Twin Souls

Chapter Nine

Malevolent Nightmare

Soul found himself back at the lodge soon enough. His encounter with Shadow was unexpected and he was pushing it as far away from the tip of his mind as possible. Entering the wooden inn, he noticed the group of familiar ponies sitting at a table, along with Far, eating breakfast. Spike heard his arrival, and jumped from his seat to greet him.

“Hey man,” He started, approaching Soul. “Where’d you go?”

“I took a walk.” He responded. Spike nodded, heading back to his little stool, munching on what Soul assumed to be diamonds.

He thought it was a little weird for dragons to be eating something like diamonds, or any such jewels. Must be some sort of vegetarian preference for them. Destructive too, as diamonds don’t grow back.

Snapping from his daze, he switched his focused lenses on The Professor. Hearing the ruckus, The Professor nearly spat his food in surprise.

“Soul, my boy! Where had you gone?” He asked. Soul simply glared at him, providing no response. “I-I see, lad. Don’t want to talk about? That’s quite fine.” He finished solemnly.

Far waved a hoof at Soul, who which in response stared back. Soul felt different. After that meeting with Shadow he didn't feel as much human as before. Of course, what defined human? He barely knew anything about himself, and it only frustrated himself further as the various dragons he encountered knew him better than himself.

He suddenly felt further away from his friends then before. It was like he couldn't understand them, as much as the universe around him.

Soul bit his lip, putting a hand to his head to soothe his new headache. It was all too confusing for the human. He suddenly felt weak, his limbs giving out before being caught by The Professor.

“Are you alright?” He asked, genuinely concerned. Soul felt an unfamiliar anger enter him as he pushed The Professor away.

“Don’t touch me, pony. I don’t need your pity.” He spat, much to the surprise of everypony at the table.

Elsewhere in the room, an unsettling smile formed from the darkest corners of the lodge.

Souls anger grew as the ponies continued to stare at him. In his eyes, they were glaring at him with disgust. They laughed with hatred in their tones. Soul clenched his fist as he felt the familiar presence of his masters’ power build up around him.

The evil smile curved into a mad grin as Souls’ aura of flames started to form in dim sparks. The ponies slowly backed away from him in a growing fear. Soul felt the rage of a berserker flow through him. The bloodlust grew stronger and stronger....Until he blacked out.

His body fell to the floor with a thud, leaving slightly fearful, but overall confused bystanders.

“What,” Spike started, gulping. “Was that?”

“I’m not sure, but we should get him a bed. He might be sick.” The inn owner said, dragging his lightweight body up the stairs. They laid him on a warm bed, armour and all. After several tries at taking off his protection, they left it. It was like the armour was glued to his body. The Professor confessed that he has never actually seen his face before, much to the surprise of the mare.

With the armour on, there was no accurate way to test if he was sick or not. Burning assumed he would be alright, so they left him alone to rest.

The room, illuminated by a single candle was dark. A single chair sat in the corner, covered by darkness. It rocked slowly, as a long snake-like form sat there, watching the warrior sleep. The shadow snickered, whispering something to himself before shooting a small bolt of light into the man's head. Soul immediately felt the magic take control of his sleeping form, shooting waves of explosive pain through him. As Soul turned in agony during his slumber, the shadow slid under the door, disappearing.

A few hours passed before Soul awoke from his sleep. With a blank mind, he walked down the stairs slowly. The group sat at the same table, discussing various Equestrian politics, completely unknowest to Souls presence at the table. Soul took a seat, crossing his hands in frustration. The Professor, currently next to him, nearly jumped from his seat from the appearance of the human.

“What a dream, I tell you...” Soul whispered to nobody in particular. “No...More like a nightmare.” He said, gripping his hands tighter.

The group looked at each other cautiously, before Far decided to speak. “Are you alright, Soul?”

“Seeming as how I can’t really seem to remember how I ended up asleep,” Soul frowned.. “No, I’m not feeling so swell. What happened?” He asked, curious.

The group traded more unsure looks, but before anyone could speak, The Professor coughed loudly.

“You felt tired so you went to get some rest, surely you remember?” Soul shook his head.

“Well whatever,” Soul pouted, “I’m sure I’ll remember soon enough.”

The Professor nodded. “While you were sleeping, our escort arrived!” Spike excitedly shouted.

Soul changed his attention to the mass in the room. Soul recognized the scales to be of a winter flight, teal blue, with white stripes down the middle. What Soul presumed to be a dragon, was a much larger version of spike. It stood on two legs, though its back was slightly arched. As tall as Soul, if not taller, the dragon chuckled weakly.

“Greetings cousin, my name is Frozen Pond, by Equestrian tongue.” He said, blowing a small puff of his icy flame into Souls’ face.

In that moment, Soul felt an overwhelming sense of information flood his senses. He stared back up to the dragon in mixed confusion, and understanding. No longer did he feel the need to question, but the idea was still strange to him.

Frozen laughed, “The Elder told me of your...situation. Think of what I just did as a greeting. Like how the ponies shake hooves, we dragons share each others flame. So, give me a taste?” He said, asking curiously. After the story he heard about Soul, he was very interested in hearing his word.

“I see...” Soul whispered. Facing the dragon, he blew a small spark of his blinding light into his face. The dragon absorbed it with ease, taking in every property.

“For a greeting, that seems very, intimate.” Far said slowly, adding a strange frown to her expression.

Frozen laughed, “I see what you mean, but only a pony would think such things. Mates naturally swallow each others flame to signify their union, acquaintances briefly share a glimpse.”

The mare nodded in response, her confusion clearing up. The Professor seemed less interested with this, furthering to question the escort.

“I was hoping we could begin the trek soon, Frozen.” He said, glancing out the windows into the blizzard. “I think it’s for the best that only Soul goes with you, speaking in efficient terms.”

Soul raised a brow, “Why are you not coming?”

“Ah well, you see, it’s been a few thirty or so years since I’ve climbed that mountain.” He laughed nervously. “Besides, Far is still injured, so I must stay to tend to her.”

Soul nodded, turning his attention to his escort. The two were about to make a departure before a tug on Souls legs stopped him. He glanced down to see Spike clutching him with all his might.

“W-Wait for me! I want to come to! You can’t leave me behind?” Spike pleaded.

Soul smiled, leaning down to his eye level. “Oh and why is this?”

“Because! It’s like a dragon field trip, and I want to come. You can’t leave me behind!” He shouted angrily.

Soul cocked his head slightly. “Aren’t you a little too young to be climbing treacherous mountains.”

“It’s fine,” Spike said with a sly smile. Taking advantage of the position Soul was in, Spike quickly mounted his neck, putting himself in a piggy back ride position.

“Besides, you’re going to carry me!” He stated, digging his claws into the thick, scaly hide.

Soul laughed, standing upright. Spike held on for his life. “Leave no drake behind I suppose.”

He switched his attention to The Professor who was eyeing them curiously. “We’ll be back soon, and with some more of those ice wards that these ponies wear. Just about enough for you two.”

The professor nodded, “That would be best, the winter is unrelenting in its efforts. Oh, Soul! Whatever you find up there, or more specifically whoever you find up there, do be cautious.”

Soul nodded, turning his attention back to Frozen. “Let’s go.”