"What Lies Beneath" - Chp.1
I saw them long before they saw me. These trespassers, these equine creatures, finding no respect in their hearts for the dead... though I cannot blame them, I myself had no regards for the sanctity of the dead nor the living, perhaps that is why I am where I am now? No... that is irrelevant now, these equine creatures are of more interest then my decrepit mind.
They first showed a short while after the cavern had been struck by tremors, the ceiling held firm as did the buildings, but the stalactites above could not say the same. Few of them fell and crushed the occasional house, one even struck my tower & nearly cause the already decrepit structure to collapse on me. On the far side of the cavern I heard the crumbling of stone followed by the blinding light of the day, i'd not gone completely blind within the darkness thanks to the candle which sat before me on crumbling stones, but natural light was certainly strange to see. At first I shielded my eyes to the bright sun, but after a good while, I found myself getting use to the company. Thanks to it, I could see a small sliver of what was outside, I saw rolling hills of green grass, small specks of brown off in the distance, and even further back I could see the silhouette of a mountain! It was good to see that the world had not changed since my time.
My enjoyment of the view was short lived, however, as I was greeted by a sigh which tested the bounds of my already weary mind. At first I could not make them out other then them being colorful specks carrying light sources of some sort, but when the few which could fly managed to get close enough, I eventually saw them for what they were... well, one type of them at least. I couldn't imagine, in the endless decades that I had been sitting here in the dark, that the first living creature i'd see was a flying horse! There were at least 8 of these colorful things fluttering about over the remnants of my peoples homes, I couldn't see how many were walking about on the ground from here, but they seemed to be exploring a great deal.
They did not stay long, however, as they soon retreated to the hole after a strange beam of light was expelled into the air of the cavern. The light looked akin to a firework, a device we'd used to send signals back in our glory days, but it seemed to give off a more magical feel to it. They were quick to return to the source of the light, and I soon found myself watching as they established a camp outside the entrance. They stayed out there for 5 days before reentering the cavern, this time there was a great many more of them, both on the ground and in the air, and they were traveling further and further into the city. Occasionally i'd see them stop & leave at least 3 or 4 of them establish smaller camps along the way. Their party continued & I continued to stalk them from atop my tower, until I spotted a flying one very close by... no more than an arrows range away. This one seemed to be examining the citadel, at least it seemed to be, it wasn't long before they flew off & returned to the group down below.
From this distance I could clearly see them from here, I could even distinguish features such as horns & no-horns, at least 14 of them stood together & chatted to the one who had just flown by. They were certainly exchanging a great deal of words, it seemed the leading pony was ordering the flier around, but alas they did not stay still for long as soon after they began approaching the Citadel's walls. I would've expected them to enter the building, but they halted almost immediately once they were 3 streets away & from this distance I could easily make them out thanks to the light's which were being casted from the horns of a few, the looks on their faces read a mixture of fear, curiosity, & surprise. These expressions had me at a loss... before I came to a realisation... they could see the candle which sat beside me, that dim light stood out like a white dot in a sea of blackness, & they most likely could see my silhouette in its light. This fear was justified no doubt, when one enters a city of the dead, they expect to find only dead... & to see a light in a place this old? It'd send shivers down my spine.
They almost immediately turned tail and ran, quickly vanishing from my view, but from the looks of it they left both their camps & their fellow's behind. Perhaps they intended to return? certainly! they seemed interested enough with the remains, & despite their lack of regards for my people, they were the first living thing i'd seen in decades. A day passed before I finally saw another group approach the citadel's walls, it looked to be the same group, only now they had a few extra who bore golden armor & colorful plumes atop their helms. The sight would've inspired a laugh from me, if I had the willpower to do so. But unlike before the group did not retreat upon seeing my figure, though they did seem thoroughly unnerved, they continued their approach until they eventually left my field of view... no doubt they were at the base of the citadel's walls looking for the gatehouse. The sound of the thick iron-doors, that led to the main hall, being opened confirmed my suspicions... they'd made it inside...
I did not hear much after that, only the occasional yelp or crashing of metal, they probably found the decorum of my home to being frightening. But it wasn't too long before I heard the trotting of metal-clad hooves echo from the hallway outside. The clip-clop of the hooves continued to approach my door until they were just next to it, at that point they ceased all movement whatsoever... I could hear the faintest of shallow breaths outside my door before I finally heard it. The soft "CLICK" of the doors handle turning and the mechanism inside pulling open. My head remained angled towards the hole in my tower, but my eyes remained locked on the door. I watched as the old wooden door swung open slowly, the hinges creaking loudly as they moved... the rust could be thanked for that, but when the door finally swung open to its fullest. I saw them for the first time...
A strange sight it is. To find a creature, so different, waltz into your home & stare at you as though YOU don't belong. The mare equine did just that, standing in the doorway of my chambers she proceeded to gawk at me as though I was truly impossible. She was a Umber brown in coloration, I could not tell her manes coloration as she wore a metal helm on her head, unlike the guards which had accompanied her. She wore a crude cuirass of iron that seemed hastily made, I imagine the guards had brought the armour with them and issued it to the others once they had entered the citadel as I did not see any of them wearing it upon their approach. She continued to gawk at me for the longest of times, before I finally heard her speak... the first words i'd heard in countless years of endless silence... those words will stick with me for eternities to come, no doubt. What she said to me, was clear as day...
"OH MY SWEET CELESTIA!"
Oh how i'd savior that sound... until she replaced it with shrieking followed by her fleeing back down the hall which she'd came from.
Author's Note
So this is simply a kickstarter! if people enjoy it enough i'll certainly continue the story from here! Till then I want all who read this to give me the best criticism they can muster!
For how can something be fixed, if no one is their to say it's broken?
"Cautious Introductions" - Chp.2
"Who--no-- what are you?"
The Equine creature asked. After the first one had fled down the hall, screaming in terror, there was no shortage of warriors who came charging into my chambers. Their initial response to seeing me was mild shock, after all they did expect something to be here, followed by their spears being pointed in my direction.
I still wonder how they hold those spears & use them effectively, what with their lack of hands? But that is beside the point. Focusing back on the mare whom asked me the question. This same mare was the one who, thankfully, managed to calm the warriors down before they could do any harm to me.
The mare was a pegasi, if my memory serves me correct, mythical creatures who bore the wings of a mighty hawk & the body of a strong horse. This pegasus in particular had yellowish-golden coat of fur, whilst her mane seemed to be made of various hues of black & gray, she wore strange beige colored clothes & held a determined yet fascinated look on her face.
The mares question had escaped my mind whilst I examined her features in the dim lighting of the chamber. But I was brought back from my internal ponderings by a loud cough, clearly one ment to get my attention, the source being the very same mare whom asked me the question. She repeated once again...
"What are you?" She asked again, this time in a more slow manner, believing I either held no understanding of what she said, or that I was simply too ignorant to understand. I was tempted to feel insulted by such, but decided not to, mainly because the numerous warriors stood patiently at each corner of the chamber. I focused on the mares question, I hadn't spoken in decades & I had no guarantee that my words would be understandable... or even coherent for that matter.
Slowly I opened my mouth, the joints of my jaw loudly cracking & popping from their sudden use after all these years, I momentarily took note at the cringes that some of the warriors gave upon hearing such a noise. To think they would've seen battle! As I opened my dried mouth, I looked towards the mare & watched her eyes bore into me.
"I am precluded, I was abandoned..." My voice, by the pits of tartarus, it was truly painful to hear. My lack of water had left me all but devoid of fluids & thus my vocals paid dearly. But despite my effort it seemed the mare only heard the guttural sounds of my throat, but not the words I spoke.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" She asked once more, stepping closer to me much to the the guards dismay. Her ears flickered and twisted towards me, attempting to get a better bead on what I was trying to say. Much to my jaws protest, I spoke once more, this time with a clearer throat... well... as clear as I could afford.
"I said... I am abandoned, I am forgotten, I am the last..." My words were cryptic words upon her ears & she did seem momentarily surprised that I spoke her language though. But her surprise was soon replaced with utter bafflement, my cryptic words did not help answer her question & she wasted no time in stating such.
"That doesn't answer my question. What are you?" She asked again, this time she seemed a tad bit more annoyed then previously. But her patience still remained intact, thankfully...
I let out a sigh before speaking again. Unfortunately for the young mare, my true nature would not be so easily revealed, some knowledge is best left for those who know how to process it... and those who do must be very wise on how to handle it. "I am ancient flesh, & I am made of ancient blood... if these do not satisfy then I can give you nothing more then my deepest apologies. But you are simply unprepared for knowing... as is everyone you bring with you..."
My eyes swept across the room & gazed at each guard individually, some of them flinched from my cold gaze while others returned it with a gaze of their own, either way it was made clear that I saw none of these equine to be capable of understanding.
Slowly I lifted my hand, the clanking of the gauntlet & chainmail masked the creaking of bones & popping of joints, and pointed out towards the hole which granted them access into my old city. Slowly my hand shifted so I could point to the distant mountain with a grand castle built into its side, the simple movement of my hand seemed to baffle the equines around me as a few watched in wonder as my fingers moved.
"Return to your cities, go back to your homes. This is not a place where one learns, this is a place for the dead, and none of you seem to be dead..."
The mare seem ready to speak again, although this time she definitely held an expression of annoyance, but the words died in her throat. She looked to one of the guards & nodded, to which the guard nodded back, and soon they began making their exit. But before the mare left, she turned to me and gave me one last look... followed by a simple question...
"Can you at least tell us your name?" She asked, a hopeful spark of interest in her words.
I lowered my arm, returning it to its place at my side, and gave her a long credulous look. Deeming it safe enough to share a simple name, I nodded my head & spoke truthfully.
"Lorus, my name is Lorus Belmont... what, pray tell, is yours?" I asked in turn, seeing it only fair that I be given a name as well.
"Daring, Daring Do, pleased to meet you Lorus..." She replied with a smile. She seemed happy that she'd managed to get some small speck of useful information from me, though I didn't ponder on this, I was instead more focused on the bizarre name which she'd given. Was she mocking me? Perhaps... I didn't have time to question it as I soon found myself alone in the chamber I'd grown so use to.
I had little understanding as for what these equines had in store for me. But I found myself excited for our next meeting, if such a meeting were to occur...
Author's Note
Well, as I promised! another chapter with a few improvements over the last. Though with every improved addition there will always be mistakes & shortcomings. So please, let me know if i've made mistakes or im just doing terribly!
