Corruption is Magic

Waking up I groan as I push myself upright in the bed in my hideaway. Using my magic I create a fine point and scratch a tally into the wall, that's the fourth set of five. I stretch and lick my dry lips and hobble my way to the sink. I have been here for twenty days… if my time keeping isn't thrown off, though most likely it is. Thankfully ever since I met the two girls on my second day here it hasn’t been too bad. I have gotten used to them and they are helping me learn the language here. Turns out it’s called Devral, and I’m proficient enough now in the language to start learning the ins and outs of this world. Or that’s what Gomra, the mother of the two girls I met told me.

Taking a drink of water I rub my head. Those two have gotten me every day to drink a bit more ale… I still have no idea how they can drink so much. Grumbling at the slight headache I have I get ready to head out to their house. With a bit of speed behind me I toss some of the seeds left over from my first foraging journey into a makeshift pan I borrowed from the girls and a bit of leafy… red stuff. I never got what this was called from Gomra when she gave it to me.

After cooking them and feeling confident it was okay to eat I lifted it off the burner with my magic and carried it beside me. The seeds having popped like popcorn and having become soft like it too is a nice treat and the red leaf stuff has a nice sweet taste to it almost like candy or pineapple. Opening the hatch to my home away from home I come face to face with something new standing outside. A tall two legged red skinned thing with curved horns upon its head and… oh sweet Celestia he is naked. Immediately I slam the hatch closed but the being having already noticed me laughs and calls down to me.

“No need to hide sweet thing. I only want to play.~” He calls down, the sound of his voice giving away he is trying to be seductive and enticing. Too bad for him I am not interested at all.

“Uh, no sorry. I’m uh, not interested in playing or doing anything I’m just wanting to go and meet someone.”

“Oh, playing hard to get. Alright. I can play that game.” He says and I can feel a tingling in my main as if I need to run, quickly. Charging my horn I prepare to teleport but before I can I see the red things hand break through the wooden hatch I have and reach around blindly for me. I duck away and gallop down to my room and prepare the spell again, managing to get the spell going just in time to see the naked biped come down and look at me with a long pointed tongue hanging out the right of his mouth. “Cat and mouse it is little fu-”

I teleport and appear inside the sitting room of the mushroom home, the adrenaline in my system causing me to gasp and shake in place. It isn’t long before the two girls come into the room alarmed by my sudden teleport into their home. “Twilight?” Gomra asks, seeing me standing stalk still. “Gelfree, fetch some ale.” The daughter nods without voicing complaints this time like she usually does and Gomra comes and kneels down in front of me. “What happened?” Gomra asked in a hushed voice.

“A- A creature broke into my hideaway. They were male and… and they were naked. They broke the hatch with just their hand like yours and just… they seemed to be trying to act seductively and-” I say but Gomra stops me and I look at them confused.

“I think I know what happened. I can tell you exactly what he was and it deals with this place.” She says as she guides me to my usual chair as Gelfree brings us two mugs of ale. “Thank you darling.” Gomra says but Gelfree gives her mother a stern look.

“Do I need to kick some ass for our friend here ma?”

“No, at least not yet. It was an Incubus passing through it seems.” An Incubus? What is that?

“One of them, well I can handle myself in a fight against those guys.” Gelfree happily says as they pound their fists together. Gomra chuckles and waves Gelfree away why rolls their eyes and waves to me as they leave and I happily return the gesture.

“So, you heard what I told my daughter. It seems you finally met one of the many inhabitants of this world.”

“This world? You say that as if this is a different one than-”

“Your own world, yes. All those that end up here come from other worlds. Well, generally. It isn’t impossible for someone to be born and raised here, like Gelfree.”

“Wait so then, you're not native to this world either?” I ask, to which Gomra nods.

“I’m not, Though I didn’t really have a reason to go back home to my old world. Not to mention it would have taken too much for me to return. So I stayed and ended up having Gelfree.”

“When you say it would have taken too much to get home, you mean it’s not impossible?” I say happily but Gomra shakes her head.

“It is, but what are you willing to do to get home?” I look at Gomra confused and she sighs.

“I guess it’s time to tell you. This world is known as Fires pit, but most just call it hell or the underworld. I assume you have something similar to your world?”

“Well yes but it's nothing like this place, at least I’m pretty sure.” I sheepishly say as I’m not as confident as I once was on what Tartarus looks like as I've never been there.

“Well, this place has many kinds of creatures and things going on. First the general rule of thumb, you can be nice upfront to creatures but always be ready to fight, and fight like you mean it.” Hearing this I go stiff and I magically bring my mug of ale to my lips to take a sip to relax.

“W-Why would I-”

“Think about what just happened at your home.”

I think back to the Incubus and feel a chill run down my spin. Sure, resisting that creature and all but hurting creatures on purpose… I couldn’t imagine myself actually doing it. “Twilight,” Gomra says, getting my attention. “This place is a dog eat dog world. The strong devour the weak, be that literally or figuratively. Do you know what would have happened if that Incubus got you?”

“I-I don’t.” Gomra’s expression grows dark and in a hushed voice she says.

“I do. He would have forced himself on you.” Upon hearing that my blood runs cold, he… he would have… no. No creature is that… he… his words. Feeling my stomach twist into knots I look at Gomra who nods and takes a gulp of her ale. “You didn’t think I had a husband, now did you.” Gomra asks and with those simple words the weight of everything hits me like a ton of bricks. I need to get home, I need to leave this place.

I quickly feel myself begin to shake and Gomra pats my shoulder. “There is one way back to your world. That way is by gaining the title of King or in your case Queen of the Underworld. In the crowning you gain access to having one wish granted by the Desecrated chalice when you drink from it. Most wish for some object or thing and end up ruling for a time here but on a rare occasion some wish to go home and thus they abdicate the throne and another is crowned.”

Wait, wait wait wait… I need to become, A Queen? “What, what do you mean? Are you actually suggesting I become Queen of this place?” I ask Gomra who shrugs.

“I wasn’t suggesting. I am simply stating that it is the only way to get home. Other than that, you have a snowball's chance in… well, here. To survive and stay as you are or were.”

“Were, what do you mean were?”

“This world has a tendency to corrupt those who end up here. Sooner or later you're gonna start noticing you have changed, be it very noticeable or be it personality changes. You won’t be going back home like you were Twilight. I’m sorry but that isn’t going to be possible.” I’m… going to change? I won’t be me anymore?

Taking a very deep breath I take a sip of the ale and sigh as the tingle of the burning alcohol warms me up inside. “So that’s it then? I change and fight to become Queen and have the goal to get home, or I accept staying here and change anyways but never get home.”

“Basically.” Gomra chuckles and gulps more ale. Seeing no other choice because I’d rather change and try to get home than not try.

“So, Got any tips on becoming a Queen.” I sarcastically ask gulping a bit of ale. Gomra smiles a wide toothy smile with her sharp teeth.

“You can bet your buck I do. Goblin lady Gomra can teach you a few things. However I have one thing I ask of you.”

“I can do it since you have helped me so much.”

“If you do end up going back to your world, take Gelfree with you. She doesn't deserve being stuck here.” Gomra requests giving me a kind of pleading look in her eyes.

“You silly, If I manage to head home I’ll bring both of you with me. I’ll be able to introduce you to my friends and give you a fresh start in Ponyville.” Upon hearing this Gomra looks at me shocked but then begins to smile with tears in her eyes, wiping them away with her hands she manages to whimper out a quiet. “Thank you, thank you Twilight.” as she reaches out and hugs me which I reciprocate.