//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Monsters and Rocks // Story: Kurai the Forsaken : Rise of The Abyss // by Seth Typofather //------------------------------// “I find it hard to believe Luna of all ponies would break down like this…” Twilight observed her mentor’s sister, taking her pulse and magic reading. “What kind of things did she see in your head?” She asked, turning to Artorias who stood staring at Luna. “Sir?” “Hm? Sorry. I too am curious to why she would start to have an intense fear. What I deal with on a daily basis back in Lordran is nothing to most I meet.” “Then I should see it.” She approached Artorias, her horn glowing. Artorias shook his head, holding out a hand to stop her. “You are aware your world’s magic has no affect on me, from what I know the princess was able to access my dreams was because when I was slumbering my mind melded with your world’s dream range.” Stopping Twilight took a second to contemplate this, it does explain to how she entered his dreams. “You’re right…” Looking over to Luna she sighed. “Well, here I go with this.” “Darling are you sure that’s such a good idea?” Rarity interrupted. “Yeah! Who knows what you could find in this guy’s brain!” Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “If I don’t find out what he dealt with from Luna, then what will we know about his world? Seven years ago Nito was dealt with, and before that a Gaping Dragon.” Applejack shuddered at the memory. “Knowing this, Lordran’s creatures might have been sent to our world, so we should find out more to prepare ourselves.” Twilight justified, her horn still glowing. “Who knows what things she saw other than what she keeled over for, but if you think it’ll help then by all means, sugarcube, go ahead.” Nodding, Twilight place dyer horn upon Luna’s, her eyes glowing a bright trancelike white. Within the first few seconds she broke the spell, hyperventilating. “No no no! NO NO NO NO!” She screamed, holding her head with her hooves. “What?! What is it?!” Applejack called out, giving Twilight a comforting hug followed by the rest of her friends. “What did you see… do you need to book…?” Nodding slowly Twilight tried her best to not sob, a few stray tears leaving her eyes. “I’ll get it!” Announced Rainbow Dash, turning to speed down the halls. Instead she bumped into Celestia who looked extremely weary. “S-sorry.” “It is quite alright…” She weakly smiled, levitating the book. “Allow me, it will be best rather than showing you personally.” Clearing her throat her lips quivered at the thought of the monstrous creature plaguing her thoughts. “Manus.” The book violently shook in response, breaking violently from her levitational spell and spun like a top. It stopped so suddenly the air around the book itself shook, floating midair the book did not even move. Before long it spun once more and slammed right into the floor, opening it’s pages before stopping on the page of Manus, Father of The Abyss. Bravely stepping forth, Applejack saw the artist’s interpretation of the ancient primeval man and recoiled in horror. “Yeesh, now that there’s a… thing, that only a mother than love. I don’t see what’s scary about it to make Luna and you of all ponies quiver in fear, apart from looking creepy.” “That’s because this monster is known to devour plains of existence with his mere presence, if he is not stopped and his dark magic spreads, Equestria will disappear into the belly of nonexistence. Or known to humans, The Abyss.” Celestia gravely stated. “Unless he is killed or thrown back into the portal he came from and have it sealed, it’s all over. The Elements, Discord and even me and my sister’s powers combined are nothing compared to him.” —————— Since hiding in the Everfree, Kurai had had to find a way to pass the time living in the castle of the two sisters. He could not reveal himself as alive by any means, thanks to the dream blocker spell scroll found in the vast archive Luna could not reach him. However living in the Everfree had an unforeseen guest, Zecora. Thankfully she kept his secret and hid it well, quite nice, though her rhyming did get annoying. The trouble was when visiting her he had a few close calls when visitors like Twilight or Apple Bloom came by, but otherwise it was pleasant talking to another sentient creature. “I have heard legends of another world, but i did not know more from it could be hurled.” The zebra raised an eyebrow, giving Gwyn a quizzical stare. “Sorry, forgot to tell you about the guests.” Kurai chuckled slightly. “That is quite alright, also are you a knight?” She stared up at Gough who had been in a trance this whole time from meeting one of the dominant inhabitants. Nodding slowly at her question he slumped back. “So it is true, this is another world.” “Why? Did you have doubts, dear friend?” Gough nodded in response while Sif sniffed at Zecora quizzically, he noticed a smell given to her by another more recent visit and it also had Kurai’s aroma over it too. He turned to Kurai. “Grr. (And like that, I am disturbed by you being near me.)" “Oh hush up.” “Why deny? The truth is much better than a lie.” Zecora chuckled. “Wait you can understand Sif here? I can barely even understand him save for a few growls.” “You’re forgetting I’m a Shaman.” She deadpanned, no rhyme that time thank goodness. “And she told me everything, every little detail. And I thought in romance humans would always fail.” Apparently Zecora took the liberty of reading the mysterious book and stumbled upon romantic literature. “Don’t you have a cauldron to stir…?” Kurai reminded her. Perking up her ears and with her pupils dilating she forgot she left her cauldron alight, one for minute and the concoction would end in a disaster. Nodding frantically she sped off into the forest back to her hut. A chuckle was heard from Ciaran and Sif snorting in slight laughter, what a shameful secret to be out in the open. “Forgive me but…you? The one who put Artorias out of his misery and the one who defeated our captain and his companion along with Manus himself, had a close friendship with one of them? “She had a heartthrob for me, yes.” He admitted. “She followed me across the land when her older sister kicked me out for being too much of a danger because of a Gaping Dragon.” The room shook with the collective laughter. “I don’t think you have much to laugh about Ciaran, you have a heartthrob for Artorias. Sif, I heard you had a love and hate friendship with Alvina. Gough, I’ve seen how you caress and talk to your bow when you thought I was asleep. So before you laugh at me for acknowledging the feelings of a miniature horse you should acknowledge your own odd feelings.” Yawning a bit. “Speaking of sleep, it’s getting late and I need my rest. Good night!” Kurai waved off the occupants of the lobby who sat there dumbstruck. “He has a point you know.” Laughed Gwyn. “Well aren’t you awfully cheery.” Sarcastically quipped the assassin. “Father simply has grown a brighter personality since becoming a soul, the stresses of being gods got to us all. Before we return to our souls forms allow me to cast a protective slumber upon you all, Kurai stated there is a being who could traverse dreams and if she found us, she would find him.” Gwyndolin waved his hands in a rhythmic pattern, gathering a sparkling dust in his palms that created a long blanket of stars. Pushing the blanket down upon them Sif sneezed from the sparkling dust before slumping down in a pleasant sleep, likewise for Ciaran and Gough, who shook the floor slightly in his fall. “Perhaps I overdone it.” —————— A run down tavern in the middle of the long path from Manehattan to Ponyville stood, simple but affordable and sturdy while having it’s size. What stuck out however was the sign planted on the ground next to it saying, “Ponies and Bat Ponies Only! No Outsider Species!” Of course being the only place of refuge for miles on hoof a non pony would most likely stumble by. Lumbering through the dirt path the figure of a weary traveler came into view of the tavern which cheering was booming from the wooden walls, continuing his pace the figure headed towards the tavern. He was large, muscular and clad in stone and chain armour. His most distinctive features were his large club and shield upon his back, any normal warrior would struggle to even lift it let alone walk. He however held his heavy armour and items like feathers, putting even the strongest of warriors to shame. Arriving at the entrance he caught a glimpse of the ponies inside cheering through the windows, a little noisy but this place will do to grab a rest and maybe a drink. Stepping up the small rise of wooden steps they bent under his sheer weight, one step barely snapping in two. The door was small but enough for a fit, human sized doors for small equines, seems like they were more ergonomic than he thought for larger ponies. Gripping the handle in his mighty hand he pushed the door open, allowing his figure to be seen in the dim moonlight and the little light the lanterns were giving off. The cheering was quickly replaced by murmuring and glares at him, of course he is not a pony being bipedal so he stuck out like a sore thumb. Taking a step in the floorboards creaked, taking another careful step he subtly inspected the ground. It was built right on top of a rock in this section, good. Taking a much more confident step he began to walk towards the tavern owner standing behind the bar cleaning a glass. “Water.” His raspy voice asked the unicorn behind the bar, dust leaving the slits on his helmet. Shaking his head the owner set the glass down. “We don’t serve your kind here, leave.” Pointing a hoof towards the door as jeering and agreeing grunts echoed through the room. “Water.” Replied the stone clad figure once more. “I told you, we don’t serve your kind here.” “Yeah! Get outta here!” A mare shouted in the back of the room. “We don’t want no filthy non ponies!” “Yeah!” Replied a stallion. “You heard the customers, leave or it gets nasty.” The tavern owner warned, is horn glowing. “…I was prejudiced like you, I loathed magic. I loathed the very sight of it. In fact, if I still was you would be but a pile of blood. That prejudice got me centuries in a tower. So I ask you to give me a glass of water and a bed to sleep in or regret it for the rest of your life.” “You heard the owner! Get out!” Shouted a pegasus, charging towards the figure. With a swift movement the warrior blocked his progress with a hand gripped around his face. The pegasus screamed in pain as his wings fluttered in an attempt to escape. Raising his arm the figure threw the pegasus into the wall. Felling a nudge on his back the figure turned to see the owner had shot a bolt of magic at him, not even worth calling an attack spell. “I asked you once, I asked you twice and thrice. Water. And I see you wish to die.” Reaching to his back he pulled out his mighty club, letting it rest on his shoulder. A group of earth ponies on the far table bucked it towards the warrior, the table shattered upon contact that sent splinters and chunks of sharp wood all over. To make matters worse he had not even begun to use his club. “You have until the count of three to start welcoming customers starting with me or I shall turn this place into a smouldering pile.” Gripping the hammer he held it over his head, the thick tip pressing against the ceiling. “One.” Knowing what might happen a number of ponies started screaming to get out, the door getting jammed fast from the cascade of ponies trying to escape. “Two.” The owner charged up a spell in a last desperation and shot it straight into the figure’s face. No effect. “Big mistake, three!” Bringing down the club the ground shook and broke, the floorboards shattering in the form of a large ripple spreading outwards. The resulting shockwave forced the flood of panicking ponies out the door like a shotgun, the walls thankfully did not give out. The same could not be said for the floor which was now the base stone the building was built upon and the door frame itself. Within the wreckage of the bar the owner pulled himself free from the rubble, panting and sobbing in terror. “Alright! Please no more! For the love of Celestia please no more!” “Good,” He observed his surroundings. “Forget the water though.” “Who are you?…” Asked the owner, trying his best not to offend the new guest who unbeknownst to him, was holding back. “My name is Havel, do your best to remember it.”