Amnesia: Forget Your Past

Forget Your Past
Chapter 12

Daniel awoke with a start. He didn’t know exactly where he was; all he remembers was falling and hitting his head on a soft yet dense floor. The momentum of the fall was all that he needed to get knocked out.

Daniel’s vision wasn’t getting any better as all he could see was a fairly blurry, green ground. Daniel spent the next few moments reflecting on his situation. He was currently on a patch of grass in... somewhere. He had yet to find Alexander, although he could almost feel his very presence in the castle. His head was pounding and his vision was still not fixed. Gatherers were probably searching high and low in the castle for him right now, he had to evade them.

Finally, Daniel found that he was recuperating his sight which allowed him to see the world around him. He could see the corridor above him that led to another part of the castle. Considering it was locked off from the rest of the castle, Daniel assumed this other part of the castle was a seat of power or another important area. He had fallen through the floor of the corridor onto a grassy ledge which seemed to have been carved into the side of the cliff through weathering. Luckily for Daniel, he had not landed on a natural prison as the ledge continued onwards, following the corridor almost.

Daniel clumsily stumbled onto his feet again and set off down the path, not having any other choice of direction. He hugged the wall as he made his way towards the other side of the ledge. The corridor seemed to lead into a large room with huge windows letting the moonlight in to illuminate the inside.

As Daniel shimmed along the narrow ledge, bits of rock began to crumble and Daniel looked besides him to see the path behind him was gone! He needed to hurry, lest he fall with it. Without a second thought, he began to speed up into a power-shimmy.

When Daniel reached the other side of the ledge, he found it was a dead end. The ledge just ended there at the cliff side. Daniel looked up to see that the castle wall was bordering with the edge of the cliff. He then looked down to see that the floor beneath him was very narrow. He didn’t favour his chances of success after jumping up and the castle wall was a long way up. He began to frantically search for holes or firm rocks to grab onto as he could practically feel the ground beneath his feet crumbling away. Feeling something solid, he quickly grabbed hold of it and pushed from the ground upwards. Daniel quickly grabbed a hole in the dirt and held on for dear life as the ledge he once stood on had fallen into the abyss.

Daniel could practically feel the hands of gravity pulling him down as he desperately held onto the wall of dirt. For a while, he too scared to move from his rather awkward position. He desperately told himself not to look down as it would likely increase his stress.

Eventually, whether out of being in an uncomfortable position or having a sudden stroke of bravery, he let his right hand, that being the lowest, release and latch onto another opening he had been eyeing for a while. Finding that he could now muster the strength to climb up to the top of the cliff, he clambered up quicker than someone climbing a wall up to heaven.

After a close call or two, he finally made it to the top and sat on the edge, regaining his breath. He finally allowed himself to look down. Although it was dark down in the canyon surrounding the castle, he could make out that at the bottom of the fall were many sharp rocks and rapid waters. Perhaps the water came from when the castle was surrounded by a river rather than a canyon, but thousands or years of erosion have deepened the river?

Without pondering on his surroundings further, he cautiously climbed up to see if there is an opening in the wall. Much to his surprise, the corridor leading to the room he was currently embracing collapsed. Dust flew everywhere as the long untouched rock shook off all of the things that had gathered on to it whilst falling. Large stones made large splashing sounds as the spectacular sight of a whole portion of a castle collapsing unfolded. Daniel thought he saw two rather pale rocks fall down as well. ‘Well that is convenient. Perhaps the ledge I was standing on added some unseen support to the very unstable corridor?’ he thought. Seizing the opportunity, Daniel walked over to the open gap now leading into the Throne Room...

Twilight awoke, now aware that she had been tied up and flung into a floating bubble barrier of magic. She began to fruitlessly throw magical attacks at the barrier, but to no effect.

“I’m afraid I have already tried that darling. While your magic undoubtedly surpasses mine, mine didn’t even scratch it.” Twilight turned her head to see her five friends still in the same bubble barrier. While she may be right, she had to keep trying. At the moment, it seemed like the only way out. She threw fire, lightning, ice, pure magical energy and ethereal-like stones at the barrier, but to no effect again.

“You really should stop that; it may exhaust your energy. We haven’t even begun the ritual yet.” Twilight turned her head to see the red clothed biped staring at her barely inches away from her. What surprised her most wasn’t the sudden appearance, but the fact that she could understand.

“I... I can understand you...” She stuttered.

“Yes, the Guardian’s presence grants that privilege you see.”

“What guardian? What ritual? What are you going to do to us?” Different mares asked each question in a worried tone.

“The Guardian of the Orb to answer the first question. It casts a Shadow over the path of the person who awakened it, and if you are not strong enough, it will consume you.”

“So this guardian was awakened? By who? Who would want to awaken such a terrible thing?” Twilight asked inquisitively.

“Why, a young man named Daniel did. The very same man you have been chasing down I believe.” He answered with a small chuckle in his voice. Twilight needed no further explanation. This biped ‘Daniel’ truly was evil. He had intentionally attacked somepony (whether that term applied or not, she didn’t care) and he had released a dark, evil, all-consuming shadow over the world.

“The ritual I mentioned is one that will bring this whole problem to a conclusion.” Twilight listened intently, content that there is a solution. It turns out it wasn’t for the problem she was expecting. “I have tried getting back to my home-world, but the meddling fool stopped me before I had the chance. I have come to the conclusion that bring my world here is a more productive solution. My world’s inhabitants shall arrive here and take this pitiful land of talking ponies by force. You shall be enslaved at the tip of a sword and you ‘immortal goddesses’ shall fall. You are welcome to resist, but it will be your undoing.” Twilight’s mouth fell further to floor with every word this biped said. This one was worse than the other.

“As of what I have planned for you. You are going to watch your harmonic land turn to chaos.” Twilight turned her head from this monster to see her friends extremely horrified (one or two on the verge of tears, knowing they were powerless here).

“You know, you kinda remind me of Discord. He was kinda funny at first be then he turned out to be a big meanie. I don’t like big meanies, and because you are like Discord, you are a big meanie. Let us outta here you meanie! Celestia will stop you!” Pinkie had finished her little rant, and the biped began to laugh.

“Do you seriously believe that your sun goddess can stop me? I have not even described the details of the ritual. For you see...”

“Alexander! You monstrous being! Let them go at once and hand me the Orb!” Daniel interrupted Alexander as he swung into the Throne Room through the opening. “Whatever you have planned, it will not happen as long as I live and breathe.”

“Well then,” Alexander said with a chuckle, “I guess we will have to cease your breathing. Minions, bring me his head!” Alexander shouted. He waited for his two Gatherers to march into the hall from their guarding posts. It took Daniel to laugh before he realised...

“I guess your ‘minions’ must have gone down with the ship it would seem. Now surrender the Orb!”

“No! I can still perform the ritual. I must sacrifice myself to let my world take over this one! You will not stop me this time!”

Was Alexander really willing to go that far? Was he really going to let the Shadow consume him so he could bring his world here? Daniel saw Alexander float up to a podium with the Orb besides it. He stood on top of the podium and waited for the Shadow to take his life. Daniel had two ideas. He was sure both of them would work, why wouldn’t they? Daniel stood ready, hesitant, like a predator waiting to leap on its prey. Now was his time to shine.