Nothing.

Maybe the smell won't be so bad inside, I could always cover my nose as I rest, or sleep. Slowly opening the door, it revealed that the inside to be the same as the outside: filled with decaying corpses of pets.

"Fuck," I cursed, "I can't stay in here!" I thought out loud, quickly turning around. I coughed, trying to get the burning stench out of my lungs.

Maybe I could find some useful items in here. I went in, and searched the cupboards, drawers, cabinets. All I found was some bottles of water, most of which were almost empty. I still took them, though, water is still water.

All the food here are either rotten, or half-eaten. I looked around for anything other than basic needs. A proper weapon such as a real knife, or an axe might be useful.

While looking for a weapon, I was suddenly alarmed as a cooking pot fell down to the ground, creating a very loud clang. I faced backwards, and looked around. "Who's...who's there?" I said, before succumbing to fit of coughing. I then looked around, before turned back to the drawers. I then continued to scavenge still finding nothing but papers, half-eaten carrots, and empty bottles of water. Then, soft footsteps suddenly sounded from behind me. "Hm?"

Turning around, I saw a small white rabbit. Judging from its size, I'm guessing it could be classified as a bunny? I don't know how these terms work. It was also wearing a small gas mask, fitting his face tightly. That lucky some of a bitch. It looked at me, I don't know what it's feeling, it's an animal for fuck's sake.

I knelt down – which was exceedingly hard with one leg – and looked at the bunny in front of me. "Hey there, little guy?" I said, before coughing lightly.

God, that stench is poison.

It crossed its arms and tapped the floor with its right foot. Woah, it seemed cross at me. It then pointed at the open door, and looked at me next. I stared at the open door for a few seconds, before looking back.

"What- oh! I'm definitely sorry that I busted in your house." I was speaking to a rabbit. This is a new low for me. "I was just looking for a place to rest," I smiled, trying to make myself more friendly to the small rabbit.

It then shoo'd me away, before crossing it's arms again. "Alright fine," I said, before turning around. "Geez."

"Wasn't even going to stay anyway," I mumbled.

I mean, who would want to sleep in a rickety, hazardous hut, filled with cages of rotting animals and unbearable stench? I mean, even the guards back at Xinlieu couldn't even bear to stay in there for even a few minutes. I could use company, though. It could be very boring traveling alone...

"Hey, rabbit!" I said, turning around one last time, "Would you like to join me on my travels?" I asked, kneeling once again. "I could feed you, take care of you, and keep each other company. Heck, if life goes out way, I could even return you back to your own caretaker!" 'If he or she is even alive, after all,' I thought.

"What do you say?"

The rabbit looked up, as if it was thinking to itself. It lightly tapped the ground with it's right foot as it decided. "Just look behind you, you're living in a hut filled with your dead animal companions. Surely, that can't be healthy for you." I said, before standing up. I looked at me for a few seconds, before accepting my offer. I don't know why it chose to follow me, maybe it had nowhere else to go, or maybe the offer of seeing it's caretaker again persuaded it.

I bent down, and smiled with glee. I offered my hand to the rabbit, which stared at it confusingly. "Name's Matthew. Matthe-- Ow!"

That fucking bitch slapped me!

Rubbing my bruised left cheek, I stood up and said in a disgruntled voice, "Fine, let's just go." That little bastard can hit hard.

I turned around, and started following the road. I turned left, which led to the town not far away. I looked back, and saw the rabbit remove it's mask, and threw it to the ground. We continued to walk down the path, not talking to each other, nor even looking at each other's directions. I was the first one to break the ice.

"So...hungry?" I asked. The rabbit nodded furiously, whilst licking it's lips. I took a can of corn from my fanny pack, and showed it to the rabbit. "You like this?" I asked, lightly shaking it in front of the bunny.

It knocked it out of my hands, and glared at me.

Taking the canned corn from the ground, I brushed off the dirt that stuck to it, before I placed it back to my fanny pack. "Fine, fine." I said, turning back around, and marched towards the town. "Picky little demon," I muttered under my breath. "Starve, I don't care."

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

Both of us treaded closer to the village.

I was walking calmly, while the rabbit was jumpy, it seemed like it knew something that I didn't. I took a step forward, accidentally stepping on a dry twig, creating a loud snap which startled the rabbit, making it jump towards me, then hugging my leg tightly. The action was done so quick, that I only saw a blur.

It shivered, and it's teeth were clattering in fear. I looked down sheepishly, which in turn, made the rabbit glare at me. "Sorry," I said, before taking another step forward.

Before I could even take two steps forward, the earth shook, and a strong gust of wind, followed by an extreme blast of heat shot towards us. I almost fell down to the ground, but I quickly regained my balance, thanks to my staff.

I first thought that it was a stray bomb, but after broken wooden planks flung towards me, I became more curious. I turned around, and saw a giant airship, which crash landed just behind us. It was still on fire, and the horses on board were dead. Most had huge gashes down their throats, and some died from the crash itself, flung off the ship. At the aft of the airship, a hatch was present. Someone inside was trying to get out, yet, it was locked.

I heard yelling, yet, I couldn't understand a single thing. What caused the sudden temporary apprehension of their language, earlier? But, before I could even think, I hear the horse scream, before what seems to be a cry of pain, and a single slashing noise. The horse died, it's voice replaced by a sick, gurgling noise. Suddenly, a much stronger one hit the hatch, almost destroying the lock.

I quickly told the rabbit to run, and retreated back to a ditch. We watched with prying eyes, monitoring the hatch as it was launched open. A single pegasus came out, wearing blue armor. It then flew, and headed towards the direction of the town. We began to climb out, before another group of pegasi passed by, making us lower back into the ditch again. We waited...and waited.

I then climbed out of the ditch, again, and brushed off the dirt and grass stuck on my sack shirt.

Following the road towards the town, I only then noticed that a cluster of stumps covered the area surrounding the dirt road, it seems that the trees here were cut down. Possibly for the 'Earth's Leviathan's' gain, if Green Apple said it correctly.

Also, I am a bit curious why those who were at the camp all had 'G's' for first letters of their names. It seemed like the apart--

I suddenly fell down with a loud thud, face first to the ground. "Ow," I said, before pushing myself up. I looked back, and saw a protruding root sticking out of the ground. Must've tripped on it while I was thinking.

Pushing myself back upright with my staff, I then looked at the rabbit, which was silently laughing it's ass off. I sighed, and continued my way. "Let's go."

Continuing the path towards the town, I started to lose myself in my thoughts once again.

Heh, it turns out that 'bad feeling' turned out to be fine, after all.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

After passing by a derelict barn, a field filled with trenches and craters, and a dried up lake, I became certainly more curious about this planet.

What happened here?

I know for a fact that a war is currently going on, but what started it? Surely, there must've been a reason why this sort of conflict surfaced. From what I know, there are currently two sides in this war: The Solar Dominion, which owned the camp where I was taken care of earlier; and the Earth's Leviathan, which built the airships that bombarded said camp...

But what of the unicorns that wore robes, and the pegasi that had blue armor? I'm pretty sure that there are more than two sides in this war.

As we went nearer to the village, I quickly heard sounds of fighting not far from where we stood. Screaming, grunting, and clashing of metal and metal sounded from afar.

Thinking that it came from the other side of the forest, I continued to walk forward, the bunny following. As we passed the large building, we immediately saw a battlefield in front of us. The blue armored pegasi, armed with blades attached to their hooves, fought unicorns and fellow pegasi, wearing dark gray armor. The others that were armed with small crossbows fought far away from the initial battle, picking off lone horses that strayed away from their group.

We immediately halted, and looked at each other. I placed my index finger on my mouth, and made a 'shh' sound. I then pointed to my left, to the nearby houses. 'Follow me,' I mouthed.

Silently limping towards the houses, we tried not to alert the fighting soldiers to us. Running quickly, I didn't notice that there was a small rock protruding from the ground. I tripped, and almost stumbled to the ground. I regained my balance, though, and continued my advance.

Turning left, I headed for one of the houses. Hopefully, the sounds of the battle would drown all the sound away. Using my staff, I used it as a wedge and attempted to pry the door open. The lock outside quickly broke off, and the door flung open.

"Come on, go!" I told the rabbit, which quickly hopped inside the house. I limped inside the house myself, and quickly closed the door the second I got in.

I then put my back on the closed door, and took deep breaths. I slowly slid down the door, before sitting down. I took deep breaths, and waited for someone to follow us.

...

I sighed in relief.

It seemed like nobody's noticed us. I then looked around, taking notice of my surroundings. Hm, it seems that it house is empty. Literally, completely empty. There was even no furniture, only windows, and other rooms.

I then heard my stomach growl, and so as the rabbit's.

I glanced at the rabbit questionably, and raised a brow. The rabbit noticed my look and gave me the cold shoulder, turning to the side and crossing it's arms, all while closing it's eyes, and raising it's nose into the air. "You know, you should really eat," I said, before taking another can from my bag.

Corn.

I placed the can beside me, and search for any other food in the bag. I checked the first pouch, then the second, then the third... None. Only cans of corn kernels, submerged in what seems to be a cream colored slush.

I sighed, and took two bottles of water. One full one, and one that I had drunk earlier. I opened the two bottles, and gave the untouched one to the rabbit. It opened it's eyes as it heard the soft thud of the water bottle. I then pointed at the plastic bottle. "Drink," I said.

I then drunk the half-empty bottle of water, before throwing the plastic away. Taking the canned corn beside me, I took out my knife, and carved open the can. After opening the metal container, I placed the knife back in my bag, and looked at the can of corn. I then ate half of it, and placed the can beside the rabbit. "Eat," I said.

I then leaned my back on the door, and closed my eyes, my fingers in a steepled position. I slightly opened my eyes, monitoring the rabbit as it moved. It waved it's paw in front of my face, to check if I was still watching. I didn't move, making it think I was truly asleep. It smiled, before ravenously finishing the corn. It put a small smile on my face, before I truly went to sleep.

My slumber was short-lived, though.

I was suddenly awoken by a loud noise. I opened my eyes, and saw two black silhouettes of what seems to be pegasi, breaking through the windows.

Without wasting another second, one charged at me with extreme speed, and stuck it's hoof to my neck. I felt a small prick, and seconds later, I felt drowsy.

I felt sleepy, and I was unable to keep my eyes open. The pegasus that did this to me leant closer, and neighed at my right ear. I tried to fight the chemical they gave me, but it was seeping out my strength. I couldn't move.

"No..." I said, before going limp at it's hooves.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

I was asleep for an unknown amount of time.

Here I was, floating around a dark void of my own consciousness. I was unsure if this was an effect of the drug given to me by the pegasi, or some other reason.

If this was a dream, however, it meant I had complete control of this domain. I closed my eyes, and thought that I was back in the peaceful era of Xinlieu.

A gentle breeze and soft tweeting of small birds reminded me of home. I open my eyes, and saw a lush, green landscape around me. I smiled, and felt a warm feeling around me. I looked down, and I had my leg back!

I laughed in excitement and in joy, and ran around.

If this was a dream...I don't want to wake up.

Suddenly, I felt a weird feeling, like someone was digging inside my mind. I looked around, and shook my head, trying to shake the feeling off. I only then noticed that they sky had turned night. I cringed, and looked around once again.

The green hills were replaced by a flat plain of gray stone.

I then knelt down, and felt the stone with my hands. "Weird," I said, before the ground shook. Pillars suddenly grew from the ground, and walls soon followed. I was confused, and walked around the forming structure.

From what I could tell, this was going to be a large building.

The pillars then supported the roof, which was just newly formed. A staircase for what seems to be ten or twenty steps formed in front of me, leading up to a large throne, before a purple carpet rolled from the said throne, and spanned the entire room. Banners of what seemed to be moon markings were neatly hung around me.

The building was now finished. It was a very huge throne room, furnished with banners and carpets. A large stone throne sat at the top of the pyramidal staircase, and the entire thing was illuminated by bright, white torches.

"What the hell?" I said, before unwillingly kneeling down, bowing my head to some unknown figure. I couldn't even bend my finger, let alone move.

"I am not worthy for you to enter my dream, my ever giving queen." I said, not able to control my body.

"Arise, my faithful subject."

I then unwillingly stood up, and looked at the one doing all of this.

A tall figure sat on the throne. It was a horse, but taller than the others I had seen earlier. It also had wings and a horn with makes it a pegasus...and a unicorn? A pegacorn? I don't think that's right. A unisus? That's even worse. She Looked at my with her blue eyes, before trotting down the stairs, looking at me face to face. "You are a strange creature," She said, eyeing my closely.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, weakly.

She then looked at me with a raised brow. She then flared her wings intimidatingly, and shouted, "I am Queen Luna! Ruler of the night, and keeper of dreams!"

"Well, Luna," I said, with anger present in my voice. She raised her brow at my lack of formality. "It was nice meeting you, but I ask you to get the hell out of my dream."

Her right eye twitched.

"That is no way to speak to your queen!" She said, before blasting me with her horn.

I was engulfed in a bright light, and my body felt like it was burning all over. My body writhed in pain, and I cried out a loud, high-pitched shriek.

My body twisted and contorted in inhuman poses. My bones cracked as I was forced to endure those sick, horrid poses.

I then felt I was falling, the sky around me changing from red, to orange, then white, then blue, then yellow, then red again.

My left leg suddenly ached, and soon after, small white worms emerged. My body contorted again, before my leg slowly withered away, turning into dust as I fell.

Soon, more worms emerged from all of my pores. No part of me was free from the alien worms. The maggots emerged from every single pore I had. The worst was when they came out of my tear ducts. It felt like I had the worst eye-itch, before the actual worm came out. I screamed from the pain, before my vocal cords failed.

My body writhed in pain, again, I convulsed, screaming a silent cry as I fell down the abyss. My body bent outwards, all while the worms emerged one by one.

Slowly, my body began to wither. It started from my fingertips, then to my arms, then to my torso, and slowly it came to my neck.

All that's left were my eyes themselves. After all, how could I see without them? Flashes of a familiar, yet alien landscape suddenly flashed before me. The lush green hills became covered with red liquid. The trees' trunks were made from human arms, holding themselves together. The leaves were organs: Lungs, stomachs, and others. Intestinal organs hanged from the organs themselves, resembling vines. The clouds were blood red, and the sun was a cluster of eyes, looking at me.

Strong winds attacked the land, and the clouds rained blood down the meadow. The flowers were body parts as well. The stem was a long finger, with a large circular tumour at the finger tip. Ears were attached on the rumours from all sides, creating a shape of a flower.

Skinless, disfigured humans shambled around the meadows. Groaning and yelling in distorted, high-pitched voices. They all looked at me, and charged towards me.

I tried to run, yet I had no legs. I tried to fight, yet I had no arms. I tried to think, yet I had no mind. I tried to wake up, yet I had no consciousness.

I could only see through my eyes, or what seems to be through the eyes of another.

They assaulted me. Screamed inhuman noises at me. They crawled all over me. Even though I had no body, or maybe I just couldn't see it, I felt pain all over me. They clawed my invisible body, and ripped it to shreds. They pulled out my bones from their joints and sockets, one by one.

I tried to scream, yet I had no mouth.