//------------------------------// // Chapter Twelve // Story: Rifts // by Eldamaur //------------------------------// Tristan and Krik’s journey began peacefully. They travelled well-marked roads southward, and though they never encountered any other intelligent creatures, the wildlife was undisturbed. They had no need to use their rations, as Krik had no trouble foraging and hunting for them as they went on. Tristan felt that it was hard to be upset and anxious amid the idyllic scenery of their walk, instead finding himself heartily enjoying the landscape. Even the nights were comfortable, as way stations dotted the road at regular intervals and they never had to compete with others for their use. After two days of walking they finally began to near a large settlement. Several signs pointed them the way to a town named Mareced, and it looked like the two were due to reach it before their third night. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If there are ponies there, don’t you think that they might be hostile to us? We don’t have Lore or Noble with us today, after all,” Tristan mused as they neared the town. “I am unsure if there even are any ponies there. If the spawn have indeed come so far as to threaten major cities, it’s unlikely a town near what may be their leader’s location would be allowed to survive,” Krik said calmly. “So we’re just going to check up on them?” Tristan asked. “Seems the most likely outcomes are hostile town or rift spawn infested town. I say we just avoid it altogether.” “Either outcome may yield useful intelligence. We’re going,” Krik said flatly. “If things go badly, I can protect us both well enough.” “...Fine, but you’re leading. I’d like someone else to be the one taking the brunt of the damage this time,” Tristan relented. Krik nodded, and the two continued on towards the town. They soon reached their destination, to find that the latter of Tristan’s foretold outcomes was true. Dead ponies littered the streets, some partially or wholly devoured. “I knew it was a bad idea to come here...alright, let’s avoid the place, then,” Tristan said, stifling a gag at the stench wafting from the bodies. “We’re not done here yet. Let us investigate,” Krik said, entering the town without a look back. Dammit, aren’t we supposed to be partners in this or something? Why the Hell is he the one calling all the shots like this? I kinda want to just hang back...but I suppose I’m safer with the highly trained warrior than without. Tristan hurried to catch up to Krik, muttering complaints under his breath. The entire town was eerily quiet, the only sound being the whistling of the wind and the buzzing of the flies that fed upon the corpses. As they neared the center of town, Tristan heard what sounded like incomprehensible nonsense being spouted from the inside of one of the buildings. Figuring it to be a traumatized survivor, he went to investigate. The building was a shop, with general wares littering the shelves. The sounds were coming from a back room, and though Tristan was getting closer, he still couldn’t understand any of what was being said. As he neared the open door to the room that presumably held the pony he began to notice another sound: the ripping and chewing of flesh. Suddenly cognizant of how much sound he had been making, Tristan quietly began to back up, only to find himself bumping into something behind him. He yelled, fumbling with his sword, and spun around. It was only Krik, however, staring down at him with an unreadable expression. “Are you quite alright, Tristan? What was the source of the sounds?” Krik asked. “I-I don’t know,” Tristan stammered, his heart beating furiously from the surprise. “It sounds like something is being eaten in there, though.” They stopped talking, only to notice that there was now silence coming from the room. Krik dropped down to a more defensive stance and motioned for Tristan to get behind him. Tristan was all too happy to oblige and took cover behind his companion, watching the doorway. Something was squelching around in the room and finally flowed out of the doorway. The creature was a disgusting amorphous blob, its fleshy exterior completely covered in mouths and eyes. Each of the mouths and eyes continually sunk inside the creature and reformed elsewhere, causing the mass to continually change. Upon seeing the two intruders the monster immediately began its gibbering anew, each of the mouths spouting nonsense. It slowly flowed towards the two, yet Krik made no motion to attack it. It came near them and then passed them, leaving the shop altogether. “That. Was disgusting,” Tristan commented, the vision of the reforming eyes and mouths seared into his mind. “Disgusting, yes, but also informative. There is no doubt that it was a rift spawn, yet it attacked neither of us,” Krik commented, going inside the room to see what the thing was eating. “Hey, that’s right! So we really are safe from them!” Tristan exclaimed. He went to join Krik inside the shop, and his momentary happiness at finding that the spawn wouldn’t attack him immediately ended. There was a dead dull green pony lying on the floor, covered in bite marks. Little flesh was missing, but the pony looked emaciated, as if it was close to starvation prior to death. Tristan gagged, turning his head away from the sight. “It seems that spawn drained this pony of its fluids. What an interesting specimen...but chaotic at a base level. If circumstances were different, I would end that aberration of a creature,” Krik said, turning away from the sight and leaving the room. “Can we go now? I don’t think we’re going to see much more. It looks like most of the spawn are already gone, anyway,” Tristan asked as they left the shop. “I suppose. It would not be good to sleep within the town, lest we risk ponies coming to avenge their fallen and finding us. We shall continue,” Krik answered, leading them south out of the town. Even after being in the town for a while, Tristan still hadn’t gotten used to the stench. If anything, the whole place seemed more grotesque as they continued on. The bright and cheery sunshine of the day was in harsh contrast to the overall scene, and served as a foil to the terribleness of it all. Finally they emerged from the town, a cool wind bringing fresh air into their lungs. “That place was just a massacre...it didn’t look like they were able to put up any sort of a fight, even. Either that or the spawn ate their own dead. I don’t get what kind of creature would cause all that to happen…” Tristan said as they walked away. “There are many reasons for such atrocities,” Krik began. “The motives of our foe could be anything. Even in a single world there are bound to be many that you cannot understand, and our enemy came from a world completely different from either of ours. It could potentially have no concept of what we know as morality to begin with.” “It certainly didn’t seem moral when it was in my head, that’s for sure…” Tristan said. “The world will be a better place without it, regardless of its motivations. We’ve just gotta make sure it can’t do anything else like this.” Krik nodded, and they continued down the path. As the sun began to lower the terrain slowly changed, from rolling hills and trees to short grass and rocky terrain. Soon the night forced the two to camp. Tristan’s sleep that night was haunted by nightmares of dead ponies and countless eyes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following day marked the end of the easy trek through Equestria proper and the beginning of the badlands. Gone were the maintained paths and idyllic scenery, replaced by steep rock faces, shallow valleys, and generally uneven terrain. There was little wildlife, though Tristan did spot a few rabbits scurrying about. The going was hard, and Tristan found himself asking for breaks more frequently. “How are we supposed to find anything in a place like this?” Tristan began to whine as they climbed yet another steep slope. “This thing’s hideout could be right behind any of these rock faces, and we’d never know. This is pointless!” “Patience, Tristan,” Krik responded, unfazed by Tristan’s negativity. “This is merely the first day. We could be out here for weeks before finding our target, so take care to not let your morale fall too low just yet.” Tristan mumbled further complaints under his breath but continued going. He found himself longing for his soft, comfortable bed in Canterlot, for a warm and relaxing meal eaten with Shauku, and even for the noise of the city as he tried to sleep. It’s funny...I’m thinking so much of Canterlot, but didn’t I have it even better back home? It’s just been so long...I can’t even remember the last time I touched a video game. It’s like my life then was just a happy dream, and this is real life. I wonder if this is what it’s like for people who go off to war for months without contact back home… As the sun was close to its zenith they finally spotted some movement. A rift spawn, flopping around on three limbs, was making its way across the badlands. It seemed to notice Tristan and Krik as it stopped for a moment, before continuing onward. Its presence spooked a small rabbit, but it did not chase the rabbit as it ran. “Seems they were right...rift spawn in the middle of this wasteland, just walking around. And it didn’t attack us, either…” Tristan pondered. “Yes, it seems their intelligence was correct. Other than the protection of their liege, I cannot fathom what purpose they would serve in such a place as this,” Krik agreed, watching the spawn for a moment longer before changing their course eastward. “Did you notice that hare, Tristan?” “Uh, yeah,” Tristan answered. “It did not pursue it. One would think it would have, for sustenance at the least, but it did not. Curious,” Krik said. “Perhaps it was just a herbivore?” Tristan asked, looking to the short grasses. “Perhaps. It’s likely nothing, but we must acquire as much information as possible as we can from such meetings with their kind. Know your enemy, down to the smallest detail, and you stand a greater chance of defeating them,” Krik said. “Well I’m sure glad you’re here to know all that stuff. I’m beginning to wonder why I’m even here...you could go faster without me,” Tristan said. “I’m just ‘plan B’, and a bad one at that. If you go down there’s not much I’ll be able to do.” “Even if you increase the likelihood of success by very smallest percentile, you’re still an asset,” Krik said flatly. “But, for the record, I estimate that you’re adding on at least twenty percent, which is a substantial number.” “Thanks, I think,” Tristan responded. “I suppose it’s just a bit depressing, being out here. It’s like everything I do turns to shit. My life back home, my life in Canterlot...and now we’re here on this bleak little mission. None of it is even of my choosing, really! I’ve just been railroaded from one debacle to the next!” “Life is not always fair, Tristan. Yet, perhaps there may be a pleasant ending to your troubles. How are you to know if you do not continue with your struggle?” Krik said, continuing to lead them along. “Easier said than done…” Tristan muttered sourly. Krik didn’t respond and kept walking. Their search continued for five more days, as they combed the badlands for any trace of their foe. They encountered many rift spawn on their way, all patrolling much like they were, and none hostile. A feeling of futileness was creeping up on Tristan, and despite his best efforts, it was beginning to take hold. The task of finding an enemy that they didn’t even know the description of was becoming too much. Then, hours into the fifth day, Krik noticed that something was amiss. “Tristan, we must be at least seven hours into the day, correct?” Krik asked Tristan, as he stared up at something. “I lost my watch ages ago, but sure, that sounds about right. Why?” Tristan responded, looking up to see what Krik was looking at, but finding nothing out of the ordinary. “The sun should be much lower than it is, then,” Krik said, apparently staring directly at the glowing ball above them. Tristan took note of the sun’s position, and found that it wasn’t where it should be at all. Though the day was progressing the sun hadn’t come near its zenith. “Well, Celestia is the one that ‘raises the sun’ around here, apparently, so she must be busy or something. I hope things are going alright with them…” Tristan said, trying to stay somewhat optimistic. “Yes. That could be it. Let us continue,” Krik said, beginning his march anew. The two continued on for a few more hours, and every time Tristan looked back to the sun, it hadn’t moved at all. He tried to put it out of his mind, but nearing the time that nightfall would have come, he was unable to ignore it. “Do you think...she’s dead?” Tristan broached suddenly. “It may be,” Krik said flatly. “What would that even cause?” Tristan said. “I mean...sunlight, twenty-four seven? And on the other side of the planet, nothing but night?” “I would imagine that they have some backup plan in case of their leader’s death. They would be foolish to be otherwise,” Krik offered. “Maybe…” Tristan said sadly. They spoke no more, continuing along their way. When fatigue set in they slept in the shadows of a valley to avoid the sun. Their search continued for another two agonizingly boring days of neverending sun before they finally found something of interest. From their vantage atop a tall rock formation, they spied three rift spawn standing somewhat near an otherwise inconspicuous cave. While all the other spawn that they had encountered were patrolling endlessly, seemingly never even stopping to rest or eat, these spawn were completely stationary. “Should we check out the cave?” Tristan asked, as he lay prone beside Krik from their lofty vantage point. “No,” Krik said quietly. “There could be any number of traps or fortifications inside that cave. For now, we must watch it, to see if our enemy emerges.” Tristan nodded seriously and continued looking at the cave. Hours passed, though Tristan had lost interest and allowed his mind to wander within the first half hour. Finally, Krik nudged Tristan to rouse him from his inattentiveness, pointing towards the cave opening. A weasel, which they had seen several of during their journey, had made its way near the cave opening. It skittered around in the grass, seemingly looking for something. As it neared the entrance, however, all three of the rift spawn immediately sprang into action. There was no chance for the small animal, as the spawn immediately tore it to shreds, before going back to their watch. “So...these spawn are hostile to neutral entities, it seems. We may not be able to walk inside unchallenged,” Krik assessed. “Wait, so we have to fight...all three of those things?” Tristan asked, fear beginning to form within him as he looked below. “It very well may be. Which one do you want?” Krik asked. “Which one do I ‘want’? I don’t ‘want’ any of them!” Tristan protested. “You may take the weakest of the three, then,” Krik said. “Look to the one on the left…” He pointed towards the one farthest from the cave. The spawn in question moved about on a single slick tentacle, which rapidly undulated beneath it when it moved to attack the weasel earlier. Above the tentacle was a flesh colored uneven lump of a body, with countless other shorter tentacles, which grew to a red at their tips, protruding from its midsection. Directly above those tentacles were many circular mouths and yellow eyes, which somewhat reminded Tristan of the spawn from Mareced, though these did not recede and reform. From his vantage, Tristan couldn’t accurately judge its size, but believed it to be roughly human sized. However, the other two that were closer to the cave were no better. They seemed to be worse, if anything. The first was huge, standing upon three legs as thick as tree trunks. Atop those legs was a greenish, round body, with a huge gaping mouth rowed with sharp teeth in the middle. It was topped with three long tentacles, two of which had spikes on their interiors, and one of which had several eyes of varying shapes, all with sharp blades on the exteriors of them. The entire thing must have been at least twice Tristan’s height. Finally, the middle spawn was lower and sleeker than the others. It ran about on four legs which each ended in terribly long claws. It was the fastest of the three, bounding to the weasel earlier in a flash. Its body was dull grey and armored, with a single fin atop its back and an equally armored tail behind it. Its head was elongated and aerodynamic, with a large mouth and two beady eyes. It looked to be at least the size of an alligator. “Do we have any choice? Couldn’t we just use the bomb?” Tristan asked, trying to find any way out of a fight. “The bomb is too large a variable; there’s no way we can extrapolate what effects it will have. It may be sufficient, or it may not. It could potentially cave in the opening, leaving too much to chance,” Krik responded. “So what you’re saying is, no, we don’t have a choice,” Tristan said. “Well, I suppose I didn’t bring this stuff along for nothing…” Tristan ran his hand over his sword and took off his backpack, unpacking several potions and arranging them on his belt for quick use. “When are we going to do this?” “I would say under the cover of night, but I do not believe that will be an option,” Krik responded, as he slowly rose up to his full height. “We must be swift in our fighting, lest we give our foe too much time to prepare for us. “I’ll do my best…do you think that I should keep potions in reserve for later, or use them all up now?” Tristan said, as they crept away from the ledge and made their way down towards the cave. “Use some, but not all. Of course you will wish to use what is needed to survive, though any to make the fight faster would be helpful as well,” Krik answered, leading them down a narrow ledge. Tristan fingered a potion on his belt, making sure it was fastened correctly. As they continued on, his heart began to beat faster, the anticipation of the fight setting in. The day was clear and silent, save for the omnipresent sound of the wind rushing through the varied rock formations. They neared a corner that would take them into the sight of their foes and Tristan drew his sword and shield, affirming and re-affirming his grip on each to make sure that everything was ready. Finally they came out into the open, to see all three of the spawn exactly where they had been previously. None of them made a single move towards the two, so Tristan and Krik slowly edged forward, Tristan staying farther to the side in an attempt to attract his designated target. All of the spawn were unmistakably looking at them, but none had yet charged. Tristan and Krik exchanged no words, instead directing their full attention on their targets. They edged ever closer to the cave entrance, waiting for any movement from their enemies. Then, as if on cue, all three sprang into deadly motion at once. As they had hoped, the two that were closer to Krik charged for him, the sleek grey one meeting him in the blink of an eye while the larger one thundered towards him. Tristan’s foe slithered incredibly quickly towards him, its many eyes all locked on to Tristan. While his first thought was to run, Tristan quickly crushed the notion and steeled himself. Having been in such situations before, while he knew the threat was real and his heart was beating out of his chest, he was able to stand his ground. The monster stopped its rush right before it hit Tristan, who had readied himself against its charge. With incredible precision it lashed out a single tentacle not at Tristan, but at his shield, ripping it away. It flung the shield far to the side and backed up to dodge one of Tristan’s slices. Shit, it got my shield! This thing isn’t like the other stuff...it’s smart enough to prioritize! Gonna have to be careful… His hand now freed from his shield, Tristan grabbed a potion from his belt and unstopped it, holding it ready to drink. He and his foe circled in silence, the monster’s many mouths at times opening and closing, revealing sharp teeth, but never making a noise. However, Krik’s fight was anything but silent, as Tristan heard one of the beasts roaring out in either pain or defiance. Understanding that his enemy was waiting for him to strike first, Tristan decided to surprise it. Instead of lashing out with his sword he swiftly chugged his potion. Before he could make an attack, however, the beast used the opening to lash a tentacle forward, which wrapped around his arm and pulled him forward with terrible strength. Before the monster could begin biting him, Tristan felt a heat rising up from his throat. As he had expected, he belched forward a stream of flame, directly on to his foe. Its silence was broken as it screeched in pain, though it continued to pull Tristan in closer. Tristan used the moment of confusion to hack at the tentacle that was pulling him, managing to cut it off and free himself. For a moment it let loose a spurt of white blood, but the wound sealed almost immediately. Miraculously, the creature had not caught fire, yet it was obviously covered in crispy burns. It immediately withdrew several feet, scraping at its singed flesh frantically. While it was distracted Tristan grabbed another potion off of his belt and threw it at his enemy. It shattered, releasing a vibrant blue liquid over its target, which began to audibly sizzle. The eyes that were not burnt shut previously were now melted shut from Tristan’s concoction, so Tristan ran forward to finish off his foe. However, as he made his first slice, it turned around completely, revealing plenty of unharmed eyes on its other side. A tentacle flew to meet Tristan, knocking him to the side and on to the ground. Luckily, the monster seemed too distracted by its own pain to immediately pursue its foe, and so Tristan was able to get himself back up. Behind him he heard what sounded like the dying scream of one of the other spawn, though he did not chance a look. This fight isn’t going that badly...I’m a bit roughed up, but that thing has got to be hurting right now! Just gotta keep on the pressure! This time it was the spawn’s turn to attack first, as it flew towards him on its bottom tentacle. It began to spin around, all of its appendages whirring about it at speeds that Tristan couldn’t keep track of. Taken off guard by this new attack, Tristan thrust out his sword, finding some purchase in his foe. However, he was still hit by a tentacle directly across the face, and again found himself sprawled across the ground. Dammit, how am I supposed to kill this thing? It doesn’t even have a head to cut off, and I can’t get past the damn tentacles! I was hoping to save this one, but I suppose I need to use it… With a practiced hand Tristan drew yet another potion from his belt, this one a dark brown in color. He immediately downed it, before even getting up, and its effects were instantaneous. As he warded off his enemy above him, his skin turned from a pale tan to a hard grey, cracking along joints like stone. His movement was uninhibited, however, and he was able to continue fighting. A hard strike came down on his face again, though this time he only felt the impact, not the pain. It worked! I wasn’t sure if that would even translate for humans, but it did! I’m not dead! Tristan took a chance and righted himself, sword held out directly above him. The spawn tried to knock him down again but he managed to keep himself steady, hacking away with his sword the whole time. Finally, he rushed towards his enemy, plunging his sword through an opening in its defenses and meeting its fleshy body. The sword cut through easily, sinking almost up to the haft. He must have hit something vital, for the thing gave a final shriek, before becoming still. Hoping that it really was dead, Tristan withdrew his sword and hacked off another tentacle for good measure. He turned around to see how Krik was doing, seeing the smaller rift spawn dead on the ground, while Krik was actively riding the larger one. It continually tried to slice at Krik with the blades on its tentacles, though Krik was always fast enough to dodge. His repeated stinging was causing the beast to become sluggish, but it wasn’t dead yet. Tristan hurried to aid his ally, though a moment before he was able to make it, the monster gave a final deep bellow and fell twitching to the ground. Not wanting to take any chances, Tristan hacked off all three of its tentacles while it was down, watching as their stubs sprayed yellow blood everywhere. He backed away from the body and turned to face Krik, who was making sure the third spawn was dead as well. “We...did it,” Tristan said between pants, fatigue rapidly setting in as his adrenaline faded. He noticed that his skin was also returning to normal, changing from its rock-like texture back to normal. “Indeed. Well done, Tristan,” Krik said calmly. “We mustn’t tarry, our enemy is likely inside. We can celebrate later!” With that Krik went to the largest of the spawn and snapped a spike off one of its tentacles. He then regurgitated some strange liquid onto its tip, which was a pale white in color. “Eurgh, Krik, what is that?” Tristan asked, finding himself slightly nauseated at the display. “A light source. Myrmarchs such as myself can see with almost no light, but we still need some. This will shine just brightly enough,” Krik said casually, looking towards the cave. “That’s...still really nasty,” Tristan said, unable to take his eyes away from the globby substance on the spike. He then looked to the carnage of the fight and shrugged, figuring that if he could get through a fight like that without being nauseated, there was no reason for him to worry about some strange feature of formian anatomy. Tristan retrieved his shield from where it lay and proceeded to the cave entrance. They looked down, seeing that save for what light was afforded by the sun, there was no light within the cave itself. Tristan pulled out his goggles and put them on, seeing that the cave actually wound downwards and to the right, out of sight. “So, this is it, then...either we emerge from this cave as heroes, or we never emerge at all...it’s a pretty anxious feeling,” Tristan said to Krik, who was examining every detail of the cave from where they stood. Krik didn’t respond and moved slowly into the cave, apparently satisfied that there were no visible traps. Tristan flipped on his goggles, took a long look at the sunlit day, sighed, and continued after Krik. They made their way silently through the cave, finding it to be unassuming and mundane. There was no sign of habitation, and for a moment Tristan worried that they wouldn’t find anything at all. As they rounded the first bend they noticed that there was indeed something alive in the cave, though not what they had expected. The walls of the cave abruptly changed from smooth stone to what looked to be some type of fungus or mold that completely covered all surfaces in the cave. Krik halted before stepping on it and rubbed it with a single finger, before nodding to himself and walking upon it. Tristan gingerly stepped on it as well, finding it to be dry and soft. Without warning, the cave began to shake slightly, causing Tristan to almost lose his balance. He worried for a moment about a cave-in, but Krik stayed silent and waved him onward. Out of fear of alerting their foe to their location Tristan silently complied. They continued onwards through several twists that Tristan figured must have been caused by an underground stream at one point. Finally, after several minutes of walking, the relatively narrow passage opened up into a great chamber, far larger than they had expected. The strange covering was still all over the walls, and Tristan could see several stalagmites that could still be discerned even under the growth. By chance Tristan looked up, spotting something large and moving above them. He yelled to Krik as the thing dropped down silently upon them. Krik looked up in time and dodged out of the way of what looked like a gigantic spider, longer than Tristan was tall. Both Tristan and Krik immediately attacked, resulting in a successful sting and one of the monster’s legs being sliced clean off. However, before they could strike the killing blow, it spoke. “Wait!” it shrieked in a feminine tone. “Don’t kill this one!” Krik and Tristan stayed their attacks out of surprise, but did not lower their guards. The monster lay pitifully upon the floor, ooze coming out of the stump of its severed leg. Now that he had a moment to examine it fully Tristan noticed that it had what looked like an eerily human face, with two normal eyes and six smaller ones dotting its forehead. “We seek the one that controls the spawn. Tell us where it is!” Krik said forcefully, while Tristan kept his sword near its other legs. “This one is not the one you seek!” it cried loudly. “You will never find the one that controls this form, and legions hurry here to slay you before you escape!” “So why the Hell would we let you live?” Tristan yelled, the threat bringing to the surface his fear of death. “This one is useful to me, and I do not wish for it to be slain. I can help you as those accursed ponies never could, if you will spare it,” the spider said, its voice becoming somewhat pleasant now that it was calming down. “How could you possibly help us, creature?” Krik asked. “This one is useful in many ways, but one way greater than the rest! Let me move, and I will show you!” it pleaded, taking on a pathetic tone. “I don’t know, Krik, we can’t trust this thing. If it really is useful to our enemy, we ought to just kill it,” Tristan said, not taking his eyes off it. “Perhaps we can work this to our advantage. We should let it show us what it will, and kill it if we find what it offers unsatisfactory,” Krik said. Tristan gave a hesitant shrug and Krik motioned for the creature to rise. It did so, hobbling around on its remaining legs over to a wall. There it began to work, spinning a strangely glowing web from its abdomen. It spun it in a circular motion, leaving a near perfect circle about six feet in diameter in the center. It stood still for a moment and then screeched out a terrible noise, causing both Tristan and Krik to recoil slightly. A small pinprick of light had been lit at the exact center of the circle. The light began to expand until it filled the entire area, and a picture began to take shape on the other side. A craggy mountainside could be seen through it, with no life in sight. “Is that a…” Tristan asked, dumbfounded. He looked to Krik, who was staring intently at the phenomenon. “Krik? Krik!” Tristan shouted, attempting to get his friend’s attention. “In exchange for your leaving, I offer you the one thing ponies never shall,” the spider-like creature said softly. “So long as this one lives the portal cannot be disrupted without breaking the thread, so it is safe for your passage.” It backed away from the portal and stood watching the two. “Krik, talk to me here. Is that your home?” Tristan asked worriedly. He kept his gaze on the spider, fearing that it had tricked him and somehow incapacitated Krik, though before he could mull the idea over for long, Krik spoke. “...Yes,” he said dreamily. “This is...my home. I hear them, my brothers, ringing within my head! They call to me!” That must be the hive mind thing from earlier...this is what Krik’s been wanting. But we can’t just leave now! If we go, the ponies, and everything else here, are completely screwed! “Krik, you can’t go through! We have a job to do here! I can’t do it without you!” Tristan pleaded, stepping between Krik and the portal. “Focus!” “I...I’m…” Krik stammered, his usual demeanor completely lost to what seemed like shock. “My queen…” “Krik! You can’t be serious!” Tristan said, before letting out an aggravated yell. “Fine, if you won’t close the damn thing, I will!” he shouted, stepping towards the portal to slice the web. Before he could get to it, however, Krik grabbed him from behind. “Tristan,” Krik said sadly. “I have no choice. When my queen calls me, I must answer. I do not expect you to understand.” “But...you can’t just…” Tristan stammered. “What about the mission? And everything we’ve done here?” “If he wishes to leave do not hamper him! It is his choice to make!” the spawn called from the side of the room, where it was already spinning another web. “Go to your home, to your queen, Krik! They are waiting for you!” “I am...sorry, Tristan,” Krik said, stepping towards the portal. “You can’t! I can’t do this alone!” Tristan implored frantically. He knew that he needed Krik to stay with him, and didn’t want to be left in the cave alone. However, even as he hung on to his friend, Krik moved forward. “If it was my choice, Tristan, I would stay and aid you. Please, stay strong. Perhaps the bonds of your home are less stalwart,” Krik said, as he reached the portal. He then proceeded to take off his pack and put it on the ground next to Tristan. “I have no need of such things where I will be going. Goodbye, Tristan Davis. May you walk with discipline and honor for all of your days.” Krik turned around, facing the portal, and took a deep breath in. Then, without another word, he stepped through. He walked out of the vision the portal gave and was gone. Krik...no...just like that? You’re just going to leave, just like that? Didn’t any of this mean anything? We’re in the damned base of what we’ve worked so long and so hard to kill, and you just leave? Tristan felt his morale slipping away as he turned back to the spider. It sported a wide, strange grin, and stood next to another portal frame. “What other choice would you have him make, Tristan? He is happy now! And you shall be as well! Do not let the dilemma of those ponies weigh upon you so heavily! Soon, you’ll be home!” it said smoothly. “What kind of a person do you think that I am, anyway?” Tristan asked angrily, as he swiped at the thread that held Krik’s portal and severed it, confirming his suspicion that the portal immediately disappeared. “What kind of a person would put themselves above the lives of thousands?” “Don’t delude yourself!” it said. “It is as I told you before, they are nothing but animals! Weak, fragile, pitiful! They do not feel as you do! If you were of no use to them, they would- your enemy is the flesh of the cave! Hurry!” it shrieked, its tone suddenly changing at the end to something completely foreign. What was that? Was that just...the original mind? “A-as I was saying...” it stammered, composure rapidly returning. “Wait. Just what was that?” Tristan asked, looking from the monster in front of him to the walls of the cave. “Nothing! Now listen, I can take you home! With the knowledge I have of you, I can find it! You can put this all behind you!” it yelled. Tristan didn’t respond, but took a flask of acid off of his belt. He then uncorked it and poured it over the ground, where it hissed through the covering on the floor. Immediately the cave began to shake as it did before, and the spider yelled out. “Stop! Fine! You have found me, the one you call your enemy! But there’s nothing you can possibly do to destroy me before help comes!” it shouted hastily. It then shrieked again as it did before, and another portal coalesced beside it. The anger that Tristan had been feeling ebbed slightly as he saw what was through the portal. His home was directly in front of his view, much as he remembered it to be. He was at a loss for words, as the longing he had been feeling for so long became palpable. Birds twittered softly on the other side, apparently oblivious to the strange occurrence. The spider limped slowly away from the portal to the other side of the room, away from Tristan. “Go now. Your family awaits you,” it said calmly. Tristan could discern a note of smugness in its voice, as if he had already left. Tristan felt himself drawn to the portal, as his legs automatically carried him close to it. Home...I can go home...no more danger, no more pain, just...just...augh! No! I can’t just, just leave! If I go, everyone here is dead! I can’t just leave them! Lore, Shauku, Noble, Nightingale...Iron and Motley...the princesses...I can’t just leave them! But, if I don’t go...if I don’t… Tears began to well up in Tristan’s eyes as the barrage of emotions made itself apparent upon his form. He fought them back as he heard a voice, which sounded both familiar and yet foreign. “Tristan! Tristaaaan! Fuck, is that you?” a voice came from the side of the portal, outside of its view. “E-Eric?” Tristan said, flabbergasted. Sure enough, his old friend rounded the corner around the portal and was thrust into full sight. He looked almost exactly the same as Tristan had remembered him as, save for a missing arm and the beginnings of a scraggly beard. “We all thought you were dead! What the Hell is going on? And where did you get that snazzy armor?” Eric said, as he reached forward to the portal, before twitching his arm back, as if afraid. “Eric, it’s just so good to see you…” Tristan said softly, the world around him dulled, though he still listened for any movement behind him. “It’s been…” he continued, before the tears he was holding back broke forth. “If this thing is like the last one, you need to get through! Where are you, anyway?” Eric urged, putting his remaining hand near the portal out to clasp Tristan’s. “Go to your friend, Tristan! All of your torment is over! You’re free!” the spider urged him from behind. “I-I-I can’t,” Tristan choked out. “I wish I could, but I just...I just can’t…” “What do you mean, ‘you can’t’?” Eric asked. “Dude, I don’t know what you’ve been through, but you need to come through that thing right now! Do you have any idea what your parents have gone through? They need you, man!” Tristan’s sobbing intensified as memories long suppressed came back in full force. “You don’t understand! I have something I need to do!” he yelled, wiping tears from his eyes. “I want to! I really do! I just can’t!” “Tristan…” Eric said sadly, confusion evident in his voice. Tristan noticed that one of his neighbors had opened their door and stood pointing at the portal, while dialing something on their cellphone. “Don’t be a fool, Tristan! Do not delude yourself into believing you can make a difference here! All that awaits you is death if you do not pass through!” the spider yelled from behind him. “Quiet!” Tristan roared behind him. “This is all your fault! And I won’t let you get away unpunished! I’m sorry, Eric. Tell my parents...that I love them. Goodbye!” With that he swung his sword at the thread holding the portal open and sliced it. “You imbecile! Do you believe I was the one to bring you here? This tool of mine came later!” the spider shrieked. “It’s not just that!” Tristan yelled, wiping the remnants of his tears from his eyes. “The pain you’ve caused, the suffering, and for what? Because you couldn’t control them? You’re just a monster!” “You have no idea what I am, worm!” it hissed out. “I am beyond you! Lesser creatures must be made to serve, or they do not deserve to live!” “Enough!” Tristan screamed, as he grabbed his last flask of acid from his belt and flung it at the spider. It hit it directly in the face, causing it to begin shrieking in pain. “You’re the one who doesn’t deserve to live!” Tristan ran to the screaming creature, slicing at legs as he went. As it fell to the ground he stabbed with all of his might at its head, and his sword slid neatly into one of the eye sockets. It gave a final shriek of pain, and was silent. What have I just done? That was my only chance home...my only chance! Why can’t anything ever be simple for once? Tristan stood there, panting, and dropped his sword. He trudged over to the pack that Krik left and rummaged through it, finding the magical bomb and detonator tucked safely inside. He hefted the bomb up and put it in the center of the cavern, keeping the detonator with him. “You think I can’t hurt you, huh?” Tristan yelled out furiously into the cave. “Well I don’t know if you can hear me, but I can! Your days have come to an end! And it’ll be brought about by me, that little worm you were taunting!” In response the cave began to shake once more, this time even more violently than the last two. “Oh, are you scared now? Good! I’m about to teach you a lesson in the dangers of hubris!” The silence of the cave was broken as footsteps came from the entrance of the cave. They were still resonating on pure stone floors, so Tristan knew he had some time, but he also knew there was no getting out. Well, that’s it, then. End of the line. Game over. The end. There was still so much I wanted to do… Tristan walked over to the side of the cave, slouching himself against the wall as he heard the footsteps coming closer. He unfastened the box that held the detonator and cradled the rod in his hands, knowing that the moment he broke it the bomb would go off. To think...not so long ago, I was ready to kill ponies to get by. And here I am dying for them. I hope they turn out alright… The sound of footsteps was coming ever closer, as they stopped resonating on the stone and became more muffled by the fleshy interior of the cave. It’s funny. I’ve been scared of dying all this time, and right here, right now...I feel kinda peaceful. All the struggle is over. All I have left to do is snap this one little rod, and then that’s it. No more worries, no more stress. I wonder if this really is the end, or if there is something that comes later. I suppose I’ll find out… Tristan gave a wistful smile, recalling for a final time his moments both on Earth and on Equestria. The good times and the bad blurred together, and though there was a lot of pain, there was a lot of happiness too. He slowly sighed, and noticed that the footsteps were almost upon him. “Well…” he said quietly. “Here goes nothing.” He took the rod and broke it over his knee. For the briefest of moments there was a searing heat and pain. Tristan saw a light.