Chapter 4: Happy denouement

‘’This place is a dream! Yes, I must be dreaming. What I am saying! Of course not, this go way beyond any dream I ever have. Is such a deep well of knowledge and I am swimming, NO, drowning in it. It’s that good everypony, that goooooood.’’

Mel was looking at Starlight with an amused look.

‘’A Twilight brain meltdown is it not?’’

‘’Yup… a Twilight brain meltdown. It’s so embarrassing.’’

As you may have guessed, Twilight was frantic about seeing the interior of the ancient ruins. She was teleporting literally everywhere, looking at every nook and cranny, giggling like a maniac.

‘’Twilight please, you have to control yourself.’’

‘’Oh! ... ... *cough**cough* Yes Starlight you are right. In time like these, it is best to have a calm and analytical mind. Let first examine this.’’

Twilight levitated a piece of broken machinery. It was not giving any hint of what its purpose was with just his appearance. The scholar was constantly shifting its position to observe it at every angle. Her face was of the upmost concentration but after several minutes, she burst in maddening laughter like she was a mad scientist.

‘’Hahahahahaha! It's wonderful, it's incredible, it's so mind blowing.’’

‘’What, what! What have you discover.’’

‘’I discover... that I do not have a single idea how those machines work.’’

‘’... Wait... that it.’’

Starlight answered sarcastically.

‘’Don't make that face. I tried to learn anything I could about magic. However these ponies were using it in a way that I… no… that any of us are incapable to understand. That only means that they must have discovered news laws on magic that we still have no grasp. Princess Celestia was right when she had said it was the biggest discovery ever made. If we understand how this magitechnology work, our society could make a leap of many centuries. Well, if it is possible to understand it in the first place. Ooooh I need to bring several of these artefacts to my castle so I can dissect them. And even then I am not sure I would learn that much. It beyond all I had ever studied.’’

‘’Whoa. It's that impressive? Then I don't think I could offer you much help. In terms of magic you have always been the more studious. As for technology, I know nothing in this domain.’’

‘’Glad you two are enjoying yourselves but don't forget its historical value and also the forgotten tale of those lost people. Personally, it's the part that captivates me the most.’’

‘’Oh yeah, I completely forgot! This might also completely change what we know about our history. This place is a true wonderland I tell you. But we sure need to go deeper if we want to truly learn more. This room is so empty, it telling me nothing.’’

‘’That might be problematic, I never went as far as this room. There is a door over there but I never could open it. And neither the archeological team.’’

Mel was pointing a futuristic-looking door that was far away. To its right, there was a small panel of opaque glass. The trio immediately went to it.

‘’Oh that right. The report that Celestia sent me did mention that they were incapable to open it. And they did try many things. Hum? What is that thing? A window? A glass display? I have doubts since I can't see anything. Wait! It familiar! I think I already see this. That right! It was when I went to the human world. They were on those things they call cov... com... computer I think. And this glass is a screen. It likes a glass that shows you image. Another proof that they were advance. But I can see this one has no power. If we activate it, maybe we could use it to open it.’’

‘’Or, we could simply use a far simple and direct approach.’’

She was saying that while her horn was charging with lots and lots of deadly magic. Twilight went flying to stop her and was looking at Starlight like if that unicorn was about to commit murder.

‘’And wo wo wo, are you crazy! You can’t do that.’’

‘’Why not? It’s just a door.’’

‘’It is an archeological site, it is important that everything must be preserved as they are. The slight damage could steal us precious data. Yes, I dead serious. Beside we don’t know what could happen if you break this door. Maybe the corridor behind it will crumble. Or the roof above our heads now that I think about it.’’

‘’Yeeeesh! Okay, I see your point. I should have thought more about it.’’

‘’Sometimes you can be really reckless. We need to find another way in. Mel, you been here longer than us. Are you sure there are no other ways in? ... ... ... What?!’’

As she has turned her head to speak with Mel, she was surprised to see... nothing! Where he should had been, there was now no pony. Not a single thing. Just an expanse of nothing. Like if he had disappeared into thin air. Or like if he never was here.

And that was scary.

‘’How...??! But how it can be?! Starlight, where is Mel?’’

‘’I... I don’t know! He was just here a second ago!’’

‘’But where is he? Pony don’t just disappear like that! Did he hide? No there is no place to hide. Did he go away? No I’m sure we will at least hear him. Did he teleport? He is not a unicorn, how can I even propose that! What going on, it just doesn’t make any sense?’’

For these two mares, this was incomprehensible. Inexplicable. And this moment, all enthusiasm that Twilight had, was now gone into smoke to leave instead in its place anxiety. Something was awfully wrong, she could feel it and this was sending a cold to her spine.

‘’Starlight, I think that we must go to search for him WHAAAA!!’’

A noise then came from behind her, which startled her and made her heartbeat skip a beat. They turned around and to their surprise, the screen was now lit. Several symbols from a language they did not understand were flowing on electronic device and soon after, the door open by itself while making a futuristic noise.

They simply did not know what to do. For Twilight, she was like hypnotized. Too many things was going on in her mind so when the door opened she felted she has to enter because that what you normally do when door open. And that what she did. Starlight, realizing too late what her mentor just did, snap out of her trance and went running to catch her up.

‘’Wait! Twilight come back. All this is too fishy.’’

But once she passed the doorway, it closed itself behind her, leaving the two mares in a dark room. But it was not for long because it was soon light up by lights on the floor, filling the circular room with a cyan hue. They could feel the ground under their hooves shaking for then going up to the interminable shaft above them, bringing them with it.

‘’We are in an elevator! Incredible. After all these centuries it still working just fine.’’

‘’Twilight, now is not the time for that. Don't you see, we have to go away, NOW!’’

‘’Huh! Starlight, what is happening to you, you scare me?!!’’

Because Starlight was having now a face of pure panic, which the light was making more unsettling. The pink unicorn was frantically shaking her mentor.

‘’We are all in grave dangers, I can just feel it. That why we must go away before it’s too late.’’

‘’Dan, dan, dan, danger!’’

‘’Listen well Twilight. This Mel guy is not somepony we can trust, I’m sure of it now. At first I always find that there was something strange about him but I had preferred to say nothing because I was afraid I might be prejudiced. But then he comes to us and proposes the guide us to the ruins before we even decide to go. Like he wanted us to be there.’’

‘’Yeah, I understand what you mean but still//

‘’There is even more! His story just doesn’t add up. He says he just occasionally come here from about a month but for a guy who just casually stroll in ruins, he knows way too much. And I am sure he know far more than he lets appear. And now he just disappear like that and the next second, the door open like an invitation to come through. Twilight, we faced many villains who have plotted against us, hell, I even carelessly been trapped by one and I feel that was it is happening to us. I did want to say nothing because I thought I was paranoid but now… now everything is too fishy.’’

‘’… … You’re right. I see it now. I was too blind by the wonders these ruins could offer to think clearly. But now I will trust your instincts. Let us come back to our friends and discuss this.’’

She lighted up her horn and the big flash of magenta magic appeared to cover her. Normally she was supposed to disappear with it but instead she finded that she was still at the same place.

‘’What! How can I have failed, I did that countless times?’’

She tried again and again to teleport, but each time the flash of teleportation appeared, Twilight was still where she was standing.

‘’Aaaah is no use, I just can't teleport.’’

‘’Wait, let me try.’’

Starlight tried to do the same but no matter how many times she cast the spell, it simply refused to work.

‘’It is the same for me, I can't teleport. What is going on?’’

‘’Wait! I just remember that for some reason the team of archeologists could not go to the other side of the door even by teleporting. Now at least we know why. There must be something in this place that stop leap in space movements to happen. Some sort of security device like those that our banks or the most protected wings of Canterlot castle use.’’

‘’So that means that we are really stuck here. What are we going to do now?’’

‘’I... I guess the only thing we can do is to wait to see where this elevator will take us... and be prepared for everything.’’

‘’That not really reassuring.’’

The climb seemed to them to be endless. But when the platform arrived at its destination, the two mares were welcomed by light so blinding that they had to cover their eyes with their hooves. Once they had the time to adjust, they could see more clearly where they were and was making them speechless.

The room where they were was huge. But so huge. Twilight had made some mental calculations and deduced was nearly as big as Canterlot castle. Its shape was that of a dome and the reason it was so bright was everything was made again of this ivory material but this time it was so pristine that it was like the walls were shining. But what was curious was even if there was so much space, it was all occupied by nothing. That was enough to make everypony agoraphobic. Well, it was not completely empty.

Right at the center of the dome was kind of conical altar and at the summit of it, there was a big throne like chair. It was rudimentary and without any ornaments. And right in front of this throne... standing there like he was waiting for them... a pony who was turning his back to them. This pony… was Mel.

‘’Please, allow me to tell you quite a tragic tale.’’

With a simple wave of his hoof, the room became darker. And from out of nowhere, a holographic image of blue light appeared in the sky of the dome. Twilight was just not knowing what to say to this sight. I was like the spell Celestia had shown her in the throne room, the one she had found impressive. But it was nothing in comparison to this. It was so huge and so detailed that you could easily mistake this projection for the real thing.

The hologram was showing what was looking like a city that was similar to the Crystal Empire since it had a big structure at the middle that look like a palace. The big difference was that this city was at least triple the size of the empire. That... and also that this city was literally flying in the sky, casting a huge shadow above the mountains.

‘’I am dreaming? A flying city!’’

‘’Millennia ago, far before Equestria was called Equestria, was living an ancient civilization of ponies that very advanced in all domains and were living in a paradise on earth. And they too were following the principle of harmony. But with a twist. You see, they were only united with themselves, those who were belonging to their nation. So to make sure that their nation could prosper, they were constantly invaded bordering nations to steal their resources. And why should they care. They were ''us'' and the other were ''them''. And naturally, the other nations were not alright with that. So that why the ancient civilization was constantly in war with everyone and that for countless centuries.’’

‘’(War!!! But I was sure that a society so advanced would have been peaceful!)’’

‘’I can already tell Miss Twilight that you wondering: how a society so advanced cannot be peaceful? But you should know that knowledge is in itself is not enough to be wise and to also not enough to know which path lead to true harmony and prosperity. You of all ponies should know that. It takes more than intelligence to make true intelligence. But they never learn it, and they have paid dearly the price.’’

The hologram changed and was now showing the flying city being constantly bombarded by explosion while it was floating over a field of fire. But then it appears to be losing altitude and was slowing descending to land. No! They had realized that it was not landing. It was crashing. And when it hit the ground… Twilight and Starlight were not sure of what they were seeing. It was like a massive explosion of magical energy had burst out in every direction while the ground was splitting open, bursting out magma like massive fresh wounds. Then, the holographic vision had become buzzing static for in the end, shut down completely.

And it was something the two mares were grateful because they did not want to see more. It was like seeing a vision of hell. And they were not even convinced that what they had seen had really happened.

‘’Helas, I can’t show you more because there is simply nothing more to show. Now it is only conjuncture but I think the destruction was so massive that it nearly wipe out every life of the world.’’

‘’WHAT! WIPE NEARLY ALL LIFE! But that impossible. How could anypony could not know about that?’’

‘’It was eons of today. I presume that this apocalypse had changed the very nature of the world and then after, had started to regrow itself. A second birth in a sense. As I had said, there is so little that I know on this point. But don’t you think it was strange that there was not a single remains of the ancient civilization. Well, all except for this place. The catastrophe has also caused a massive volcanic eruption that had destroyed the rest of the city. All, except for the royal palace that has survived and has sunk into the depth of the volcano. Now I am sure you understand now that the volcano has become was is today Mount Heaven. And that this place is the royal palace.’’

‘’Alright, now enough of all this exposition that no one had asked.’’

Was saying Starlight with an angry look that could kill and a horn bursting with destructive magic.

‘’You had lied Mel. You had lied to us all this time. You know far too much to be just a casual roamer of ruins.’’

It was then that Mel finally turned to face them. Starlight was expecting a cocky evil face but instead… he had the same polite and disinterest look that he always had. Which didn’t make things easier.

‘’Yes. I lied. The truth is that I had found this place years before the archeologists. I will spare the boring details of how it happens. As for how I learned its history, I had found numerous archives that describe it to me. Of course, I don't understand its language but luckily for me, the ancient civilization had the habit of adding in their texts very elaborate illustrations. It was as easy as understand the story of a children’s book with just the pictures.’’

‘’*sigh* Now let me guess. You want the power that those ruins can give for then conquer all of Equestria. Or you are a descendant of the ancient civilization and you want to take revenge for the fall of your ancestors. ‘’

At these accusations, Mel has stayed silent but then burst into a soft chuckle.

‘’Oh dear noooo. Miss Starlight, you are reading too much Daring Doo.’’

‘’Wha wha... what! (How did he knew?)’’

‘’Ruling over all Equestria. Who would want to bother with that? And no, it has nothing to do with revenge or those kinds of things. I have no diabolical plans.’’

‘’Oh really. But you do have the villainous expository monologue part.’’

‘’Oh that. It was just a distraction.’’

It only had taken one second for Starlight and Twilight to get what he meant, but longer for the two to dare look around and confirm their worry. And they saw that they were surrounded in all directions by floating white blocks. They were the ones princess Celestia had shown to Twilight. But much bigger and much more numerous.

‘’They all around us! How we didn't notice?’’

‘’That must be what he means by distracting us.’’

‘’Sorry to have bothered you with this… exposition, like you said. If it was not necessary, I swear I will not have given you this boring history lesson. Speaking of which, there is a favor I would like to ask. And that is... to please forget everything I had just said.’’

‘’What? You mean… all about the ancient civilization?’’

‘’Yes. Because the truth is... that the ancient civilization has absolutely nothing to do with this story. And those ruins are nothing more than a perfect tool for me. And a perfect stage. Noting more, nothing less. So don't bother with the minor details.’’

They were all dumbfounded and did not know what to think anymore. ‘’What the hay is going on?’’ ‘’How did we find ourselves in this out of nowhere story?’’ ‘’In what Celestia name was the deal with this Mel? Is he insane?’’ ‘’Is this even happening?’’ These were all thoughts that were crossing their minds. But Twilight still had a faint hope that Mel could still be reasoned. She opened her wing to fly at his height even though Starlight had tried to stop her since she was sure it was a bad idea.

‘’Look Mel, I am sure there something we could help you but… but please could you explain to us what it is exactly you want with us. Because right now, we are so lost.’’

‘’What is it that I want? … Oh. … But that simple. Very, very simple. What I want is just

To make a point

With this declaration he jumped backward and landed his butt on the throne where he sits comfortably and looked at the confused Twilight while resting his chin on his right hoof. But then, something strange happened. Lines made of cyan light were coursing through the extremities of Mel and were spreading across all his body. It was looking like he had electronic circuitry in his very flesh. Another bizarre thing on the list that Twilight did not understand which was growing more and more her anxiety. But she had faced many perilous dangers and she knew how to push it aside when it matter. Regardless, she felt too stressed to be polite and also felted that he did not deserve it so she had burst out and cried loudly:

‘’SERIOUSLY, WHY YOU HAVE TO BE SO AMBIGUOUS! I UNDERSTAND NOTHING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I HATE THAT! SAY SOMETHING CLEAR FOR ONCE OR I WILL GET REALLY MAD!’’

‘’Everything will soon be clear. You will see. For make a quick resume… let just say I plan to make a very special game and I want you to be a guest of honor.’’

‘’… … oh sure. That explains everything. NO IT DOES NOT! You really think I would want to have anything to do with your business? What if I say I don’t want to participate in your game?’’

One block went flying at high-speed and hit her at the stomach. It had stolen all breath in her lungs and the shook made her cry a silent scream that was spitting her saliva. Without leaving her the time to recuperate, another block came from above and had hit her in the back, throwing her like a billiard ball on the hard floor. Starlight went running to her while crying her name. Once Twilight got back up, with hardship, she went into coughing fit while vomiting bile and her eyes were nervously shaking. Starlight was now making a face of pure rage and was charging a deadly laser to Mel.

‘’You MONSTEEEERRR!’’

But a block went to hit her on the face, deviating the beam far away from the gray pony. It had left a nasty bruise on her check. Mel did not show a single shred of fear and seemed instead amused.

‘’You know, I am aware that you two had faced in the past many perils and that many villains have threatened you with violence. But I am sure this is the very first time you have to suffer the actual pain of receiving senseless violence. So, how does it feel? Do you now realize how deadly the dangers you had found yourselves were? Do you understand that you must feel fear? Well, time to wake up at last to reality.’’

‘’Shut the hell up you mad pony.’’

Mel was a little taken aback to have heard Twilight using such a cold tone of voice

‘’Ooooooh! I didn’t expect to hear the princess of friendship using such words. What has happened to your usual persuasion and compromise method?’’

‘’I may the princess of friendship but that doesn’t make me naïve. I know there is just some pony that can’t be reasoned with words no matter how hard you try. It is then that you need to slap them to knock some sense into them.’’

She then shoots a magenta magic laser to Mel. Block came to block its way, taking the full blow of this attack, exploded and leaving the still abnormally calm Mel unharmed. He then raised his left hoof and one of the blocks, a little one, came flying through just to a centimeter of the tip of his hoof, where it stayed there turning around. Then without warning, the block separate itself into four blocks and then after, into sixteen.

‘’Wonderful invention is it not. Even I who have not so much interest into magic can’t help but be captivated. They built them to be the perfect construction material. Not only can they stick together to increase their size but you can assemble them to build any structure. You have no idea how it is exciting for an artist like me. Normally, anypony can move them individually buuut the royals wanted to make sure they could keep absolute control over them. That why they had built this throne. Anypony who sit on this chair can move the totality of these blocks with simple thoughts.’’

That was beyond revolutionary, was what was thinking Twilight. And normally she would have been impressed but right now, she could only see that as a dangerous thing to be used against them. Mel continued his monologue like if they were not there.

‘’And also they never run out energy. They had managed to make these machines to auto-charged themselves. The only drawback is it creates an excess of magic that grow bigger over the years. Even shut down, they had accumulated quite a bit over the millennia. So… meheheheh. So I had decided to get rid of all the excess in on big swoop.’’

Twilight was annoyed to have again heard a long explanation on something she did not want to hear. But then something clicked in her head. And she understood what he truly meant to say.

‘’Wait! *gasp*… Of course… It was you! You are the one that had caused the column of light. I should have guess it sooner.’’

‘’Yes, it was me again. Though to tell the truth, the machines could still go to work just fine even with this excess in them.’’

‘’Then why did you do that?’’

For the very first time, Mel was giving a genuinely smile. But this smile combine with his sparkless eyes was giving him such a creepy vibe.

‘’I wanted to attract attention, that all. Actually, I was sure that it would have given a flashier display. Think about it, if ponies see such a bombastic light that came from out of nowhere, don't you think they would want to investigate the source.’’

Twilight was once again lost. Is he saying he wanted to be found?

‘’And if they find ruins and technology using magic in a way never see before, don't you think they would have sent the biggest connoisseur of magic in all Equestria?’’

Twilight went frozen. … Could it be… she did not dare go through the end of her thought.

‘’And think about it. Do you think that this town who worship the Mane 6 would not have jumped to the occasion when they would have heard that Twilight was coming and would not have begged for the other to also come?’’

What she had feared the most has been realized. She felt like reality itself has crumbled and that underneath was hiding another one far more menacing.

‘’… …It… can’t be. This… light that came that day… that everypony has seen… that I humorously thought was a wild party… was actually… a trap! Just for me and my friends! (But how could have I known?)’’

‘’Now you finally understand. It was all so that you can come to me. You Twilight Sparkle, but also Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. It was a bet I admit, but one where I felt very confident about the odds. Hell, you have even brought Starlight Glimmer as a bonus.’’

And Twilight knew he was telling the truth. No, knowing everypony involved in this story, she knew that his scenario couldn't have happened any other way. And this realization was making her shake, no matter how much she tried to stop it. Because it means that for one month, one entire month of daily life, without knowing, they were all already in his grasp. How could this be possible? But all that was swept away by a far more alarming thought.

‘’Wait, you want my friends too! What do you want with them?’’

‘’I also want them to participate in my game. That why I sent my... goons, to apprehend them and to bring them here for me and that at the very moment as we speak. It is even possible that they have already finished.’’

Twilight eyes went wide open and all her muscles went tense.

‘’What did you just say?’’
‘’I here to deal with you myself because they would have no chance to win against you. On a side note, I give them weapons for that they can easily subdue your friends.’’

Twilight went walking to Mel, slowly, so slowly while fixing her gaze on him. Her teeth were also starting to grind together.
‘’So of course, I doubt it was done peacefully. I am sure they have taken the beating of their life.’’

‘’NOW YOU CROSS THE LINE YOU PSYCHO!!!’’

She went flying into a blind rage to Mel and shoot a magical beam to him. She had hoped that the sudden proximity would have left no room to use his blocks as a shield. But of course, Mel expected this reaction and without making any sound, the throne where he was sitting detached itself from the column and went flying straight upward, making the beam miss its mark.

‘’(What! The throne can also levitate! It must be made from the same material as the blocks.)’’

From where he was, he was looking at the princess with a calm and confident smile. But then he noticed that something was missing.

‘’(Wait where is Starlight? Come to think of it, I was so focused on Twilight that I barely notice her. Could she have taken advantage of that and…) Oh, the devious little one.’’

And the levitated Starlight, flying above him, shut down her invisibility spell and from her horn came a giant net made of blue light falling right through Mel. But the gray earth pony just lifted a hoof and dozens of cubs throw themselves on the net. This spell was made to capture everything it touch. So at their contact, it closed itself, becoming a spherical cage with just a bunch of blocks as prisoners. But Mel did not stop there. He arranged other blocks under the cage to form a path going down. And so the spherical cage went rolling down right to Twilight. Fearing to be crushed, she in her panic, erected a barrier to protect herself.

Getting angry that he had dared to use her attack against her mentor, Starlight went charging a more powerful beam. Before she could have finished, she had the good reflex to look behind her for sneaky attacks and indeed, a cube went charging at her. She had no choice to throw at it her half-charged beam to destroy it but before the destructive magic could touch it, the block separated itself into many smaller blocks, avoiding the laser. Then they went flying past Starlight, reformed themselves behind her back and then ram at her with violence.

Twilight, using all her strength to maintain the barrier, saw with horror her pupil plummeting. She forgot all about safety and went flying to her. The barrier broke and the cage fell, nearly crushing Twilight in the process. And before Starlight could have touched the floor, Twilight had caught her in her hooves and went flying far away from the maniac.

‘’Starlight! Oh Starlight, please tell me you alright!’’

‘’Yes... yes I'm okay. Just give me a few seconds... the time you stop being a pair of twins.’’

‘’If you can joke then I suppose it is a good sign. Starlight, I am afraid that will not be able to settle this peacefully. We will have no choice but to go all out and break his face.’’

‘’Really! Whoa I never thought I will one day hear you say those words.’’

‘’When somepony wants to genuinely hurt my friends, I just lost all patience. (Besides, on a personal level, I also feel betrayed. I thought we were similar.) Let us combine our power and then even him and all his tricks could not win against us.’’

Starlight answered with a simple nod. They both lighted their horns and were preparing to cast spells when an idea came to Starlight.

‘’Or we can simply use our magic to give them new command like when you once told me. Or maybe just use levitation on all those things.’’

‘’Of course! How can I have not thought of that?’’

Twilight had dispersed her magic and in it, there was a simple thought, or rather command: stop moving. Starlight, her, was trying to levitate the most block possible. But both their magic refused to make a single effect. In fact, it was like the magic was rejected by the white machines.

‘’Aaaaaah it doesn’t work, I don’t understand! The first time it was working too well with less magic.’’

‘’Oh Mademoiselles, it is no use. Did you think it will be that easy? It is true that the blocks can move with any magic. But orders send by the throne have absolute priority. Those orders cannot be overridden. And they all equip with natural anti-levitation protection. I think it is my turn now.’’

He held his arm forward and dozens and dozens of blocks went flying around him. He was like a commander commanding a flying armada. He then throws them at the two mares, leaving them with only the time to constantly evade but none to cast spells.

Mel was not stupid. He knew he was dealing with the two most powerful magic users of Equestria, second only to the royal sisters. What he was doing was risky. A single mistake and they could easily beat him. That is why he has studied intensely the two mares and even a little on magic even though he was an earth pony. Twilight had genius level intellect and her knowledge on the domain was astronomical. Her deep understanding of the arcane science was allowing her to use magic in more than a thousand ways with intelligence and creativity. Starlight, though her knowledge was far superior compared to nearly all unicorns, it didn't equal that of Twilight. But she was compensating it with a sheer amount of power that was just overkill. Especially if she uses it for destruction.

Yes. Everything was showing that Mel was in a serious disadvantage. But in all his studies he had managed to find one weakness to unicorns. For casting spell it was necessary to have a good dose of concentration to build the spell inside their heads. And more the spell was complex, more it was true. So if a unicorn cannot concentrate, he was vulnerable. In other words...

‘’(The solution is to leave them no respite.)’’

The blocks went flying around Mel faster and faster to the point it became a tornado of flying cubes with Mel safely in the heart of the cyclone. A perfect offense and defense. And with the indiscriminate cruelty of a natural disaster, went slowly but surely to the two mares. But this was not the worst because more cubes came from the twister and assemble themselves to form two whip appendages who then went to strike the two mares.

‘’Twi, get down!’’

‘’On it.’’

They avoided being hit by the two giant whips and landed on the floor. Quickly, Twilight encased the two of them into a magenta dome. The best protection spell she has ever made.

‘’ (Thank you Big Brother to have taught me that shield.) Listen well Starlight. ’’

‘’Heh! Hum yes, my ears are open.’’

‘’I will assure our protection, he won't be able the break that shield easily. This will leave us the time for you to prepare a spell that will take him down. You better make it count.’’

Starlight went to make a very devilish grin.

‘’Ooooh! Oh totally, and I already know what to do. This will be rock n' roll.’’

She stood firmly on the ground and charged her horn with blue magic. Power was quickly going higher, small strands of lightning were bursting from her horn and even the ground was starting to shake. The whip like appendages were furiously giving hit after hit on the dome but didn’t seem to make a dent. In fact, the dome was so hard that each time they were hitting, the shock was making the whips disassemble themselves for then reconstruct themselves in matter of seconds. Twilight was holding firmly and she was confident she could hold for quite some time. And Starlight will soon cast her spell way before that. They had managed to turn the tables and to go to the checkmate.

And that was exactly what Mel wanted them to believe.

With a childish smile, he did a light double tap on the armrest of his throne. And all the surface of the floor came to life! Square tiles elevated themselves for then going down and elevate and going down again and again in a piston like motion. This motion was following a pattern like if waves were coursing to the floor. No, not like. This was exactly that. Mel had changed the totality of the floor into a solid wave pool.

And this was making Twilight and Starlight jump off their feet and they were powerlessly forced to bounce back and back like if they had become just like two poor fillies that were trapped on a trampoline. To see them, helpless, wriggling their hooves without understanding what was happening to them was a kind of pathetic sight. Obviously, maintaining their concentration was just impossible and so the spells fell apart. Now that they were more vulnerable than ever, they knew that they will be safer in the air. So they took flight once again, Twilight with her wings, Starlight with her magic. Once they had taken altitude, they could fully see what was happening.

‘’Twilight, what… what just are we seeing?’’

‘’Crap, the floor is also made of blocks! Does everything in these ruins are… … *gasp*’’

A realization had just struck her. One that was giving her so much fear that it had stolen all breath from her throat. And Starlight didn’t like to see her mentor like that.

‘’Oh no! Oh no no no no no! This is bad Starlight, really bad!’’

‘’Twilight, what wrong?!’’

‘’Everything. Mel had said that all this palace was made of these blocks but I did not think literally. That mean he can move all the structure of this building and change its shape at will. It’s a polymorphic palace. It is a polymorphic palace Starlight! Don’t you get it! He doesn’t have the field advantage, THE ENTIRE FIELD IS HIS WEAPON!!’’

And to confirm what she had just said, dozens and dozens of blocks detached themselves from the walls and went flying to them. The walls also came to life and became sliding puzzles to fill each gaping holes that were formed. It was a very strange and bizarre thing to see. But it was also making the two mares feeling so weak and seeing being surrounded, they put their guard up.

They did not know that all that was actually a clever distraction and the attack came from a place they did not expect: below. After all, it is not a reflex to wonder if the floor we usually walk could be a potential danger. A big cube detached from the ground and fly straight up to Starlight. There was nothing she could do instead of express a *oomph* while the cube had flattened her and was still going on its way, bringing her with it on its top. The strength of the velocity was too great for her to be able to move and as she was going higher, so to her terror. Then the cube stooped. Abruptly. But Starlight, now a poor victim of the laws of the momentum, was catapulted and flew even higher, being turned around in all direction. Two other big cubes went levitating around her in circles like if they were birds of prey. Being so helpless and disoriented, she got a brief glimpse of her mentor and hold her hoof to her in desperate attempt to be rescued.

‘’Twilight, help me//

She never finished. Mel clapped his hooves together. One of the two blocks lunged at Starlight and like a billiard ball, had sent her straight to the other and… … … it was just so violent. She was thrown at such strength that she had smashed the white surface so much that her back was now encrusted in it and cracks were coursing everywhere. Twilight was not sure but it seems to her to have heard like a sound of wood that breaks. But then realized it couldn’t be wood... but bones.

‘’STARLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!’’

Was crying Twilight who simply could not accept what she was seeing. She was feeling like if her blood has frozen over and that her heart had stopped beating. ''This couldn't be true'', ''this cannot be happening'', ''it is not allowed to happen''. That and many other things were what was coursing in her head at lightning speed. She and her friend had often confront danger but maybe she did not truly understand the true meaning of danger. And now its true meaning as come, slapping her in the face.

Starlight was still stuck, shaking at some places but it was more involuntary nervous reactions from a damaged body. And with a final grunt she slumped her head down and fall into unconscious. Satisfied of the outcome, Mel opened a hole in the wall, make the blocks with Starlight go through it and the wall closed itself. He then looked at Twilight like if nothing interesting at happen.

‘’Do not worry about your star pupil, she is fine. Well, I suppose fine is not the right word. But I need her alive so I had made sure to not be too violent. This place is equipped with the best medical equipment possible, she will be on her feet in no time. However, she may have hoped that//

‘’Shut up.’’

‘’… … Oooooh!’’

‘’Shut up, shut up, shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up.’’

Twilight had her eyes tight closed with tears streaming from them and her face was soon filled with anger. She was feeling emotions that she did not think could exist. It was like a dam in her heart had been demolished and it will not have normally been possible if she had not seen a line that should not have been crossed being crossed. She did not make any effort to stop those feelings to explode. She burst opened her eyes that were now filling with blinding light and had let a bloodcurdling cry escape from her throat.

‘’OoooooaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!’’

Purple lightning came from her horn and formed around her a sphere of pure destruction. Slowly, it took more and more expansion and this made Mel worry a lot because he knew it won’t be long before the magical energy reaches him. Even though his face had not changed at all.

‘’(Hum, this is not good. I had hoped that making Twilight angry would have made her reckless but this could have been a bad move. If I don’t do something, I am toast. Guess at this point there is no more need for plans or strategies.)’’

With a wave of his hoof, the blocks went straight to the princess of friendship in an unceremoniously fashion. But they could not even get close to her because each time they enter in contact with the ever-expanding lightning, they exploded before they could even fly one meter. Feeling that his only chance to win was to use the strength of numbers, he had sent a mental order to the biggest numbers of blocks he could to throw themselves at Twilight. They came from all corners of the room, the walls, the floor, the roof. It was like it a rain of asteroids had come and the center of gravity was the young alicorn. But it changes nothing. The room became a stage for a light show of sparkling purple and blazing explosions. The ground was filled with debris of those machines who had now lost all luster. The lightning was still growing bigger and it wouldn't be long before they reach the flying throne with the derange artist on it.

Speaking of him, although he was sure that his defeat was imminent, he did not seem to care that much. Hell, he was even nonchalantly playing with a strand of his hair. An outsider will probably have thought that from the beginning, he was just here for the heck of it.

‘’(*sigh* Too bad, I am afraid that this is the end for me. But I always knew that this part of my plan was the most risky. I made a gamble and I simply lose. What a shame, I was so close. It is bothersome to think of all the lessons I could have given to... ...) Bothersome!’’

Mel had stopped playing with his hair like if he has been struck by an idea.

‘’This could work. Why didn't I think of that before?’’

He did a faint smile and all the blocks just went to a complete stop, staying immobile in midair. It may have been like time had frozen if it was not for the lightning moving widely. But soon, all of them joined themselves in groups of two. Then... went to rub themselves between each other. That was a very bizarre thing to see and it seems to have no meaning. But as they went faster, the noises they made became horrible. It was like the sound of nails grinding a blackboard. No. It was like there were more than a hundred blackboards that was producing that maddening sound.

Soon all the room was filled with this insane cacophony and the good acoustic of the walls was not helping. Twilight was quickly effected by it. She tried to cover her hears but it did nothing. It was so horrible that she could not even hear her own thoughts. The light in her eyes was blinking, a sign that she was losing control of her magic.

‘’AAAAAAAAARH ENOUGH, ENOUGH. MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE, MAKE IT STOP, MAKE IT STOOOOOOOOOP!!!’’

Even Mel was affected by the noise. His normally placid face was now distorted by a maniacal grin and his eyes were twitching. But he was still giving all his strength to maintain the movement of the blocks. But for Twilight, she was in so much pain that she was crying.

‘’PLEASE I BEG YOU, STOP THIS TORTURE, MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE. GAAAAAAAAAAAuuuuuhuuhuuhuu.’’

Having reached her limits, she had lost all control and the magical energy was dispelled like a snuffed candle. As the noise had finally stopped, a cube from above strikes at Twilight, making her falling down to the top face of another one below. It then quickly went flying to in front of Mel, who knew that he had won, for that he can at his leisure admire his prize.
The princess of friendship was now in a pitiful state. Her hair was in disarray and seems like all spark of will have left her gaze. She had lost. She knew it too well. Cubes went flying around her and then divided into smaller ones, staying inanimate like if they were waiting for something. As for what… she did not dare to think about for even a fraction of second since it was enough to make a cold run in her spine and make her sweaty. She tried to work her brain, or at least the best she could manage, but only find that there just one solution left. And that is... beg for mercy.

‘’Mel, I… I ask you to… please come back to reason. I do not understand why you are doing that. But I ready to listen. When you have a problem, speaking about it can make things least heavy. And who know, I may even be able to help. What you have done… is bad and it cannot be denied. I can’t even scratch at what can motivate you to be so violent. But if there one thing I know is that it is never too late to make the right choice. It may be hard but I promise you that you will not have to do it alone. I am sure you find it difficult to believe but I… can find the strength to forgive you. I am not the princess of friendship for no reason. So please… stop this madness. And let us me and all my friends go.’’

‘’… … … … … ... ... I refuse.’’

The little blocks became throwing rocks and went to hit Twilight on all sides with a ferocity without names. The many violent impacts on her flesh was making her body jerking in all directions. Some may say that she was looking more like a rag doll that a living being. And everything was so fast that her brain did not even the time to acknowledge the visceral pain her body was feeling.

Mel had ordered the blocks to stop. Twilight was standing there upright, her pretty appearance now tainted by brutality, her head hanging down, and she was as immobile as the lifeless machines. After what seems an eternity, she fell to her side. She had fainted. Mel had finally allowed himself to make a faint smile.

‘’At last... it is over. You may have tried to convince yourself, but I know forgive me would have been simply beyond you. Everypony have a limit on what they can tolerate of others. I know that too well. Well, trying to win my sympathy was not a bad move. But you have to understand that there exist some people that just don’t know what this feeling is. … … … Now be prepared Miss Twilight. Soon… very soon… you, and all your friends, will become free to feel pain. True pain. And after that... everything will change forever. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha.’’

And for a bit of time, Mel was continuing to look at the falling princess while doing this creepy laugh like a broken record.

‘’Heh heh heh. Heh heh heh.’’

‘’Please big bro, I know you are nervous but stop laughing like that. It gives me goosebumps.’’

‘’Nervous! Who tells you that I am nervous?’’

Even Dirt was aware that it was a pitiful lie. Not only was he doing that nervous laugh but since they had entered the ruins, he did not have stopped to constantly rub his own big paws.

‘’Sorry little bro. There is no use to hide it, yes I am so anxious. Our reward that will make our lives much easier is nearly at hand. When you are so much close of the goal, you can't help but fear that you might lose it at the last second. It will be such a shame. Especially after all we have done.’’

He turn around to look. The rectangular room they were was spacious, especially because there was absolutely nothing in there except white walls. This room was actually a secret entrance well hidden in the feet of the mountain at a spot near Happy Town. Mel had dug, well more like smash this entry point by moving a part of the palace that had pulverized the rock wall. The goal was to be able to access the ruins more easily. Still the entrance was well concealed and unless you already know it is there, it is nearly impossible to find it by accident.

What Dirt was previously mentioning was the five of the Mane 6 they had captured. They were spread on the floor behind the two brothers, unconscious. They had stayed like that during all the trips. It may seem like they were just sleeping. Even though the truth was far crueler. Moreover, it was hard for Dirt to look at them and so he turned away and returned at the subject at hand.

‘’Right, so who could blame me for being anxious? What if the boss want to cancel the deal?’’

‘’I… never ever think of that. Wait! What if he even takes the ponies and refused to pay us! You think he will do that?’’

‘’Who know? He had asked us to do… … this. For somepony as shady as him, it would not be strange to be disloyal to us.’’

‘’What we will do if he does that?’’

‘’We will have no choice but to use violence against him.’’

With his pawn he pointed to the lightning rod that was in the back pocket of his pants.

‘’Big bro! Not… again!’’

‘’Don’t worry. I already did it many times. That mean I should not have problems to do it again, heh heh. ... Heh.’’

But Dust knew his big brother. He could see that he was not very convinced that he could do it again. It was then that a noise came that nearly give the two a heart attack. An opening came from the wall in front of them and from it, come out Mel himself with two saddlebags on his bag. The wall then closed behind him, giving no hint that there was a door before.

‘’Dirt, Dust. I see that you have come. Did you succeed?’’

‘’You can see by yourself. Look.’’

He pointed to the five young mares. Mel slowly went closer to them to examine the five in detail. He went to see if they were alright. Relatively speaking.

‘’You really have done it. I… still find it hard to believe. The five of them… they are here in front of me. It is perfect. It is simply perfect. You really have done astounding job. Was it hard?’’

Even though the words he was saying sound like if he was pleased, his expression did not change at all. Dirt has always hated that. That damn pony had always but always a smile on his face. So he was never able to tell if he was happy or not. And even less to understand what he was thinking. So Dirt wanted to quickly be done with it.

‘’Was it hard? Oh you have no idea. Nothing went to plan and things have nearly gone sour more than once. Those five are no ordinary ponies.’’

‘’Yes. Indeed. I am not surprised. This was the most risky part of my plan. I half expect that my projects would be ruined even before they begin. But I see that my gamble has paid off. And you have succeeded even with all these complications. I knew I had picked the right handyman.’’

‘’Thank you boss but… (please do not thank us for that). But now it is time for//

‘’Ah yes. My end of the bargain. You want your reward. The one you want so much.’’

He walked slowly to the diamond dogs with his still indecipherable eyes. The two brothers couldn't help but to feel a chill. Dirt was even discretely stretching his paw on his back just at a few inches to the rod, just in case. And once Mel arrived before them, he… just opened his saddleback and had taken with his teeth a bumble of paper.

‘’Here. With these documents, all my fortune is now yours. I made the precaution to transfer my money to another bank in Manehattan so that no one can find you easily. All you have to do is to go to this address, show them those papers and take as much as you want. It is as easy as that.’’

The two canines were just staring there, dumbfound. Dirt had taken the papers in a mechanical way, not truly sure if it was real.

‘’A problem?’’

‘’You… really going to give all your money just like that?’’

‘’What, you expected that I will double-cross you like some stereotypical villain does?’’

He had said that while tilting his head to the side. Which was not giving confidence.

‘’I know it is what we have agreed but admit boss that… it is hard to believe.’’

‘’I really have no need for money, simply as that. What I will accomplish tonight will be worth far, far more than vulgar bits. After that I will no longer care what will happen to me. The authority will surely capture me but I don’t give a damn. Oh and naturally, I promise not to talk about you two. I have too much gratitude for you. So I suggest you start to go to the farthest of Happy Town that you can right now.’’

‘’Right. So… thank you Mister Mel… for all you have done. We… will not forget your generosity.’’

They went their way with that as parting words since they did not want to stay there a second longer. But then//

‘’Wait, I nearly forget.’’

He had taken something from his other bag. It was a little cube that he was holding by biting a corner of it, for then tossed it at Dust who had caught it.

‘’What is that, a monitor?!’’

‘’Yes, a portable version. I was sincere when I had said that I was feeling a great gratitude for you. So I would like if you use that monitor to see my game just like all Equestria will soon. I would not want you to miss it.’’

‘’Humm… thank. We… will be sure to think about it. … … Say, what will you do with these ponies?’’

Dirt had thrown a disapproving look at Dust for this unnecessary question. But Dust was just too worried to notice it. He knew he should not have asked it but this question had haunted his head since all day. Maybe even more. So he just could not resist. Mel did not seem to take it bad but… there was something strange in his eyes.

‘’You really want to know? I have no problem telling you. Buuuut… you sure you really want to know? When you are doing dirty jobs, putting some distance is something necessary. Because if you don’t, you get swallow by guilt. So if you close that distance, you may find difficult to sleep at night. No. More like if you do that you may find that you don’t deserve your reward. If it loses his interest then you could not profit of what you have sought for years. And also accordingly, making this questionable act useless in the end. Do you really want make that all for noting?’’

He had cleverly strike at the heart of the problem and Dust became very reluctant to pursue this discussion. He only had the strength to make a last pitiful attempt.

‘’Can you at least promise me that they will be fine?’’

‘’I promise you that their lives will not be in danger. I just need them for oooone night.’’

‘’Oh! … Then… … is good then…’’

‘’Come on little bro, let’s go. What is done is done. Let us put that all behind us.’’

Dirt had grabbed is little brother by the arm and pulled him to the exit door that had just opened. But Dust did not advert his gaze from the five young mares. Even as the doors were closing, soon separating the outside from the ivory world of Mel, the diamond dog was still looking at them until the last second, probably as a measly attempt of sympathy for the ones he has done harm.

Once everything was sealed, Mel for the very first time made a genuine expression. One that had many feelings mixed together.

‘’Please take care of each other. After all, nothing is more important than family.’’

But it disappear as fast as it appears. And the legs of the artist were starting to shake. Not of fear or guilt, but excitement of the soon to be masterpiece he will create.

‘’That it. That, it. Now, every piece is at their place. I did not dare to think my plan will work so well. There is nothing that could stop me now. And soon the world will change forever. Dear Mane 6, you might think that what just happen to you was horrible but the truth is it was just a before taste of the true anguish that will come. And when it will arrive, everything that you have believed until now will crumble and all the lessons that you have learned will seem to have been all for nothing. You will see life for what it truly is. And after you will, everypony will soon follow your example. Mane 6, be prepared. Because everything until now was nothing more than an introduction. It is now that the true story begins.’’

And for emphasis this, he stomped his hoof on the floor.

*Knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*... ... *knockknockknockknock*

‘’Mayor Paternal! Mayor Paternal, it is an emergency. You have to wake up, fast.’’

Flo was the one who was knocking like crazy on the door of the mayor. Panic was oozing from her eyes. When the mayor finally answered from his bedroom and had said that he was coming, it was soon followed by the noise of a pony failing down the stairs in a long and painful way, and strangely it ended by the sound of cymbal and klaxon horn and a crying cat. Wait what! Flo, even though she was anxious, could not help but do a facehoof.

‘’(Seriously, again! Why can't he control more his enthusiasm?)’’

And it is with enthusiasm that he opened the door and welcomed her with a huge smile.

‘’Aah Flo, so good to see you. Sorry for this commotion, I just had missed a step, which was the first one so technically I miss all of them and also landed on a box full of instruments for the concert I would like to organize tomorrow in honor of our idols. Sooo nothing too bad happens. What can I do for you my little angel?’’

‘’There is no time for my little angel, it is serious mayor. Something has happened to the Mane 6, they have disappeared.’’

‘’What do you say!? Dis… dis… disappeared!’’

‘’I went to stop a bit at the old housing lodge to see if they were well installed but then I noticed that the door was wide open. Inside there was not a single trace of them but yet, all their things were there. And I have seen signs that there was a struggle. Something no good must have happened.’’

‘’Wo wo, calm down Flo. Don't overdramatize and think about worst-case scenarios. I am sure that there is an explanation for that. Which one, I don't know but there must be one.’’

‘’Overdramatize! The kitchen is so mess up that I am not even sure to still call it a kitchen. It is the time to think about the worst, they may be in danger! I have already called for help from other ponies.’’

‘’You have done that! I am not sure what to think about you doing my job. But... yeah it does sound like there is an emergency. Maybe it will better to be safe and... ... what happening?’’

It was then that the mayor noticed that in front of his house there was a huge number of ponies gathered in the plaza central and they seem to all look at something that was right at the middle.

‘’Flo... what all those ponies doing here?’’

‘’It was another thing I wanted to talk to you about. When I feared the worst for the Mane 6 I quickly run to the plaza to find my brother and that when I find this strange cube just sitting there. But the worst was that my brother was nowhere in the house. I got really scared so I knocked at every door to find help, who at their turn, went to wake up others and so nearly all the town knows about this strange cube.’’

‘’Your brother too has disappeared! A cube?’’

‘’Yeah, come with me, it will be easier to show you.’’

She guided him to the crowd by holding his hoof. They bumped into many ponies while politely saying sorry. Once at the front, mayor Paternal could see at his surprise that all the plaza was full, forming a circle of equines gather around the middle. The pegasus were flying a little above to leave more places to those who have no wings. There was even ponies sitting on the rooftops of houses to have a good view. And they had all their eyes fixing on the center where the cube Flo was mentioning was.

The mayor had found this object very peculiar since he could not imagine how the hay it got there. It has four strange windows in four of their faces so that everypony in the gathering could see them. Yes, he understood why they were all fascinated by it. He saw that the professor (without true doctorate) was at his side and was thinking that maybe it was him the responsible for this.

‘’What is that... that thing? Professor, are you the one that bring it here?’’

‘’Oh no, mister Mayor, it was not me. I also ask around and nopony know who had brought it here. As for what it is… oooooh what a marvelous invention! The way it is working is simply pure breathtaking. How I would have liked to be credited for is creation but sadly there is no way I could have built it.’’

‘’Okay but what it is?’’

‘’Well, I admit it makes me think a lot at… to… I mean it looks like… like… you know, at//

‘’You have no idea what it is.’’

‘’Hum... no. No, I am blank.’’

‘’And is it true about the ponies missing.’’

At the right of the mayor was the jewelry store owner and it was her that answered him.

‘’I am afraid it is true. We all search all the town but no sign of the Mane 6. And no sign of Mel either. I also tried to ask the help of Dirt and Dust but they were not in their apartments. Nopony has seen them.’’

‘’What! Them too! Then that mean there are... ten who are missing! What is going on? (And how is it that I was the last that they wake up?)’’

It is lucky he didn't have asked this question out loud because nopony would have dared to answer it. But more importantly, he saw the little Flo, hanging her head low, obviously worry to death. It was so rare to see her like that, her that is usually so radiant.

‘’Mayor… … I can’t shake the feeling that something horrible is happening. First something has happened to the ponies I admire the most in the world, then that, whatever it is. And now…’’

The words were stuck in her throat. It was hard for her to say them.

‘’My… my brother is gone. Mayor, what do you think has happened to him? Do you think he is fine?’’

Mayor Paternal wanted to reassure her but when he had opened his mouth, no words were coming out. Because he couldn’t find any. His speciality was giving motivational speech to give enthusiasts but… but he understood now that finding comforting words was a big weakness of him. Feeling ashamed not to offer any help, he just went to do the same as everyone else and look at this strange structure.

The windows were showing statics even though he did not know that was how they were called. But the most curious was that at the occasion they disappear to leave places to writing words. After a few glimpses of them, he understood that it was a countdown of sort for… something. This must also be why they were all fascinated by that thing, the mayor was saying to himself. They were all wanting for the end of the countdown.

But he could not help to find all that… eerie. Why, he did not know but this gut feeling just did not want to go away. All that was just too bizarre. And what we fear the most is what we don’t understand. He soon went to dread when the countdown will reach zero. But he could not also advert his gaze because of some morbid curiosity. Maybe it was how everypony was feeling. Being afraid and fascinated at the same time. One thing for sure, this fear was little by little growing larger and larger as time was passing because they knew they will not have to wait for long. The screens were showing to all this hypnotized audience those words:

The game will begin in 10 minutes

Author's Note

Now that I have finish to publish my first four chapters that I had write in advance, the rest will come at a normal pace. (Tough my publishing of the first four has been slightly delayed because of some last minutes corrections. I won't bother you with the details)

Anyways, it is now that we enter into the meat of the story, THE GAAAAAAME. I have been really impatient to show it to you. And before you get any ideas, no, there would be no bloodshed in this game. That would not mean it wouldn't be brutal. Psychologically brutal.

Stay tune for the next chapter: game of deconstruction