The psychotic gentlegriff

Anubis’s POV.

I dozed off almost the instant my body hit the giant pillow and to my horror I discovered that I was back in that dreadful dream from last night. In the same room that I had locked myself in before that dreadful noise that struck the very core of my head. The only difference was that it was lit up by an overhead light and I was on a table curled up. “Why is that?” I questioned under my breath.

“Well that’s because I placed you there, Anubis.”

“Zodiac?!.”

Silence Anubis, it might hear you.”

“Of course, sorry but if you don’t mind me asking, how?”

“When you awoke, I took control of your dream form and began to explore the area.”

“With my body? Are you trying to kill me.”

“Of course not, you’re still alive and I’ve found out that there is no way out. No stairs, no ladder and no way up that I can see.”

“What about an elevator Zodiac?”

“Mortal what is a e-leva-tor?”

“I’ll explain my all mighty yet unaware friend. It’s basically a small box like room that can move vertically at a push of a button and take you up or down.”

“Oh that sounds convenient but how come I’ve never heard of such a thing?” Zodiac said sceptical.

“Because you’ve been in the void as you called it my friend.”

“I see, who would have thought mortals could create such things.”

“You think that’s impressive, because I’m about to blow your cosmic mind.” I was looking around the room and already had a plethora of ideas to deal with that beast in the halls.

“Now I’m interested, what are you going to do that’s so impressive, Anubis?”

“Kill that mindless beast that tried to eat me.”

“And how are you going to go about killing it because I don’t see any weapons, no swords or daggers here.”

“Oh no no no, i don’t need a weapon because I’m going to make a weapon.” I could feel my beak morph into a wild grin at the thought of doing something I enjoyed for once.

“Mhmm nothing in here looks like it could be used in such a way let alone turned into one.”

“Anythings a weapon if you try hard enough Zodiac, it’s just somethings are better at it than others.” And with that I hastily got to work on making something that will remove my problem.

After some time and effort I had something that I felt confident in, I had made a few small canisters that would make a loud winding noise before detonating an explosive compound that leaves a corrosive substance behind. Hopefully this will be enough to kill it.

“Anubis what dose it do?”

“Explode, they explode Zodiac.”

“Oh but what if you can’t use it or are too close?”

“I have this just in case, so don’t worry.”

“But I managed to explore this place with out alerting the creature, so I don’t see the need for a weapon Anubis?”

“I’m not going to go out of my way to kill it but if it does hear me, I’ll be able to deal with it.”

“Ok I understand, but your back up looks like a sharp stick.”

“Yes a sharp stick with thermite, that’ll be ignited by this small pin. All I have to do is skewer the thing and pull out the pin, then enjoy the smell of cooked meat.”

“Wow for a mortal you are sadistic.”

“Aw thanks, I do try. Although I guess you’re one of the lucky few that I like.”

“I’m lucky?”

“Of course my good cosmic chap, so um how do you open this door?”

“The same button you used to close it.”

“Ah thank you Zodiac.” I hit the button and the door made a loud hiss as it opened. “Hey Zodiac how did you explore this place without alerting the creature using this door?”

“Oh there’s an air vent that leads out into the hall, I’m shocked you didn’t use it.”

“That would have be good to know a second ago.”

“I assumed you knew.”

“Yeah well you assumed wrong Zodiac!”

(Thumb) (Thumb) (Thumb)

That was the sound of that thing coming straight for me, it sounds like it’s getting faster?

(Crash!)

It impacted the steel door and left a fucking imprint!! I slowly backed up and got up on my hind legs, I had my thermite stick in my right claw and one of my extra spicy decoy frags in my other claw with the pin hooked under my fang. I was holding my breath and hoping that it would just be interested in the door and not me.

(Crash!)

The door shot open and completely destroyed the mechanism that opened and closed it. Smoke came from the door and it hissed as if it was in pain, the creature continued to throw itself into the door over and over again. I began to second guess myself on if these weapons would even work.

(Crash!!!) the door stops hissing, then it just stopped and stood still but after the longest minute of my life it left. I could hear its steps get quieter and quieter as it left the scene.

I let out a shallow exhale, I hadn’t even realised that my wings were stretched out in my attempt to hide against the wall. “Weird but interesting?”

“Now’s not the time Anubis, you need to get moving and find one of those moving rooms.”

“You mean an elevator.”

“Yes mortal, one of those.”

“Okay let’s get out of here.” I then left the room behind and decided to continue further into the armoury, I wanted something better then what I had made and I hope there was something in there that I could use.

———————————————————————

Meanwhile back in the waking world.

Princess Celestia had just said goodbye to princess Silverfeather and found Captain Graceful waiting outside her private Study. When he saw her Graceful immediately saluted. “At ease Captain.”

“Princess I’m here to pick up Anubis.”

“Yes I know but he’s currently asleep right now, so he’ll be staying in my study until you leave to go home.”

“Of course princess, I’ll be back later then and if you don’t mind me asking how was he?”

“Well he fell asleep almost immediately, he was practically dragging himself through the door.”

“Oh I see, I’ll try and go easy on him tomorrow but to be fair I’m impressed that he kept up with me.”

“Are you now Captain?”

“Yes princess, not many of the recruits could even finish the 8 laps let alone do another 8 afterwards.”

“That is impressive, very impressive but what do you plan on doing about his lack of entertainment in your office?”

“I’m going to stop at the castle library in the morning with him, so he can get some books to read.”

“That sounds fair to me Captain but after that could you take him to Dr Tender Care’s office, I believe that he wants to speak with Anubis.”

“Consider it done princess.” Graceful gave a salute to the regal Alicorn.

———————————————————————

Anubis’s POV

I found the armoury but it was locked and there was what appeared to be a harpoon gun inside. I wanted it because I could use it to shoot my thermite stick at the creature. Although I would like it with minimal damage to the main body, so I could cut it open and examine it. I won’t lie, I really want to know how it works now.

“Zodiac I’m going to do something really risky.”

“And what might that be?”

“I’m going to bang on this door and hope that the thing comes, so it can brake down this door.” I hope that it would just slam into the door and not go for me.

“Anubis that sounds crazy.”

“And maybe I’m a little crazy but I want that harpoon gun.”

(Bang-Bang-Bang!!)

I continue to pound on the door, I could hear it coming towards me and it was moving really fast. I turned around and saw it approaching rapidly, as it lunged towards me and I jumped to the side at the last second.

(CRASH!!)

I impacted the cold ground and slid for a few feet before stopping and staying completely still. I then fell a sharp sting on the tip of my tail and slowly pulled it towards me. There I saw a small cut, nothing to be concerned about but because it was shallow that meant that the nerves were scratched instead of being severed. In short it fucking stung like hell. Then the creature slowly exited the armoury and pace in a circle before leaving.

“Pss Anubis that was reckless.”

“Ah fuck, you don’t say but at least I’ve got the door open.”

“I guess so but your tail is bleeding.”

“Yeah but it won’t be bleeding in the waking world, right?”

“No but it will still sting when you wake up.”

“Oh well that’s good to know, but let’s just get my harpoon gun and kill that thing.” I made my way into the armoury and saw the harpoon gun sitting there just waiting for me, it was beautiful. I grabbed it and tried to load it with my thermite stick and it fits perfectly. I just need to make sure to pull the pin before firing but I’m conflicted because I want this creature mostly in one peace.

I made my way back towards the room that I originally came in from and went the other direction. Now I was sneaking through towards the storage unit of this place, maybe there is an industrial elevator that I could use but that’s if it’s powered.

I peeked through every single door I came across, hoping that I would find anything that I could use. I eventually made my way to the end of this long, bland corridor and I was met with a huge door that had a sign that said in all capitals “EXIT”. I let out a tired sigh. “Zodiac, do you know what the word exit means?”

“Of course I do, why do you ask Anubis?”

“Then what does that up there say?”

“It says…. Oh, well I must of missed this.”

“Yeah, some great one you are Zodiac.” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“I’m not accustomed to mortal signs or placement of such signs either.”

“I guess so but still it’s bright green, how could you miss it.”

“let’s just get out of here Anubis.”

“Okay okay, I’m going.” I can’t believe that Zodiac really didn’t see that.

As i pushed the door slowly it effortlessly glided open without a squeak, inside there was a room that had multiple elevators in side but they were in a state of disrepair. It wasn’t as if I was actually going to use the elevator itself but the maintenance hatch to climb out. I didn’t want to alert the beast but at the same time I wanted to dissect it.

I let out a whistle and prepare myself for its arrival.

“Anubis, what are you doing!?”

“Securing my specimen.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to understand it Zodiac, no I need to.” It smacks into the door frame and quickly regains it’s balance, I had seized my whistling and waited for an opportunity to fire. It flickered its ears around and let out a soft clicking noise, was it using echolocation to find me. I decided to line up a shot and let out a soft breath, steadying myself before I slowly pulled the trigger and. (PTSSSS!!) the pressure gauge went completely empty and my make shift harpoon was launched at the creature. I didn’t pull the pin because I wanted it with minimal damage to the carcass.

I managed to hit it in the eye but It didn’t go down instead it jumped at me and slammed my back against the wall.

(CRUNCH!)

I didn’t feel pain but I felt alive? So what happened, the creature isn’t ripping me apart and I don’t even hear it breathing. Was it just sitting on me i mean it isn’t hard to breathe but I can’t see shit. What happened?

“Anubis? Are you all right?”

That’s zodiac and he’s asking if I’m fine, I need to reply.

“Y-Yeah I-I’m good just slowly being crushed.”

“Oh good now get out from under there.”

“Yeah but w-what happened?”

“When that thing lunged for you, your sharp stick was pushed further into its head and that killed it.”

I squeezed out from under the beast and took a second to calm myself. “Talk about lucky, I should be dead.”

“Yes, next time I wouldn’t recommend doing that again.”

“I won’t argue with that, I’m actually enjoying living.”

“Mhmm? I see.”

“You see what, zodiac?”

“Nothing.”

“What ever, I’ve got a present to unwrap.”

“You mean the thing?”

“Of course my good sir, I’m not going to miss out on this opportunity. It’ll be a waste if I didn’t, now wouldn’t it.”

“I still don’t understand you Anubis.”

“You don’t need to.”

After nearly breaking my back trying to drag this thing away from the wall and rolling it onto its side. I finally began to operate on it, oh I’m getting excited. What secret do you hold underneath your flesh my dear friend.

I used my claws to slowly make an incision just below its ribs and what I found was most odd, it seems to have two stomachs. “How fascinating, now why does it need two?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“It’s rhetorical.” I started to move the creature’s organs around and began to take mental notes on the anatomy. I’d have to draw this thing out and give it a name but as I made my way into the chest cavity, I couldn’t find it’s heart.

Then started removing parts of the creature, one by one. First the stomachs then the liver and pancreas, then I removed the lungs but I still couldn’t find the heart.

“Where the fuck is it?!” I was getting a little annoyed but then it jerked and smacked me into the ground and everything went white.

———————————————————————

The waking world. Anubis’s POV

I woke up and immediately dug my claws into the soft ground, pulling myself low to it. I was spooked by being slapped by a dead body.

“OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!”

All of a sudden the floor that I had clawed yelped out in pain and I quickly realised that I had just stabbed Graceful in the back with my claws. He was bleeding but I thankfully didn’t do to much damage.

“Graceful are you alright I didn’t mean to.” The Captain cut me off.

“Anubis, I’m fine don’t worry.” He lightly touched the cut and winced. “But what happened because I’m getting concerned, you’ve woken up like that twice now. Are you having nightmares Anubis?”

I felt bad for cutting him and he’s trying to help but he’ll just report back to Celestia. At the same time I can’t not answer, so I’m just gonna nod.

“Look Anubis it’s fine, considering what you’ve been through it completely understandable.”

“Is it tho?”

“Yes of course Anubis, look I’ll have to inform the princess that you’re having nightmares but I won’t tell her about this though.” He pointed to the cuts I left on him.

“Yeah thank you Graceful I don’t want Celestia to think I’ve got problems.” He gave me a deadpan look. “Heheh more problems.”

“It’s fine Anubis…. Are you okay to fly home because if not I don’t mind walking.”

“I’d like to walk back.”

“Yeah probably for the best, come on let’s make a quick stop at the medical wing before we leave.”

“Okay.”

We made our way to get Graceful patched up and bumped into nurse Sweet Tone. She immediately started tending to Graceful’s cuts, asking questions and was practically ordering him to leaned forward so she could get better a look at the cuts.

“Oh Captain Graceful, how in Equestria did you get these dreadful cuts?” I don’t think she’s even noticed me.

“Please nurse Sweet Tone, I’m fine just need them cleaned up and I’ll be on my way.” Graceful tried to reassure but Sweet Tone was having none of it and reminded me of a worried mother. I had to stifle a giggle at Graceful’s expense.

“Nope, now come on let’s get you fixed up and please tell me how this happened.”

“It was just a training exercise gone wrong Sweet and please make this quick.”

“Don’t worry this won’t be too long Captain.”

They disappeared and I was left alone in the hallway, I decided to get comfortable. About 4 minutes later Graceful exited into the hall and I let out a laugh when I saw him.

“What happened to you, you look like a failed arts and crafts project.”

“Don’t ask, Sweet Tone means well but I still don’t see why she needed to use all these.” He gestured to the plasters that decorated his back. We then said our goodbyes and left the castle grounds.