Corruption of Souls

Ch. 5

“SHE IS A WHAT?!” The elderly High Priest yelped fearfully as the Head Paladin erected an imprisoning barrier around me while I pouted in the chair next to Daring, who looked irritated and exasperated. “We must get the Princesses, now! If a Prophesied Undead has appeared, and they’re also Displaced, then this is an unprecedented disaster waiting to happen!”

“How many? Celestia and Luna only? Or do we involve Mi Amore Cadenza?” The Head Paladin asked.

“Well...considering things. Celestia is still our primary authority, she may be equal to Luna, but there’s just so much work to do during the day than the night. Luna was off on a diplomatic mission to the Dragonlands last I heard, and there’s no chance Mi Amore Cadenza has time with her overseeing the day-to-day of the Crystal Empire until a modern system is in place. No. We must call upon the Princess who might be best suited to this individual.” The High Priest declared.

“Twilight is inexperienced! She barely even knows who the Prophesized Undead are!” The Head Paladin argued as I and Daring looked back and forth between them like a game of tennis.

“That may be. But she is also the Princess of Magic. Our misfortunate friend here is also in possession of a Soul of Magic. Something nearly unheard of as Twilight is the only one to possess such a thing thus far.” The High Priest declared.

“Nearly?” I queried, though they ignored me. Just then a purple horned and winged horse walked in looking at a book as a pink unicorn mare with purple cyan mane walked behind, the first wore a beautiful if the practical dress and the latter wore a less flattering robe.

“Your Highness, you need an appointment!” One of the guards told the purple mare nervously.

“Official friendship business by Order of the Cutie Map.” The purple mare said. “And this Coldra was the last Undead to be unbound besides Patches the Unbreakable, both are unknown in terms of location or affiliation. I wonder what the Table is on about with sending me here.”

“Maybe taking your nose out of the history book would help Twilight.” The pink-purple mare said to this Twilight mare with a fond and amused expression.

“And she’s already dragged into it.” The Head Paladin groaned. “What is that tree thinking?!”

“Hello, again Gilded Radiance. Not pleased to see me again I see.” Twilight said as she sat down in a chair she summoned with a flash of purple magic next to Daring at the side of the desk. “Oh, Daring, hello! It’s so nice to see you again!”

“Uh, hey Twilight. You’ve got incredible timing, as always.” Daring commented in bemusement.

“Okay, what’s going on here? I’ve got no idea what’s happening.” I huffed, crossing my arms under my armored bosom, drawing their attention. “I’m a Prophesied Undead called the Corrupted Undead apparently, as well as being Displaced. You’re also supposed to be the Princess to talk to I guess. Since life is shoehorning things in so hard, let’s get this over with! What is going to happen now?!”

“Okay, but first I need the whole picture. Please start with the beginning.” Twilight requested, and we spent the next half hour or so filling her in on my circumstances. “Wow, that’s so fascinating, and awful at the same time!” Twilight declared as a notepad and pen hovered next to her in her magic, probably recording notes or something. “You’re a potential gold mine of new information, yet you’re also possibly going to end the world! Sounds like a Tuesday.” Twilight mused, getting me to gawk.

“You face world-ending peril on a regular enough basis to not be freaked out about this?” Because that’s the only thing I think justifies being jaded to something like this.

“Just about.” Twilight Sparkle’s companion and student, Starlight Glimmer sighed despondently. “I mean, I about destroyed all of Space and Time single-handedly. You’re just another big disaster for Twilight to handle and befriend it seems.”

“Great.” I groaned as I leaned back. “Why am I the one ending the world?”

“Every Prophesied Undead has had the opportunity to either Save or End the world. Two have renewed an Age of Fire, while the last ushered in the Age of Dark we needed to reset the world. That said, they each had the chance to End it, but only the last one did. Maybe you might not even have that big of a task ahead since you’re the Corrupted Undead. Perhaps you must quest to end the Corruption spreading across the world.” Twilight shrugged with her educated guess.

“It’s CoCs of fucking course. So now I have to find a tree that talks, and then beat up the queen of lust demons and drag her beaten ass in front of it.” I grumbled in annoyance.

“...Um, we know a talking tree.” Starlight admitted bemusedly.

“And she’s the embodiment of Harmony for the world,” Twilight added, which just got me to whine in despair at how well this is matching up.

“Is there a cursed demonic mountain? A barren desert filled with Ants, Nagas, and Four-Breasted catgirls? A suspicious factory in an area rampant with Corruption?” I despondently asked as I went limp in my chair.

“Uh...no?” Twilight said. “Well the Caribou and Changelings are Rampant with Corruption.” She told me. “The Caribou do live in a very mountainous region though, and the Changelings are in the Arid Badlands somewhere. At least, the ones that haven’t been Purified and living under the rule of Queen Mesosoma. It was really awkward when Thorax underwent a gender change during his metamorphosis…”

“Huh? What does that have to do with what I asked?” I questioned in confusion at the odd exposition. “And when can I get out of this bubble?” I asked the elderly Priest.

“As soon as Gilded Radiance ceases to overreact.” The old stallion leered at his paladin, who snorted and released the barrier.

“So what now?” I asked as I stood up, stretching a bit. Sitting for so long may not hurt me because I’m Undead, but I still feel stiff despite it.

“Now, we go see this shrine handmaiden. We get you your flasks, and the museum it’s new exhibit.” Daring declared, standing up as well. “Oh, right.” Daring suddenly pulled the sack of Jade Crystallite out of her shirt dimensional pocket. Okay, that can’t just be the shirt since I have it in my cleavage, do all the girls here have hammerspace in their tits? “How much will you buy this for, sparing enough to make one Estus Flask and one Ashen Flask?”

The two males blinked as their jaws dropped.

(<3)

“Are you sure these are nearly indestructible?” I questioned, holding up the golden and azure flasks with either hand as we entered the museum, which looked like any other modern museum. For some reason, when filled with Estus from a bonfire, the regular flask turns golden, while the Ashen flash turns azure. It was kinda cool, like futuristic drinks from a sci-fi.

“Yes Willow. Estus Flasks only shatter when their owner gives up all hope and goes Hollow. Even then, a lot of Hollows still hold onto their flasks.” Daring declared as our two new party members followed with curiosity.

“I see.” I acknowledged as I looked at one of the swords on display. The Plaque read the Moonlight Greatsword, but it was milky. “That’s not the real thing.” I declared with certainty.

“Of course it isn't. The real Moonlight Greatsword is with Luna at all times. Just like the Crescent Moon Sword is always wielded by her Royal Guard Captain.” Twilight informed me helpfully.

“Is it milky like this one?” I further, and Daring blinked at my insistent question.

“Yes, why?” She asked with bemusement.

“The original isn’t. It is made of pure moonlight magic too.” I explained. “It was part of Seathe the Scaless before the Chosen Undead cut off his tail, which became the sword,” I explained.

“Oh! No, Seathe the Scaleless has long ago had his soul expunged from the sword. Now it’s an embodiment of the Moon entirely, a counter to Luna’s Dark, in that it is a brilliant Light piercing the abyss. A bit of love between Luna and Celestia they’ve told me.” Twilight smiled fondly.

“Oh.” I perked at that bit of extra knowledge as I continued to look over the displays, noticing that most were just replicas, except the miracle texts. But honestly I couldn’t think of using them, they were faith, and I hated faith builds in the games. Also, I was never really religious in my human life. “Never liked faith builds,” I grumbled as we walked into the room with a Lordvessel, a Coiled Sword and I think a strange petrified statue of a burly and hairy horse over a blacksmith anvil missing a hammer. “Hey…” I reached into my cleavage, blushing at Daring giving a cat-call again, but ignored her as I dug my forearm in and pulled out the hammer that odd minotaur black knight threw at me.

“What is that? It’s sending my magical senses buzzing!” Twilight exclaimed as I walked up to the statue, remembering old Andre of Astora from the first game and the last.

“I think it’s his hammer,” I said before I slid it into the huge empty raised hand. The moment I did so, the statue flashed, and it was suddenly flesh and bone, striking the hammer into the anvil, and blinking with a grunt.

“Hm? Well I’ll be. Never thought I’d see the Light again when all went Dark.” The buff tan horse stallion declared, his grey beard and moustache rippling from the movements of his jaw, his similarly grey eyes twinkling with mirth and making his wizened visage seem infinitely younger.

“WHAT!?” The three girls yelled before the horseman cracked his neck and grabbed some iron next to him originally meant for decoration and started heating the billet with magic from his eyes, shocking Twilight even further as he was not a Unicorn.

“You’re an Arabian! How can you use magic?!” Twilight demanded of the universe in bafflement as she yanked a notebook from out of her cleavage. Yep! It isn’t just me! See world! You’re a pervert! Ow! My head~! I got a sudden spike of pain for calling the world out on its perviness?! Well, I guess it is the pot calling the kettle black...

“I'm Astoran, not Arabian!” He chuckled at her as he started creating a sword. “Smithing, Knighthood, even Trading is in our very blood!” He exclaimed proudly. “What backwards Era is this? That ponies forgot not only they can so frivolously use magic?”

“Andre?” I asked him both hopefully and worriedly.

“Hm? Yes? Need some smithing done?” Andre asked as he set aside an impossibly perfect arming sword, picking up the next billet.

“N-no. Andre, you don’t need to smith. This Era is very peaceful compared to the past. The Balance of Light and Dark has been achieved.” I stated I am a bit worried that the very first thing he did when he wasn’t trapped in stone was to get right back to smithing to try and save the world.

“Hmph. Smithing is all I know. Or rather, all I think worth doing. If nobody needs my work, what use am I?” Andre huffed in irritation. “Either set me to task or leave me be.”

“Miss, I don’t care who you think you are! You can’t just set up a shop in here!” A stallion in a smart black suit and very fancy groomed fur yelled at the Handmaiden as she pulled up a chair right next to the Lordvessel while a new pale-haired black unicorn mare in a beautiful white dress walked up, her eyes naturally grey and sightless, no scars indicating that she was forcibly blinded.

“Sir. I’m afraid that Fate has conspired to turn this space into a Nexus for Undead. I sincerely apologize. Unless we remove these exhibits from the museum, we will be forced to take permanent residence here.” The mare, who I could easily guess was a Firekeeper stated to the stallion with earnest sadness in her voice.

“I...what has happened to the statue that was found by Galileo! Who are you?!” The Stallion yelled at Andre as he seemed to start having a mental breakdown. “And why is the Lordvessel flame Blue and bones Crystallized! I’m reporting this to Celestia!” He yelled before Twilight grabbed him.

“I’m afraid this is already beyond your control Mister…?” Twilight probed, and he calmed a bit at seeing he already had a Princess in the room.

“Querate, I’m the head of this museum.” He told her. “Princess please, we were supposed to open yesterday if Daring brought the eyes.”

“I’m afraid Querate, that I’m going to have to confiscate this exhibit in the name of national, and possibly international security. I’ll even replace them with exacting replicas on the spot for you so you can still open this exhibit.”

“Where will you take them? These were all one of a kind.” He said in panic. “I was hoping to have this exhibit filled with authentic historical pieces…” The way the full-grown stallion practically looked on the verge of tears made even me feel bad, and I wasn’t exactly at fault for all of this. At least, not intentionally. It’s not my fault I ended up here! Blame that asshole who tricked me!

“I’m afraid I don’t really have much choice. I’ll have to take them with me to Ponyville. I’ll have to set them up in the Everfree Castle above the Tree of Harmony however. There isn’t any place for them in town since we don’t have any really fireproof structures in Ponyville.” Twilight looked equally saddened, but she got to work using her magic to summon materials and began shaping them into copies of the exhibits, much to Qurate’s sadness.

“You do have the Miracles, those are all authentic.” The Firekeeper told him before Twilight finished replacing the poor stallion’s exhibits. She then picked up everything that was being replaced along with all of us in her purple aura while paperwork appeared and was signed, given to Querate, then she started building up a spell.

“Just don’t read any of them out loud if you have genuine Faith in your Goddess of Light. You might electrocute someone or blast something.” I warned the museum owner since although I may not like Faith builds, c’mon; throwing damn lightning? “How are we going to mo-” I asked Twilight before a flash everyone and thing was moved, and then branches of Crystal rose around us into a small dome. “Ah, how? What’s with the tree-like crystals?”

“You have come! So much sooner than anticipated!” A soothing voice echoed from around us, and from the branches emerged a busty anthro reindeer doe that for some reason had big antlers similar to the branches around us. I had to blush because she was completely nude, and her multicolor body was far from unappealing with her huge breasts, wide hips, and thicc thighs. Unf. “I am Harmonia. I represent the Harmony, Balance of this world.”

“More than that you’re balancing…” I quietly muttered at referencing her astounding hourglass figure. Neither bigger or smaller than the other end. “Uh, so. What, uh...um…”

“You really are Corrupted. Such a pervert.” Harmonia teased, at least having enough decency to cover up with her arms and stop distracting me so much, but not really helping since I could still see those mams spilling over her arm. “I’d tell you, but I think you’ve already got it figured out?”

“Quest. End Corruption. Save the world.” I mumbled, unable to take my eyes off those bowling-ball sized tatas.

“Well...I see my work here is already done. I’ll let you get to it.” Harmonia winked at me before sinking back into the branches, which then retreated back to a gigantic crystal tree, revealing we were in a massive cavern with water trickling somewhere nearby.

“Ah...where should I start?” I asked as I looked at everyone else, hoping one of them had an idea where to point me. Hey, I’m not Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew. I need a heading!

“I wasn’t aiming for here! I was trying to teleport us to the castle above us!” Twilight was shocked that we had been moved here and not the Castle, while Daring and Starlight blinked in awe at the tree. The Firekeeper was sitting on the roots of the Tree while Andre worked away at his anvil a short distance. I could see the Handmaiden near the entrance of the cave.

“This place is pure. It is an excellent Nexus.” The Firekeeper hummed from her place at the tree, and she sighed as Harmonia’s arms appeared and gave her a shoulder rub. “Thank you kindly dear Goddess.”

“Anytime~.” Lilted the friendly entity as she gave the black mare a friendly massage.

“Is the Tree horny?” Starlight asked before Twilight covered her mouth looking very panicked.

“Oh~ you have no idea young Starlight. The Corruption is getting to me. I know not the source, as the waters of the Everfree come from many places. I am not perfect, I too desire the pleasures of the flesh. But I will admit I have been feeling much friskier than usual.” Harmonia answered, which told me where I needed to start.

Wherever we were, wherever this Everfree was. The Corruption was already here. I guess I have my starting point...but first. “Okay, so we’re living in a cave now?” I shivered, feeling cold due to the fact this was a cave, and the new Fire my soul ignites is cold. Also, this stupid sexy armor doesn’t have padding, it’s contouring directly to my skin, and has fire resistance, not frost. Why do I feel like It’s pouting at the thought?

“Your magic and fire are cold, you can’t expect it to warm my cavern.” Harmony explained as Twilight cast some sort of charm on us that made us warm up. “Aw, I was going to suggest snuggling...nude. In a bedroll.”

“Okay. That’s a bad sign, but we still need to address living accommodations.” Daring declared, blinking and facepalming. “I thought, if I did the dragging along, did the quests myself, I wouldn’t be the one getting pulled into things. Oh well. So, what’s my role? Sidekick? Historical officer?”

“Huh?” Oh, that’s why she’s been so doggedly dragging me along on adventures! Nonstop, I think...weeks? Whole weeks we’ve been going around. Have I even slept? I faintly remember watching Daring sleep, did I sleep? “Sorry,” I whined, realizing that I’m dragging her down again.

“Don’t apologize. You’re a literal magnet for trouble. It’s just my luck I ran into you.” Daring winked. “So, Princess. Could you magically whip us up a few houses in here so we could have a place to stay without having to make a long trip either up to the castle above or to town?”

“I could make a staircase with roots to the Castle~,” Harmonia said making it sound like it would be pleasurable for herself. “Of course, each step would be like you’re fingering my-.”

“Okay! Will you go absolutely nuts if we bang?” I demanded, getting annoyed at her constant passes. “Also, should I just learn some magic? I have a soul of magic.” Everyone seemed to ignore my last question since the first caused them to look at Harmonia. Also, I felt a little off when considering being a witch. It just didn’t seem...right, for some weird reason. I mean, I was never the brainy sort anyway...

“Not at all! Like I said, I have needs too. I’m a woman, not just some tree-like out there in the forest! Well, unless they’re a dryad, but still.” Harmonia huffed indignantly.

“She was a mortal before her ascension,” Twilight told us. “She started this age from the Dark when Celestia and Luna appeared and she could take root.” Twilight gestured to the sun and moon marks on Harmonia’s trunk. “That was long before the Corruption came.”

“Yes, and the only touches I have felt after everyone forgot me was ponies pulling my fruits and than shoving them back in when I was dying.” She said to the ponies in the room flatly.

“How many times do I have to apologize for something my teacher did and I didn’t know about?” Twilight huffed in annoyance.

“When you drag Celestia and Luna down here to prostrate in front of me.” She told her. “Then let me have my way with their sexy, goddess bodies~! Unf, those round breasts and butts~!”

All the ponies looked appalled at the thought. “Okay, one, someone roll around with the goddess. Two, someone build houses. Three, I’m gonna at least get started on this place by exploring.” I said just before a magical mechanical claw fired in from the entrance, grabbed me around the arms and abdomen, and yanked me into the air so hard I think I might have whiplash. I kicked and flailed in the robotic grasp of my captor. “Fucking REALLY?!”

My first step is as a damsel in distress! OF COURSE!