Timeless Harmony
Chapter 8: Trials of a Dark Lord
(O.C. P.O.V.)
Barrier's smile began to fade as she felt the warmth of the light slowly flicker away. She opened her eyes in time to, just barely, see the last strand of shadow reach her face as it claimed her. But before she had time to scream, it was gone. The thick darkness that was swallowing her was nowhere to be found as she scattered her sight across the room.
She was no longer in the pitch black darkness of the room she was in when she had been separated from Stalwart. She was in a different location, one with candles spread out across the wall to give it just enough light for her to see her entire surroundings. The walls were made of stone and looked ready to collapse at any second. The ceiling seemed to be in even worse shape as streams of pebbles continued to pour down from the crack it held.
“Welcome, Barrier, to your first challenge.” Barrier instantly began searching the ceiling for any signs of Nightmare, but none were found.
“Okay, Nightmare!” she called out to above. “I'm ready!” A menacing chuckle echoed through the stone enclosure.
“Very well, let your first trial begin: The Trial of Endurance!” As Nightmare boomed out the final word in the royal Canterlot voice, the ceiling above Barrier began to crumble. It began slowly, small pebbles and the occasional stone block falling. But then it began an all-out bombardment. The ceiling caved in entirely, causing a seemingly endless barrage of stone to fall atop the blue mare.
Barrier had to act fast. She immediately shrouded herself in the strongest shield of magic she could. The blue aura that came from the spell barely managed to work its way over her entire body before the first massive stone block landed directly on her head. Luckily, the spell held strong. The brick landed with a harsh thud as it shattered on impact with the unicorn.
Barrier smiled as she felt the sense of accomplishment sweep over her as countless more tons of debris collapsed on top of her. Eventually, the ceiling ran out of ammunition against the mare. Barrier felt a sense of relief as she began to release the spell that saved her life. But it was too soon for celebration. Just as the spell had released itself from the body of the mare, the walls began to shake violently.
“Did you think it was that easy?” asked Nightmare with a taunting voice. Barrier scowled as her horn began to glow with the same spell. She cloaked herself in a defensive veil as the walls around her gave in. The weight felt unbearable and incredibly more massive than that of the ceiling. Barrier began to sweat as she struggled to hold the spell. Cracks began to form in the shield around her, hinting at the imminent failure that was to come.
She was at her limits. There was no way she could hold for much longer. The cracks grew deeper in her spell as the stones continued to fall. Barrier fell to her knees, exhaustion now completely taking over. A massive crack spread across her back as the spell reached a point where it would collapse in on her. A single tear spread down her face for she knew her time was at an end.
“I’m sorry Stalwart” she sighed as the spell around her gave in. The shield was gone and she was wide open. Several tears rolled down her face as she waited for the final stone to come crashing down on her and finish her. But it never came.
Barrier opened her eyes to see that the avalanche of bricks was over. The ceiling above her was gone and the walls that caged her collapsed to their base, revealing corridors and hallways that chained throughout the castle. Barrier smiled as she stood to her hooves.
“Congratulations” congratulated Nightmare. “You passed The Trial of Endurance. You may proceed.” As the unseen voice finished her sentence, a bright blue circular field appeared in the near distance. It sat there, glowing on the floor, beckoning for Barrier to step in. She did. As Barrier took a step into the light, it took hold of her and teleported her away to her next trial.
---
Stalwart galloped through the shadow passageway, anger overtaking commonsense and rationality. Once his body was through, the shadowy path was gone and replaced with a stone wall. “Huh?” asked Stalwart as he looked back at the barricade.
“Welcome Stalwart, to your first trial” echoed the voice of Nightmare. Stalwart scowled at the sound of the mare's voice and looked around angrily for his target.
“Alright then!” he called out to above. “Bring it on!”
“Ah, ever so impatient and wanting of bloodshed. That's just like you earth ponies. Your trial will begin soon enough, but first thing's first.” Stalwart felt a warmth begin to grow at his side. He glanced over to his sheath where his sword rested and gasped at the sight of it glowing a bright shade of white.
“Consider it a gift of life” said Nightmare. Stalwart drew his sword expecting to see the same wooden sparring tool he's had for years, but instead drew a shining steel short-sword that glowed with the power of light. Stalwart gazed over his weapon, stunned by its shear beauty.
“Well then,” started Nightmare, bringing the awestruck earth pony back into reality. “Now that you seem as ready as you'll ever be, let the Trial of Endurance begin!” The candles that dimly lit the room began to flicker. Shadows started dancing across the floor, as if animated by some unknown force.
Stalwart's jaw tightened around his new blade, preparing for whatever this 'trial' would bring. He watched carefully as the shadows before him continued to twist in their menacing dance. But then, the movements didn't seem so random. They were all going somewhere!
Each strand of shadow moved its way toward the center of the room, moving in an endless dance. There, they solidified. They twisted and overlapped into a being of terror. There, before Stalwart, stood a creature of pure darkness. It's eyes were ablaze with pure fury. It's body was of nothing more than twisting shadows. The same shadowy creature that had chased him into is old home.
“Aright, brig it ohn!” taunted Stalwart, sword causing his words to sound like mumbles. But the creature seemed to have understood because it charged. It targeted Stalwart and galloped at top speed, jaw open revealing two rows of sharp shadowy fangs. Stalwart bent his knees, preparing for the collision. But it didn't happen. The shadow creature leaped into the air, ready to pin and finish the fighter. Luckily, Stalwart maneuvered to the side just out of reach. The creature landed and looked around at the area in front of 'him', searching for his prey.
But the tables turned. Stalwart raised his glowing sword and brought it down with massive force, cutting clean through his foe. However, unlike his previous encounter with these creatures, the blade was effective. The creature howled in pain as the effects of light from the weapon evaporated his body.
“Heh, that's it?” gloated Stalwart. “That was the mighty 'Trial of Endurance?”
“Of course you would assume that, you simpleton” echoed the voice of Nightmare. Stalwart growled at the ceiling but focused his attention back to the shadows that seemed to animate once again. However, this time, they weren't all heading towards the center. Instead, they formed separate piles, scattered throughout the room. Each pile solidified, forming more and more opponents.
Stalwart scanned them all, ten. Ten enemies. Not too bad. But more were coming. More shadows poured into the room through cracks in the floor and walls. Countless shadow creatures formed, each staring down their prey. Eyes raging with hellfire, they pounced.
Years of intense training and instinct kicked in within Stalwart as the small army of unknown monsters attacked. Stalwart swung his sword upward as it sliced clean through the first creature that pounced at him. The brave stallion continued charging forward, straight into a cluster of beats. His blade swung wildly, striking down foes at immense speed.
The strong fighter felt exhaustion begin to kick in as his swings grew slower and weaker. It was only a matter of time before he was surrounded. He stood in the center of the room, an endless stream of misshapen beasts circling him and moving in for the kill. Individuals pounced in the circle, wanting first blood. Stalwart disposed of them, growing more tired with each swing.
But the stragglers were weak. The horde was the threat. And now they were ready. The entire circle of beasts charged at the earth pony. Stalwart barely managed to fight off two of them before he was overwhelmed. Endless shadows piled atop of the small fighter. They clawed and bit. Stalwart felt suffocated under the shear mass of shadows. Stalwart's eyes closed, ready to let himself be taken by the darkness, but it didn't happen. The massive weight of the shadow creatures was gone. The air around him filled his lungs as he managed to breath in once more.
Stalwart slowly blinked open his eyes. The creatures were gone! Before him stood another doorway of shadows.
“Congratulations, you've passed The Trial of Endurance. You may proceed.” Nightmare's voice actually sounded rather welcoming as it echoed through the now empty chamber. Stalwart was confused as to how he had passed when he was being drowned in a sea of shadows but dismissed the thought as he grunted while working himself onto his hooves. With a slight limp, he walked over to the dark passage and allowed the shadows to claim him.
---
Barrier felt the warm light around her hooves begin to fade. She scanned her environment to realize she was in another stone room. However this one seemed far more stable and didn't seem to run the risk of collapsing. It was also noticeably larger than where her previous trial took place.
“Welcome, Barrier, to The Trial of Fear” announced Nightmare, still remaining unseen. “From the day you fled your home, you've always lived in regret.” Barrier felt her heart turn to stone and her skin go pale white. Is it possible Nightmare knew more of the two adventurers than just their names?
“Oh yes, I know much.” Nightmare seemingly read Barrier's mind to answer her thoughts. “I know of how your parents were brutally murdered. Oh, you were just a filly weren't you?” Barrier felt tears begin to form. These were memories that best lay forgotten, but Nightmare now played with them as if they were no more than some foal's toy.
“And what did you do? Nothing! You ran! You left your parents to die at the paws of a vicious pack of Diamond Dogs! And now-”
“Shut up!” screamed Barrier as she stomped her front hoof firmly on the ground. “Let's just get this stupid trial over with!” Tears were flowing from Barrier's face. But they were not of sadness, more of anger. She was infuriated on how Nightmare could simply toy with her like that.
“Ooh, there's the fire! Very well, let The Trial of Fear begin!” And then, the shadows came. Three long strands slithered across the floor from the shadow casted by the candles. Then, they twisted. They shaped. They formed themselves into three beings that caused Barrier's lip to tremble in fear. Before her, stood three diamond dogs.
She felt her heart stop. Her legs went stiff and her body froze. How could it be!? The beings she feared most on this world, the very monstrous creatures that took her parents away from her and ruined her life. Her entire life she prayed she that their existence would never even have been mentioned to her again, but now there they stood, in the flesh.
They were revolting, to say the least. Their chests were broad with massive muscle. Their faces were deformed, worse than that of what she had seen when she was a filly. It was as if the shadows had a hard time forming a face and simply decided to form a bloodied mess instead. The claws of the hounds were long and bloodstained. Barrier felt a thick lump in her throat.
Her opponents smirked a sick, menacing grin. They knew fear had her paralyzed. They moved upward. A single step. Barrier responded with a step backwards. This continued for few more paces before the largest and by far most mishapped released a blood curdling howl. His two pack members pounced. Barrier immediately fell to the floor in a feeble position, covering her head with her two front legs. She would rather die blindly than face the beasts before her.
But she wasn't stricken down. She poked out one eye to watch as the hounds landed beside her. They barked and howled by her face, tormenting her and causing her to live the very nightmares she dreamed. Barrier began crying, to much emotional trauma in her heart.
The large pack leader walked up to the blue mare, smiling sickly as he stood on his back two paws. “Oh, PoOr LiTtLe BaRe” he began to taunt. His voice was cracked and sounded unworldly. “So BiG aNd MiGhTy ArOuNd YoUr FrIeNdS, yEt ThReE lItTlE dOgGiEs ScArE tHe LiViNg CrAp OuT oF yOu.” Barrier tightened her front legs around her head, trying her best to drown out the hurtful words. But there was a sound she couldn't drown out, the sound of a sword being drawn.
The terrified mare looked up at her foe. The diamond dog in front of her drew a steel cutlass from a sheath by his side. Barrier gasped and felt heartfelt once more.
“oH, YoU rEcoGnIzE tHiS?” asked the creature as he looked over his weapon. “Is'Nt ThIs ThE sAmE kInD oF sWoRd ThAt KiLlEd YoUr PoOr LiTtLe MoMmY?” Barrier felt tears roll down her face again. She stared into the eyes of the beast above her, pain hitting her heart. She saw the diamond leader rub his throat, as if adjusting.
“Do you wanna know why I have this sword?” he asked, voice now sounding like that of a 'normal' Diamond Dog. The leader brought his face closer to Barrier's ear as his two pack members held her down. “Because I wanted to kill you with the same sword that killed your bitch of a mother.” Okay, too far.
Barrier screamed in rage and pain. A spell exploded from her horn with such force that all three dogs were sent flying against the walls of the room. One hound was killed on impact, neck breaking against the wall. The leader and one other, however, shook their heads as they removed the daze from the collision.
They growled at the unicorn in front of them. Barrier stood their, a small crater surrounding the area around her. Small bolts of electric magic flickered off her horn and entire body as she stood there, gasping from exhaustion and pure fury.
“Listen to me you freaks” she began, fear replaced with rage. She began to slowly walk forward, magical essence radiating from wherever she stepped. “My mother was the most wonderful mare in Equestria,” Barrier continued to trot slowly to her opponents, fear now showing in their eyes. “and for you to simply talk about her like that, is unacceptable.” Barrier's voice was calm yet menacing as she finished her sentence. She now stood a few feet from the two Diamond Dogs, a scowl spread across her face.
The Diamond Leader howled as he and his pack member pounced at the mare. Barrier let out a battle cry as she released the spell that crackled throughout her body. Thunder and lightning boomed throughout the room as she lashed out with every ounce of magic in her at the hounds. She was blinded by rage but could still hear the screams of the monsters she slew.
That was it. Barrier stood near the edge of the room, gasping for air and feeling completely exhausted. She was completely out of magic but had done what she had to, the dogs were dead. All three of them lay scattered throughout the room as either a bloody mess or charred ember. Barrier fell to her knees, absolutely no energy left in her.
“Congratulations, you've passed the Trial of Fear. You may proceed.” Another blue circle generated just in front of Barrier, but she lacked the energy to move. As she tried to get unto her hooves, she collapsed. But this is one strong mare. Barrier began crawling over to the light, front hooves dragging her body. After several painful seconds that felt like years, Barrier reached the blue aura and was sent away to her next trial.
---
As Stalwart passed through the wall of shadows, he began to realize that his limp was gone and the cuts and bruises that scarred him were healing themselves.
“Darkness, a remarkable thing isn't it?” asked Nightmare.
“What are you talking about?” barked Stalwart at the ceiling as he searched frantically around the massive room he was in.
“Oh nothing” chuckled the alicorn. “But it's a tremendous healer, and even greater power source.” Stalwart realized what the mare was getting at.
“There's no way you're getting me to rely on darkness!” yelled Stalwart, actually feeling insulted by the offer.
Oh, in due time my little street rat, in due time. But, for now, let the Trial of Fear begin!” Stalwart immediately pulled out his glowing short-sword, not yet sure of what a “Trial of Fear” would even result in.
The young swordspony braced his body as he felt the room begin to shake. It was slight at first, practically unnoticeable. But then it became violent. Streams of pebbles began to cascade down from the ceiling. Stalwart's head snapped upward immediately as a pebble landed atop his western hat. The area above him held a creature so horribly terrifying that it may have been born from the darkest recesses of the young fighter's mind.
Then it fell. It landed with a large thud and cloud of smoke. The being before him was utterly petrifying and revolting. Stalwart felt his body turn to stone at the pure fear of this creature.
It's eyes counted off into the billions. Its very presence was breath taking. A spider, thousands of times larger than average towered over the small stallion. Its jaw opened wide as it let loose a blood curdling scream that shook the very ground.
Stalwart immediately cried out in fear. It sounded more like a squeal from a young filly rather than a growing stallion. The sword that promised the colt protection dropped from his mouth as Stalwart turned away from the beast and bolted off at top speed. But the spider gave chase. Stalwart galloped as fast as his body would let him, flailing around randomly and scream out in fear. But his predator was close. If Stalwart were to slow down for a split second, he would be caught in the monster's mighty jaw and killed instantly.
Although fear was the dominate emotion in the fleeing pony's mind, somewhere in the back of his mind, Stalwart had noticed something about the nightmare that hunted him. Whenever Stalwart made a sharp right turn, the large spider had a hard time doing the same so it almost always bumped into a wall. Despite the pure fear clawing at his heart, Stalwart felt a smile work its way across his face.
Stalwart kept running, but now with a goal in mind. The strategical stallion noticed a wall of the room getting closer to him as he galloped towards it. But instead of making the turn and continuing the wild hunt, Stalwart reached the wall and turned around. The spider took this as a sign of a free meal and began to charge even faster, jaw wide open as it howled.
As the beast reached a point where it was just a few yards away, Stalwart laid onto his belly with his back two hooves against the wall. Just before the creature was upon him, Stalwart kicked off of the wall with all of his might, calling upon the intense strength of an earth pony to send his body sliding across the ground and straight in between the spiders many legs.
The monster's charge was not halted as it continued forward, possibly unable to even stop itself. The beast collided head on with the massive stone wall in front of it, causing it to lose its thought and giving it some serious dizziness. Stalwart seized the initiative and went for his sword. Once in jaw, Stalwart galloped up to the spider, fear replaced with a sense of pride and an 'I Can Do This' attitude. The charging stallion let out a fierce battle cry as he leaped onto the now kneeling spiders back and worked his way to its head.
The monster thrashed out wildly, trying to do anything it could to toss the tick from his back. But Stalwart held strong as he worked his way from the creature's hairy back to the head. “AAAHHH!” he screamed as the sword in his mouth plunged straight into a collection of the creature's eyes.
Stalwart was immediately thrown off of the beast as it leaned back and howled out in pain. The sword in its eyes began to glow a harsh white. Stalwart sheiled his eyes from the intense rays with a hoof. But then he felt something strong; the impact of tons of spider brains. Stalwart lowered his hoof to find that he was covered in blood and a strange black good. The spider's head had exploded! However the same goes for the beloved sword.
“Congratulations, you passed the trial of fear. You may proceed.” The large corpse of the defeated spider began to dissolve, apparently being enveloped in shadows. When the black strands had finished their work, another dark passageway appeared where the beasts corpse had lain. Stalwart looked around nervously and then back down at the passage on the floor.
Stalwart let a little smile crawl across his face. “Well, you only live once” he said as he leaped down into a pit of darkness, prepared to take on his last, and most challenging trial yet.