“Wait, where’s Rose at, Breeze?”

Breeze didn’t reply for a moment.

“I- she said she was going out there to help you three?”

Okay, frustration and anger is back. She went out there... where there are spectrals that want to kill us slowly and Breeze knew about it? Let’s see. Should I yell? Cry? Charge out there to find Rose? All I know is that I am concerned.

“Now you three listen. We are going to find Rose. Now!”

“Zach, stop for a moment, and calm down. There’s no need to panic. She’s probably just upstairs, right Slumber?”

“A-actually, I haven’t finished the upstairs yet, it just ends at the top of the stairs.”

“What does that mean? What do you mean they just end!?”

“W- well, I’ve been carving this out for a while, a-and I never got around to finishing the upstairs yet! It’s just ends at the top with a blank wall.”

“What other areas are in the house, Slumber?”

Slumber shakes her head and shrugs.

“There isn’t, really. I just have a bedroom and the living room done. I’ve been doing this all with those bones outside, so it’s slow going. I- I’m not sure when I started, but I know I was a lot shorter back then.”

I really hope she isn’t outside.

“Check the top of the stairs. If she is not there... then we need to look outside.”

Why would she even go outside? Doesn’t she know the dangers? Why must she make me worry so much!

The other mares nod and Breeze rushes over to the stairs, looking up them. She looks back, and shakes her head. I sigh, looking to the door.

“Guess our only option is to check outside. You sure we checked everywhere in the house, Slumber?”

“I- I think so. She’s not at the top of the stairs, nor in any of the other rooms down here. D- did we scare her away?”

“I- I don’t know. Slumber, how do we get past the other Spectral Ponies if they are still out and about?”

I really hope they weren’t if Rose just went outside. Maybe they only wanted me...

“Uhm, run? Really fast? That’s what I usually do. I always try not to fight if I can avoid it.”

Slumber sounds unsure and distracted. I hope she doesn’t blame herself. It was probably my fault Rose ran, maybe we can get her if we hurry. I take in a deep breath. Why must things be so complicated here?

“Okay, so we run, try to find Rose, get back here before getting devoured, and try to come up with a plan on how to get out of here. Sound good?”

Breeze steps over to me and rests her head on my shoulder.

“Yeah, Zach, we can try that. C’mon, girls, let’s get moving. Grab our supplies, and let’s go.”

I really hope this works out for the best. I turn my attention towards the door and look at it. Out there was danger, and Rose was most likely in it. Why would she go out there? She’s pregnant for pony’s sake! Why would she endanger her life and the child’s as well? I turn my attention back to my group and simply wait. Every second that passed by, I was growing more concern over Rose.

The three mares (well, two mares and Goo) stepped in, each hefting a heavy pair of saddlebags. Goo just had a large sack stuck to the back of her form.

“Alright, Zach, let’s get going.”

Without another word, the four of us depart the little house, and are greeted by the swirling miasma of a swarm of Spectral Ponies, hovering in a massive spiral not too far away.

Instinct alone could’ve told me that Rose was at the bottom of it, but my gut clenches as I hear the sound of her screaming in fear or agony. I can’t tell the difference right now, and it’s terrifying me.

As the four of us begin to the charge the column, the mares mainly doing it in an attempt to catch up with me, I can see the twisted, horrifying faces of the spectres above and ahead. Each one is a sickly off-yellow, and their faces remind me of something from the lightless depths of the ocean, all elongated teeth and snapping jaws.

All I can simply do was keep away and hope the others were keep pace. These things certainly do have terrifying faces. I just need to reach the spiral and get Rose and the rest of us out of this mess. I don’t want to be stuck down here with those things.

Nearing the bottom of the funnel of ghostly monsters, I could see Rose. She was huddled under the brilliant light of the swarm, covering her eyes. Her coat gleamed a vivid shade of her normale light pink, and I saw one of the spectrals dive down, only to glance off.

Her eyes snap open as I charge in, and I see the confused, almost scared expression she wears as I, without thinking, grab her and continue my gallop. I may not know how to use my limbs perfectly, but adrenaline was guiding my hooves well enough. The horrible screams of the spectral swarm chase me as I went in the only direction I could think of as I stumble over ridges in the once-liquid stone.

The tiny, glowing lights of the Pillarstone give me the barest point of reference, and the ground seems to be bright enough lit for me to stop stumbling as much.

Wait, bright enough not to-

I spare a single glance back, and see the swarm almost upon me, my herd several yards to one side to avoid pursuit. I quickly turn my gaze away and pace on as much as I can. I can only pray the others are in safety. Rose’s hooves, wrapped around my neck and barrel as they are, are holding on for dear life, but her weight is much more than I’m used to.

While I cannot, will not, let her go, I can feel my steps faltering, slowing, even as the Pillarstone looms into view. I can feel my breath coming short and ragged as I continue to carry Rose’s not-inconsiderable weight onwards, up the gentle stone slope of the cavern floor.

Just need to keep going. I can’t give in after snatching Rose like this. I try to block out any physical feeling and direct my focus on running and keeping my mares safe from this horde. I still do feel my breathing, but I feel it as determination to get to safety.

Then, I trip.

I can’t help it, my leg just... gave out. I can feel Rose tumble from me with the sound of heavy chunks of crystal or glass sliding across tile, and and I see her look back to my crumpled form. I can’t keep back the pain. Everything hurts, from my lungs to my legs, even as I can feel, but not see, Rose lift me onto her own shoulders and begin galloping onwards.

Not much else is clear to me as I feel the jerking, bouncing sensation of being carried, and consciousness escapes me...

Vague, blurred sounds and feelings numbed by shock and pain filter slowly into my mind. Flashes of faces from the deeps of some oceanic hell haunt my waking nightmares, and I can feel something weigh down my thrashing limbs. All I can do is try to scream, but I cannot in this liquid-like embrace, as if the air itself has become thicker.

As I slowly sink back into the dark depths of my own unconsciousness, I can hear someone screaming my name.

Whoever they are, they sound really far away...

Slowly, I fade back into consciousness. My head hurts, and I can feel something wrapped around my head. Whatever it is, it’s itchy and rough, and covers my eyes. I seem to be laying on my back, and something is next to me.

It feels familiar, and warm, which is a nice contrast to my oddly cold belly. I keep feeling a vague breeze pass by, and it chills my stomach greatly each time.

“H-hello?”

I just knew who was beside me, where I was, and what happened exactly. As a response to not being able to see, I move a forehooves around. Maybe I could feel something familiar and give me a hint to my questions.

The someone next to me moved with a soft moan of exhaustion, and I can feel them move closer. They’re situated awkwardly, though, like they aren’t on the bed with me. As one hoof of mine reaches up to pull off the thing over my eyes, I can hear her wake up.

Rather suddenly, I am pulled into a tight hug, and I can hear the pony holding me sob and weep into my shoulder as she cries, tears soaking into my coat.

“Rose... thank you.”

She just continued crying into my shoulder,holding me tightly. No words, no gestures of any kind. Just several minutes of her refusing to let me go as my coat was soaked with salty tears.

After several minutes, I finally felt ready to say something.

“Where are we, Rose? And... I- I’m sorry about exploding earlier. It wa-”

“N- no... it was m- my fault. I’m so, so s- sorry for forcing you... I- I didn’t r- realize you didn’t n- know what I meant... I’m so sorry... I- I underst- stand if you d- don’t want me in your herd...”

She choked out the words in anguish, barely able to say a thing as she drew gently away. She sounded utterly distraught, and sounds like she could barely breathe. I have to do something before I lose her, I just know it.

“Rose, I could never stay mad at a pony like yourself for long. You’re unique and... well, I don’t know a lot, but I know you have a good heart. Plus, why would I want the mother of my child to leave my herd? That would be insanity if a pony actually did that.”

“It- it wouldn’t be the f- first time that had ever happened...”

Her words were grim, but her tone held hints of hope.

“Well, whoever those ponies are do not have a heart or care for the life they made. I’m sorry, Rose. Please don’t leave us. I need all of you.”

I could feel the mare press herself back to my shoulder and hold me tight. I held her back in my hooves.

“I am deeply sorry, still. I know this is silly, but you forgive me, right?”

I know she probably does, due to the fact she’s hugging me, but I need to make sure she has. I can feel her nuzzle my chest from where she’s sitting or whatever, and it feels great.

“I- I forgive you, Zach. Do- do you forgive me, too?”

“Yes, Rose. I do forgive you.”

I smile towards Rose. She’s a nice mare, a caring one. I don’t know how this kid business will go down, but I’m glad it’s happening with a mare like Rose.

Rose slowly quiets her sniffles as I hold her, and we simply take the moment to calm down.

“Now, Rose, where are the others?”

I feel bad for ruining a special moment like one such as now, but I need to know where the others were. They were behind me after all. Then the Spectral Ponies are on my tail, (almost literally) and I can’t remember the rest.

“Oh, they’re in a guest room. They, uhm, let me stay with you because, well, they felt I needed to talk with you. A- are your eyes feeling better?”

Now that she mentions them, I realize that my eyes are actually a bit sore, like I got some sort of grit in them or something.

“They feel irritated, but it’s manageable. How did you even know about what I was feeling in them?”

“Uhm, well, after what happened...”

Those five words sat on my stomach like an icey brick.

“W- what did happen, Rose?”

“I- I couldn’t get you in time, and one of those... those monsters took a bite at you. I- I tried to get away, but it- it gave you a nasty cut across one eye. We, uhm, weren’t sure how bad it was...”

Her voice trails off, and I feel her hoof tracing slow circles on my chest in dismay. As nice as the feeling is, it also calls attention to my oddly-cold stomach region.

“I- it’s okay, I’m not blind in it I believe. But, I do feel this really unusual feeling in my stomach. It’s cold. Do you think the Spectral Pony caused that too?”

“Ah, actually... that’s where we shaved you.”

I stop for a moment. I- I’m not too sure what to say to that, but I can certainly try to say something.

Anything, really.

If, y’know, anything comes to mind.

...

Anything at all?

Finally reaching an idea, I blurt out the following.

“What do you mean by ‘shaved’ me?”

“W- well, you needed some, uhm, ‘minor surgery’... and, ah, well, hair would’ve been bad to get in the wounds... and, uhm, you were losing a, ah, lot of blood, so, uhm, we had to check if anypony was compatible... Uh, their blood, that is.”

There’s some nervous shuffling to the side of me, where Rose is sitting, and the hoof is still circling the same spot on my chest. It’d be adorable if I hadn’t just learned I’d needed surgery and some of the girls had donated some blood to me, but as it stood...

“Aaand, well, it turned out the only one with a compatible blood type...”

Oh shit, please don’t be going where I think this is.

“Was kinda, uhm... me.”

God-damnit! I hope she’s alright...

And what the hell did I need surgery for, anyways?!

“Okay. Why did I need surgery? Are you alright after the donation of blood? Who performed the surgery? What was the surgery? And, better yet, where the holy name of pony kind am I?!”

I didn’t mean to yell, but concern, confusion, and frustration about this place had to come out sometime soon. I try to look Rose straight in the eye, and wait for response.

“W- well, we didn’t want your intestines to drag on the stairs-”

“Wait, what!?”

“Ah, right, one of the spectres kinda, uhm... got you? It tore you up pretty badly. It, uhm, it’s why we’ve been here for the last week.”

“...It’s been a week!?”

I can feel her shift awkwardly next to me.

“Well, actually, it’s been three. You were in really bad condition; we’ve been out of the emergency ward for the last week, though.”

“I was in the freaking hospital too!? How badly was I injured!?”

“P- pretty bad... I- I’m sorry, Zach... I d- didn’t mean for you to get hurt... I- I just thought...”

She breaks off with another round of sobbing, and I immediately feel awful for berating her like this.

“H- hey. D- don’t cry. It wasn’t your fault- mostly. i don’t mean to explode like that, but... t- this is all so new. I- I’m sorry, Rose.”

I try to signal her into a hug. I seriously need to cool down next time surprises are shot at me at a million miles per hour. The mare continues to sob into my arms, and the next thing she says almost breaks my heart.

“I- I th- thought it’d be b- better if I just w- went away... So I wasn’t a problem... I’m so sorry...”

Naturally, I tightened the strength I had her enveloped in. I would be lost if I lost Rose and my unborn child.

“Rose, that would’ve shattered my heart into tiny fragments if you left. I never want you to go, not when we are a family. You also bear my child. If you left with it...”

That thought alone pains my heart. I may not have wished for the child, but it’s still my child, and I will do what I can for him or her.

In the meantime, Rose just drapes herself across me, and I can feel her face near mine, at least near enough that I can kiss her if I wanted. And... I do want to, and I will.

With the lightest of touches, I pulled her close and pressed my lips to hers. She stiffened, but only momentarily. Then, she melted into my embrace, and kissed me back in full. I could feel her fur slide along my chest as she moved closer, and I am prepared to give in to her, if only to make her feel better.

Up until her hoof drifted across my stitches, that is. The sudden flare of pain in my gut killed the mood, and she ends up spending the next fifteen minutes or so calming me down from the spasms of pain.

“S- sorry, Rose, wasn’t expecting that.”

“I- I didn’t mean to hurt you, oh, I’m so sorry... Oh, I’m going to be a terrible mother...”

“N- no it’s fine. I’m sure it was accidental. You’re going to be a great mother with that caring attitude of yours.”

“I- I suppose... C- can I just lay here, then? J- just for tonight, that is. This chair isn’t very comfortable, is all.”

“Of course you can, why would I ever reject that?”

“I- because you don’t want me to hurt you?”

“I don’t think laying next to each other will hurt me. I promise that. Just keep away from the stitches, is all.”

Rose nodded, and I feel her climb up as well. She’s not showing yet, but I’ve got to take care of her. If not because I really do like her, then at least for the baby’s sake. Or foal’s, I suppose.

I can feel her snuggle close to my side, and a hoof drapes carefully across my chest. The warm appendage is soothing, and I find myself passing back out, tired from the exertion of speaking for these last several minutes.

Several days of recuperation later, the bandages over my eyes had come off, and I’d found that I couldn’t see out of my right eye fully any more. And, apparently, there isn’t much that can fix an eye - it’s too complicated an organ for even magic to heal. I could still see, sorta, but my right eye’s sight would be blurry for the rest of my life.

I suppose I should be happy I can still see out of it at all, considering I got a look in a mirror and saw that the horizontal gashes across my face, now turning to scars, had nearly removed my eye initially. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the doctors, I wouldn’t have a functioning right eye in any capacity.

A full week after I’d woken up that first time, I’m finally reunited with the other girls, as more than one visitor are allowed in. I’ve gotten used to the ever-changing nurses, I think I even saw some ponies with bat-wings, and some that looked like they were part spider or something, in addition to the normal earth ponies and unicorns.

The ones that really caught my attention, though, were the changelings, of which several did, in fact, seem to work at the hospital. Nopony else commented on them, and they all had blue carapaces instead of the usual green.

In one of the other beds in the room I’m in, as there is four beds in total in each room, was a pony with round, pebble-like scales forming pale cream-and-pink stripes. The pony had many lizard-like features, including sharp-looking teeth and a long, thin tongue that darted out. Also, a long, whip-like tail with a poof of fur at the end replaced the more normal tail most ponies had, but I’d been too timid of the obviously carnivorous pony to ask any questions.

As it stands at present, my herd was sitting around me. They’d apparently been information hunting while I’ve been bed-ridden, so I listened as they explained that we’d need to climb the Pillarstone via a series of stairs to reach the capital, which is on the roof, apparently strung between some of the largest pillars and stalactites.

“... anyways, that’s what we’ve found out. It should take a week of travel to reach the roof, as not all of us can fly. We’ll need to stop every few hundred floors to sleep and eat and such. It’s going to be grueling. Thankfully, there’s folks living on literally every stage along the way, so we should be able to barter some of our surface goods for food and the like.”

Breeze finished her lecture, then realized that everypony was looking her way. She blushes, and ducks to the side a little, looking adorably abashed about the attention.

“So, I just recover, then we go, right? I really want to meet this Lady Rubeum and talk to her about your race. Slumber? Did you say the Spectral Ponies are tied in Rubeum as well?”

“Uhm, not that I know of... They just sort of live here. I don’t think they’re tied here or anything, and they sometimes send out raiding parties. I- I don’t like what they bring back, though.”

That perks my ears.

“Raiding? They raid too?”

Okay, now that is a major issue that has to be dealt with. Being alive and guarding your home is one thing, but raiding? Now I wish there was a faster way to get to Rubeum’s palace or whatever she had.

“Yeah, they have to get fresh meat from somewhere, right? I’ve tried living off of mushrooms, but even I need to eat a cave rat every now and then.”

Slumber had taken to wearing heavy cloth wraps all around herself to conceal her luminous nature. It worked mostly, but her mouth still gave her away when she talked, so she now includes a thick length of cloth like a bandana over her muzzle most of the time. Her eyes still glow, but there’s a bunch of races here, apparently, that also have glowing eyes.

Still, that comment, it made me feel more confused about the Spectrals. Maybe they weren’t an issue if they are just eating a cave rat.

“Of course, they usually bring the prey back alive to be devoured like that, but I always tried to end their suffering if they were. Nopony deserves a death like that.”

Slumber shudders and so do I as I understand the implications. Live, sentient prey, likely ponies stolen from their homes. They were definitely a problem, but I can’t think of anything short of committing genocide - by killing them all somehow - would stop them.

“So finding this Rubeum may help solve that problem as well as the Pegasi dominance over the Flutterkin. When can we move out? I don’t want to waste time rotting here on a bed.”

“Uhm, I’m not sure those two correlate... but we can be moving in a just another week, doctor’s orders. Can you hold out until then, Zach? There’s a lot of stairs to climb, and we don’t want you injuring yourself further, honey.”

Breeze motions for caution as she strokes my mane. It’s a very soothing action, and I can tell she’s doing it to try to get her way without actually doing anything to force me.

“I’ll be fine. I understand it’s for the best since I got injured pretty badly.”

That was an understatement. From what I’d been told, the four of them had rushed me in, Goo barely holding me together as Breeze had done everything she could to sustain me. While I had been upset with Rose for giving blood for me, I’m still very grateful anyways. It was an incredibly generous thing she did, and it means even more now that I know I would’ve died if they hadn’t been able to find another donor.

“However, I still do want to get out and climbing as soon as we can. Any idea on what we’ll be facing while we are climbing? You did mention there are other ponies there to help us along the way, Breeze.”

“Well, I don’t know about facing them, but there’s likely to be some Changeling and Arachnite colonies on the pillar, and we’ll probably need to pass several Nightwings. I- I hope not, though, they scare me.”

Breeze quails at the thought of those types of ponies, for whatever reasons known only to her. Rose and Slumber shiver at the mention of the Nightwings, however, and I’m guessing they’re the bat-ponies. It’s the only thing that makes sense in this context.

“Okay so try to avoid these Nightwings, got it. Is there anything I can do besides lay here? I at least want to be a little productive while I’m recovering.”

“No, no, honey, it’s alright. You just try to get better. I’ll see if we can find some sort of games or something to play. Do you like dolls? I know a lot of colts do, but you’ve said you’re a little different...”

As much as I love Breeze, there are times I want to smack her. Not anything violent, just a tap on the head hard enough to be felt. Only sometimes, though.

“Uhm, not really, but some games sound like fun. Maybe I can figure out how to use my wings for moving stuff...”

Author's Note

Ah yes, HunterZ is now working again, thank you all for your patience.

So, now we see that this world has gone from mean to brutal, and could've been even worse.

Thank you again, everybody who helped, for your various contributions. You know who you are, and you're awesome.