Everything felt incredibly unfamiliar; I no longer recognized myself. The realization hit me that I would never be the same person again. Surprisingly, I didn't feel too disheartened by this change. Don't misunderstand me, I'm sure I had admirable qualities in the past. Perhaps not the strength of a stallion... Was I more like a powerful dragon or even a resilient diamond dog? There is a vivid memory I hold of encountering a wizard, that much I am certain of. However, the details surrounding my past are hazy and elusive. What I do know is that the person I am today is quite different from who or what I used to be.
I go by the name Mysterious Vermin, a title that feels both familiar and foreign to me. While I cannot recall my previous form, I now exist as a young unicorn colt adorned in vibrant green fur, contrasted by a sleek black mane and tail. Inheriting my mother's emerald green eyes adds an enchanting touch to my appearance. Although my mother had brown eyes,
As I reflect upon my past, I recall that both my parents and my sister were pegasi. Interestingly enough, I spent a significant portion of my life on a farm. However, upon further consideration, the idea of pegasi and farming seems quite improbable. Thus, it appears that my initial recollection may be inaccurate.
My name is Mysterious Vermin, I've discussed this, unicorn colt, yes, but... no. I'm in Equestria now. I'm not native, but I'm here now.
As I rise from the cool stone flooring, I begin to take steps and explore my surroundings. Walking on all fours feels instinctual and familiar, as if it is the most natural way for me to move. Yet deep down, I am aware that this is not how it should be. There have been times when I have walked on two legs before, a reminder of the true nature of my being.
Immersed in a cozy ambiance, I am overcome with a comforting sense of security. Despite my unfamiliarity with this place, the weathered stone walls adorned with traces of dust and moss evoke a feeling of familiarity and belonging. It instills in me the reassurance that I can always find solace here whenever needed. I may not know how, but I am confident that I can.
Within the confines of this place, I find solace and a sense of security that remains impenetrable to outsiders, unless permitted by me. Its mystical aura safeguards against any potential intruders. As for myself, I am well aware of its protective powers owing to the fact that we reside underground, offering ample space for... oh dear, what was it that I do again?
A noise is heard coming from somewhere upstairs.
KZZZZ-BT
Intrigued by the significance of the sound, I ascended the stairs, leading me to a loft-like space. As my eyes surveyed the area, they landed upon a delightful garden adorned with various potted plants. Complementing this natural oasis were inviting chairs and a small table nestled within one corner. Curiosity piqued further when I noticed a peculiar device nearby, which I presumed to be the origin of the mysterious noise.
On the floor, right in front of the peculiar device, I noticed a folded piece of paper. Intrigued, I walked over to investigate further and found that the note contained what seemed like a random combination of words. But upon closer inspection, I realized it was not just any words, but a name: “Cotton Trails.”
The moment I laid eyes on his name, I sensed a distant presence, not within the room but far beyond.
I suddenly said, too loudly, “He's in Manehattan!'" The presence moved about miles away.
KZZZZ-BT CLINK
As the machine released a red bottle, my attention was drawn to a loosely glued paper attached to it. My instincts kicked in immediately as I recognized the letter 'O' on it, I realized that it was a dangerous poison.
With a heavy heart, I carefully examined the bottle of poison in my hoof. Its contents, a vivid red liquid, remained deceptively calm. Deep down, I felt a lingering sadness knowing that whoever this poison was intended for would endure a far from peaceful fate.
With a heavy heart, I expressed my concern, knowing that this decision would have severe consequences. However, as my determination surged within me, I found the strength to forge ahead. The murder of Cotton Trails was necessary... For if I didn't take action...
As the bottle slipped from my hoof, I exhaled a sigh of relief as it remained intact. However, a peculiar sensation washed over me as I gazed at the room before me. Memories, foreign yet oddly familiar, surged through my consciousness. A foreboding sense gripped me, whispering that something dreadful was on the horizon...
I rushed down the stairs, clutching the note and vial of poison, and made a beeline for the exit of my home. Stepping outside, I was greeted by the frigid air of the tundra.
Surrounded by swirling snowflakes, my green fur felt the sharp sting of the freezing temperatures. The stark contrast between the icy outdoors and the cozy warmth inside my home was palpable. Peering back towards the door, a shiver ran down my spine as the door abruptly closed and locked on its own, leaving me at the mercy of the fierce winds outside.
I ascended a snow-covered ramp and paused to survey my surroundings. There was nothing. Not a single thing in any direction, as far as my eyes could reach. However, I could still sense the lingering presence of Cotton Trail. I no longer wished to dwell on these thoughts. I sensed his presence towards the southeast, and so I made my way in that direction, trudging through the vast expanse of ice and snow.
"Cotton Trail... can't believe this is what I'm supposed to do here. I'm... a murderer... Most violent thing I've done in my life was that time back in school where I got into a fight with one of the older foals. Failed so bad that they laughed at me so hard I didn't even need to be hit to know I'd lost..." While it may not have been entirely accurate, the statement came close enough to conveying the intended meaning..
I looked at the piece of paper with Cotton Trail's name on it and recalled the familiar handwriting. This is the wizard's handwriting, I thought to myself. I tried to remember where I had seen it before...
Upon closer remembrance, it became clear that the wizard could not possibly be mistaken for a pony. His towering height and unusual, distorted features left no room for doubt.
Despite being a bustling metropolis with a dense population, Manehattan pleasantly surprised me with its captivating beauty. Strangely enough, the streets were surprisingly clean and free of excessive litter. While there was some trash present, it was notably less than anticipated for a city of Manehattan's magnitude. Seeking solace, I swiftly retreated into an alleyway to shield my person from the line of sight of the ponies trotting about. In my admiration, I couldn't help but attribute the mostly clean appearance to the diligent efforts of responsible citizens fulfilling their civic duty.
As I neared Cotton Trails, its presence became more pronounced, beckoning me forward. It was at that moment that I noticed a few intriguing details. The presence seemed to hover above the ground, positioned too high to emanate from any of the neighboring structures. This would mean that Cotton Trails was in the air, implying that they’re a Pegasus. Judging by their movements, they are likely part of the local weather management team. I believe every region of Equestria has one of those.
The presence landed and I turned a corner to see Cotton Trails speaking with a pegasus mare on the street. Cotton Trails, an elegant pastel blue pegasus stallion with a flowing white mane and tail, proudly bore a cutie mark of fluffy clouds. As I gazed upon him, a realization struck me - my journey had led me to this very moment. I slowly brought the vial of poison in front of my face. It appeared strangely brighter now, although I suspected it was simply my imagination playing tricks on me. I am supposed to kill that stallion. He is supposed to die today.
I carefully positioned myself against the protective wall of the crimson brick structure, clutching it for support. My gaze remained fixed on the smooth concrete ground before me. The thought of taking the life of a stallion is not a decision I ever wanted to make. Despite coming here with the initial intention, now that I am actually faced with it, I find myself conflicted.
Engaging in a deep breathing exercise greatly assisted me in managing the situation at hand. It was vital for me to come to terms with this reality. A decision must be made regarding Cotton Trails - either it must be discontinued or I will have to make my departure. Not a departure from Manehattan, but a departure from everything. Cotton Trail must die, or I must die. This must be accepted, and I must acknowledge the fact that I myself have no desire to die just yet.
The poison comes back into my line of sight as I look up towards Cotton Trail. I am aware of what needs to be done. I look at the poison and begin to approach the stallion slowly. He is engrossed in conversation with the mare he arrived with, completely unaware of the danger he is exposing himself to. It makes me wonder what kind of place Equestria is, where someone can turn their back to an alleyway without feeling any sense of danger.
As I uncork the vial of poison, I throw it onto the stallion, only to witness the poison transforming into a gaseous form upon exposure to the open air. Cotton Trail seemed to be in a state of distress as he cleared his throat and furrowed his brow. His once vibrant mane and tail had lost their shine, and his head hung low as he directed his gaze towards the ground. Sensing his troubled state, I discreetly retreated back to my concealed position at the corner of the alleyway.
My heart sank as I witnessed a horrifying scene unfold before me. A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, accompanied by a bone-chilling crunch that reverberated through the narrow alleyway. Cotton Trail crumpled to the ground in agony while the mare swiftly fled, presumably in search of help. The despair and anguish on Cotton's face were evident.
"Don't leave," He let out a sorrowful whimper before suddenly letting out a sharp gasp, accompanied by the audible sound of his hooves and wings twisting and contorting. Blood flowed out from all possible openings, even his pores, as it swiftly escaped from his fading body. In the midst of excruciating pain, he released a piercing scream.
“C-Celestia… h-h-help m-e-e…” He was abruptly interrupted by blood rapidly filling his mouth. Collapsing into a heap, he desperately tried to prevent himself from drowning, but it was futile. After a few moments, no more sounds emerged from the heap as the once cheerful pegasus stallion peacefully lay in a pool of his own blood. The note I had gotten from the machine quickly dissolved, and I knew that he was dead.
I found myself overwhelmed with feelings of sadness and disgust towards my own actions. In an effort to regain composure, I instinctively covered my eyes and pulled back my hair, hoping to gain control over my emotions. Amidst the sound of screaming and the chaotic hooves running, I desperately wanted to get away from the stallion I had just killed.
All of a sudden, the noises stopped. There were no more running hooves, no more screaming, I felt warm and secure again. Upon opening my eyes, I see that I’m back at my home. The stone walls and floor seemed like a breath of fresh air, despite me being underground. Now that I’m miles away from the consequences of my actions, I felt a bit better, but I had no time to process what I had just done as a noise from upstairs filled my home again.
KZZZZ-BT WOOSH CLING-CLING-CLING CRASH!
As I made my way back upstairs, I took each step with caution and deliberation. The weight of my recent actions weighed heavily on me, and I wasn’t looking forward to being given another pony to hurt. The gravity of my previous deeds had yet to fully sink in, leaving me feeling unsettled and overwhelmed. In a state of agitation, I absentmindedly flicked my mane as I cast a curious gaze upwards. Much to my astonishment, I was met with an unforeseen sight - the wizard himself, perched upon a considerable heap of bits.
“You did good, Vermin. Very good indeed.” The wizard stated, His voice flowed like honey, with a healthy amount of crushed bee corpses.
He stood tall, reaching an impressive height of 8'6. While he bore a resemblance to a human, his form was slightly different, evoking caution to all who saw him. Dressed in attire suitable for a wizard, he wore a vibrant blue coat paired with a red ascot and beige pants. His salt-and-pepper hair gave him an air of wisdom, yet his unsettling facial expression conveyed an unsettling sense of madness that tempered any notions of sagacity. The wizard's movements were remarkably flexible, with a seemingly boneless quality. He bent and twisted as if his body was made of noodles, displaying a captivating display of fluidity and grace.
He smiled at me, contorting his entire face at will, which gave his smile a forced, unnatural appearance. “Murdered that stallion as if it was second nature. Which of course, you can thank me for.” He bowed maliciously. “I changed your body, changed your memory, built you this wonderfully magical underground home, and even gave you knowledge on how to kill. Now, aren’t I generous?” With a joyful expression, he tilted his head towards the ceiling, his broad smile showcasing his noticeably large teeth that almost resembled plastic.
“I… killed that man…” I said, sadly. The menacing wizard swiftly moved towards me, his large mouth closing in dangerously close to my face, leaving me to shrink back in fear.
“Stallion, dear boy. You best keep up with the lingo. Wouldn’t want to be caught now, would we?” He said as he twisted around my body before breaking into a laugh. “I’m joking of course! I don’t care if you get caught, I just care that the work gets done.” He bolted back towards the pile of bits.
“And since you did such a marvelous job tonight, I’ve left you some spending money. Maybe you can spruce this place up a bit, it is yours for as long as you are here now.” He gestured to the pile of bits, a nice 1200 bits.
“That’s a… that’s a lot of money.” I said, obviously. To which the wizard’s monstrous hand grabbed me and held me up in front of his face, my foalish form smaller than just his head.
“PLENTY of money, Vermin. Here’s how it works.” With great force, he forcefully thrust me, head-first, into a chair, resulting in a painful landing that elicited an audible groan from me. “Once a week, every week, this machine will deposit a note with your new target. You will have one week to kill that target, if you refuse or fail to kill your target in one week, our deal is off” His face slammed directly into mine. “You do remember our deal, right?” He asked and I nodded quickly. “Good, good." He moved his head back towards his body.
“Just one question, though.” I said softly, hoping not to anger him. He did look upset though, a quizzical frown on his face as he peered in my direction. “Why specifically these people? Why Cotton Trail?”
“A very good question, Vermin. I won’t be answering it though. HOWEVER, I will tell you that I will never send you after a non-pony nor an alicorn.” He looked at me mischievously, “Of course, feel free to murder and maim anyone as you please, I don’t care either way.” He leaned back in mid-air, as if he was lounging on an invisible hammock. “After every successful job, the machine will dispense approximately 1200 bits. No more, no less! So you can see, you’ll never be hurting for bits.”
“What If I get caught?” I asked, I didn’t want to be locked in prison or worse for the rest of my life.
“What of it?” He shrugged nonchalantly.
“If I get caught, I could be arrested or executed.” I explained.
“Cool.” The wizard stared at me to continue.
“I can’t kill your enemies if I die or get thrown in prison.” I said, annoyed.
“That’s a you problem, Vermin. And don’t yell.” He hit me with a giant metal pipe right on my head. “I don’t care if you get caught, I just care if those ‘enemies’ of mine are killed, and even if they aren’t, you’ll have to go back, and I’ll continue as if nothing even happened.”
I rubbed my now aching head. “You don’t care if I get caught? I thought you gave me all this knowledge and resources so I could work silently.”
“Whichever way you want to go, it’s your choice. Be public enemy #1, or be just another face out in the crowd. I don’t care either way.” He stated before his hand was surrounded in an orange light. It took me a second to realize he was casting a spell and before I could react, the orange light was thrown directly at me, freezing me in place.
The wizard started walking down a hallway that I hadn't explored yet, and I couldn't even keep up with him visually. I heard him shout, "Don't disappoint me."
Within moments, I sensed his departure from my home and once again found myself in solitude. The enchantment he had cast on me dissipated after a brief span of time, granting me the freedom to move once more. Rather than pursuing the wizard however, I chose to retreat into a state of introspection, embracing myself tenderly with a somber demeanor.
