Ponycraft: The Maw of Insanity

“This wind is unbearable! Good lord, how does Hodir survive in this?” Ruby asked her friends as they struggled to even walk down the frigid hallway. Winds had never been so fierce to them. Cannonbolt was even struggling, and he was from Dun Morogh; an icy, windy land that was full of mountain tops.

They continued to struggle through the horrid hallway. Ice and snow began to confront them from the large room not too far ahead. The ice was making it near impossible to walk. The wind was blowing them back. Berry slipped on the ice and fell on her face. The hurricane like wind blew her back like a feather in front of a fan into Cuddles, which was not a pleasant experience.

Berry groaned loudly in pain. “Augh, why can't we have anything that can reverse or cancel out this wind? This is ridiculous!” She slammed her foot into the ground in anger. A voice responded that scared them all off of their feet.

“Perhaps I can be of help with that.” The voice said. It was all too familiar. Ruby looked around, squinting because of the wind. A dark void-like wall started to rise out of the ground. It was making a deep wa-wa noise as it came up, blocking out more and more of the harsh sound of the wind. They watched the wall move up in awe and confusion until it reached the top, where the void-like effects were all they could hear. From behind, the deep, cold, soulless voice came again.

“Is that any better?” It asked. They all turned to see the demon once again, flying toward them. He was now helping them. The heroes could now trust the demon, at least for now.

Berry gave a sigh of somewhat relief. “Whew! Thanks, dude! I can finally say to myself that I can trust you. Can you believe I thought you were going to trick us?” She asked. The demon gave no flinch, but merely a friendly laugh.

“Ah hahaha! Why would I do that? Just because I can control darkness at will doesn't mean I'm a trickster, my dear Berry.” He answered politely. The demon's bond grew more and more with them. Fluttershy still remained alert of him though. Something didn't seem right about him to her. Something about his actions bothered her. She proceeded to act innocent and quiet, though. Cuddles remained quiet as well. Was he thinking the same as Fluttershy?

“If you don't mind, I have to ask. We're very thankful you've stopped the wind, but... how do we get through?” Carees asked the demon, raising an eyebrow.

The demon still kept his upbeat attitude. “Oh hoho! A fine question! Please, observe and follow...” the demon turned toward the great wall of darkness  and opened his mouth. His eye was revealed once again, making the heroes shiver. He looked angrily at the wall and dark sparks started to fly out of his eye. The wall began to tremble and move forward down the hall. “Please, do follow if you would like to get to Hodir.” The demon encouraged.

As the heroes pressed on, the demon by their side, Berry asked the demon a question that was floating in her mind for quite some time now. “Hey, Mr. Demon-dude? What did you mean by “beware the sun goddess” back when we killed the Iron Council?” She asked. The demon nodded and sighed.

“The sun goddess I spoke of is the one who made Yogg-Saron trap me here. She's a devil, that one. She seeks for the world to be engulfed in chaos.” The demon answered. It was a good enough reason as any to believe him. They didn't speak again until the end of the monstrous hallway was reached. The demon went through the dark wall and looked around. He turned around and confronted his partners yet again. “The wind is mild and Hodir resides in this room. Be careful, heroes. Hodir is not one to take lightly.” The demon warned. He suddenly vanished into a cloud of purple darkness as the sound of the dark wall faded. The wind no longer carried the atmosphere of anger, but rather helplessness.

Icicles hung from the ceiling, waiting patiently. The room was nothing but ice and snow. A blue skinned giant sat at the end of the room on a frozen throne. The heroes stared him down confidently as he angrily stared back in mindless hatred. The giant stood up and shouted.

“Who goes there!?” He yelled. His voice was as deep as an abyss and it echoed off the walls. Fluttershy squeaked as she jumped behind Carees. Ruby answered the beast's yell.

“We  are the heroes that are here to stop Yogg-Saron! I am to guess that you must be Hodir?” Ruby asked. Hodir reached to the side and grabbed a giant mace.

“HAH!” Hodir roared. “Stop Yogg-Saron? YOU!? You couldn't hope to stop a wolf! You invade my sanctum and then proceed to try and convince me you are the heroes that will save us!? Ridiculous!” He shouted. Hodir grunted as he launched himself out of his throne and onto the floor. The earth quaked at his mighty feet. “If you are the heroes, let us see just how worthy you are to fight the great lord of Insanity!”

“GWAAAAAAAAR!” Hodir roared. His mighty voice trembled the ice in the room. The icicles began to come loose. There was no more time. The time to attack was now!

Hodir pulled his mace back and aimed for Ruby. She dashed out of the way of the swing and the mace crashed on the floor, making a horrid slam. Quickly, Ruby turned and shouted.

“PK FIRE OMEGA!” Fire shot out of Ruby's hand and hit Hodir's arm. The giant grunted in pain and anger. Everyone was rushing toward him as he made another leap toward Ruby.

“Die, intruders!” He yelled with another slam. The icicles began to tremble more at the battle taking place. Ruby shot another PK Fire at Hodir, but Hodir picked up his mace in time to block the hit. The giant laughed in amusement at the attack attempt.

“You're going to need to try harder if you want to even hope to beat me!” He yelled as he slammed his foot on the ground. It created a monstrous tremor as the icicles above began to shake. A snap was heard as a 10 foot ice dagger began to fall directly above Berry. Berry quickly held up both of her weapons to stop it, but the force of the heavy ice knocked her back several yards.

Hodir turned to Ruby, who was helpless against the icy giant. She stood stiff as a rock as Hodir started to sprint over to her. His footsteps made even the ground scared. He smiled as lifted his mace in the air and laughed like a hyena. Ruby gasped as the mace started to come hurling down on her. She closed her eyes and in the span of but a few seconds, everything went quiet.

Ruby quickly opened her eyes to see herself surrounded by darkness. An eerie chill ran down her spine as she ran around, calling for her teammates.

“Berry? Carees-y!? Where are you!?” She yelled into the never-ending darkness. The last three words echoed on and on, mocking her attempts of receiving help. She wasn't alone, however. A familiar deep voice came from behind her.

“Well, well, well. Quite the predicament you've gotten yourself into, wouldn't you say, Ruby?” it said fiercely. Every word it spoke was like a needle stabbing Ruby directly in the heart. Ruby turned and gasped at the hideous, eye-bleeding sight. The Lord of Madness was before her once again, attempting to communicate. “It's been a while, hasn't it? How are things?”

“Y- You!” Ruby gasped. “What do you want now? To make me go insane again?” She asked angrily. Yogg-Saron laughed evilly.

“Buhahaha! My plan back in Maneside almost worked! If only your little boyfriend didn't resurrect your pink friend...” Yogg-Saron paused. “It is no matter. You're here for my head on a silver platter, are you not?”

“You won't even know what hit you, you ugly demon.” Ruby said with all the rage she could muster. Pure anger had taken her over.

“Maybe not, but just remember, my little friend, that if I fall at the hands of you, it is not the end of the hunt against you. C'thun, Yami, Arthas... all out to get you. They're all out to see your little heart explode in a adorable bloody mess. Buhahaha!” Yogg-Saron taunted. Ruby flinched when she heard him mention Yami.

“Yami! Who is Yami, you putrid amphibious demon!?” She demanded, slamming her foot on the ground.

“Amphibious!? I'm quite offended. How do I look anything like a frog? Bah, I shall... discard that comment. Yami is my comrade in godly evilness. How intense does that sound, eh? He's the god of--” Yogg-Saron stood stiff for a few seconds as he paused. Ruby backed up a few feet in skeptical nervousness.

“Excuse me, that information must not be released. All you need to know is that he is more powerful than I, and he is out to get you. Out to see that last horrified expression as he slowly saws you in half... Buhahahaha!” Yogg-Saron had lifted out of an evil laugh and drifted into a normal crack-up. “AHAHAHA! That image burns my lungs!”

Ruby was almost on fire she was so angry. She almost forgot about the question floating around in her mind. “Silence, beast! Answer me this: why are you holding that dark purple demon captive!? Who is he!?” She demanded. For a strange reason, Yogg-Saron looked puzzled.

“Purple demon? I do not know what you're speaking of, dear Ruby. Perhaps you will find out soon enough... perhaps you won't. But I've wasted much of your valuable battle time with Hodir. I told your conscience to put up a... ah, what do you call it... PSI Counter before you were hit by his mace. When I let you go, Hodir will fly against a wall. Do what you must.” Yogg-Saron said. A portal of light appeared behind Ruby and started to suck her into it. “It's been a pleasure having this conversation. I'll see you soon... maybe.”

The portal sucked Ruby in completely and everything faded  from white to black once again. The loud noises of the icicles falling and Hodir grunting came back to Ruby's ears slowly. Ruby opened her eyes as she saw Hodir flying across the room. He slammed against the wall as his icy rock mace broke into pieces.

“What? How is this possible? My... My mace... my... head... my... augh!! I can't... I can't see! Is someone there!?” Hodir struggled to get up. When he eventually got up on his feet, he put his hands on his head in pain. He barely opened his eyes, but enough to see the heroes. “You, there! Get this bastard out of me!! Beat his burning soul out of me! Just a little more!!” He pleaded. The heroes all looked at each other and nodded.

They all rushed toward Hodir with blazing speed. Berry aimed for his foot with both of her weapons to try and trip him.

“Weehoo! Trippin' giants should be my off-profession!” She yelled as she slammed both of her weapons into Hodir's ankle. Hodir yelled in pain as he lost balance in his left side. Screaming like a flightless bird falling out of a plane, Hodir started to fall onto Ruby.

Ruby chuckled. “So we're doing this strategy again, are we? Very well! PK FIRE OMEGA!”

A firebolt hit Hodir square in the chest as he was launched several yards in the air. He fell with a thud on the ground, breathing heavily. He started to chuckle.

“Heh... You're more...  tough than you look.” He said panting. The heroes still had their weapons out. Cannon had three arrows pointed directly toward his legs... in particular, his knees.

“Ye done? Because if ye aren't, ye are going teh take an arrow to the knee.” Cannon said, smiling. Berry started to clap.

“Brilliant. Just... brilliant.” She said.

“I'm done. He's gone.  Maybe you are the heroes I was promised.” He said. Ruby started to glow green.

“Let me fix you up, Hodir. PSI Lifeup Omega.” Ruby said. Hodir's wounds vanished and he started to get up. Seeing the giant smile as his head came up made the heroes hearts feel warm. He bowed in friendliness.

“Forgive me for my hostility, Yogg-Saron had taken me over completely.” He apologized.

“Don't worry 'bout that, dude! We're out to make sure that froggy dude pay his price.” Berry said, giving Hodir a thumbs-up and a wink.

Hodir chuckled and crossed his arms. “I believe you can do it, young ones. Unfortunately, you must go through my other comrades as well. Mimiron and Thorim have been taken over by him as well.” Hodir explained depressingly as he looked to the side.

“I know. We will free them all. Mimiron is next in line for that appointment.” Ruby said encouragingly.

Hodir smiled at her. “Please, you must free them, for the sake of the universe! Be careful with Mimiron, though. He's always been a little... out there.”

Ruby laughed. “Haha, well thank you for the tip! Come on, guys! The watcher of technology awaits!”

They all cheered in a battle cry as they charged to the exit on the other side of the room, Fluttershy struggling to keep up. She tripped on the icy floor and fell with an “oof”.

Hodir chuckled. “Aha! Are you okay, my dear?” He asked. Fluttershy got up and blushed.

“Oh yes... I'm fine, thank you...” She shyly said.

“If you don't mind me asking, where are you heroes from?” Hodir said, raising his eyebrows.

Fluttershy hesitated to answer. “Umm... Eq.. Equestria... the... umm... magical land... of... ponies.” She answered embarrassingly as she looked up at Hodir, who was smiling in disbelief.

“So I failed to defeat ponies? That's one for the books.” He said. “Well, be on your way, hero.” He smiled. Fluttershy nodded and ran off into the exit. When she was out of side, Hodir shook his head.

“Hmmph. Ponies.” He walked over to his icy throne chair, sat down and sighed.

“I like ponies.” He quietly muttered.