"Why?" Curiosity
"Why?" Was the first thing I asked. He then wrote his answer. 'Because you can talk.' I found that to be a very bad reason. 'It's hard to reach big crowds with writing. They can't read it when it's too far or if someone else is standing in front of them.' He then scrunched up his face in thought. 'Also some are plean illiterate. With some I mean a sizeable amount.'
Now that made more sense. But still, to trust a complete stranger to convey a message, that I know nothing about, to a crowd of beings that aren't even of the same kind isn't a good idea. Before I could say anything he had written some more. 'Also you can speak loudly.' I felt that that was an unnecessary detail. Though I said nothing.
I gave Cosmo a quick glance. He shook his head and spoke. "I don't do speeches." I wasn't going to insist. I wanted to tell the shadowy being that this wasn't a good idea. But I couldn't help but feel that helping him so that he could then help me could be a good idea. After seeing all of the bridges and other platforms, doors and barricades on our way here and how they used them with ease it was clear that they had made them.
He and his kind probably know the layout of the city on the palm of their hoofs. Or hands in their case. And maybe there was some kind of tunnel that led directly or near the rift. Which would make getting home easier. Theoretically, if they actually had any kind of tunnel or knowledge on how to get there.
"Why do you need to convince others... eh... people?" It would be wise to know why he needed to do any kind of speech in the first place. 'You remember those things we just fought, like a few hours ago? And that big one you defeated.' I nodded in confirmation. 'Well they're trying to kill us all, which I don't like. And I want others to not like it.' "Shouldn't that be easy..."
He somehow managed to interrupt me, which is impressive seeing as he is writing. 'Most are very ignorant. Some stupid. A lot are moronic.' He then continued writing, hopefully to give me an actual and proper explanation. Cosmo meanwhile was busy looking through a pile of old books. 'Some literally don't know that we are in danger. I didn't even know that we were in danger myself until I saw a friend get stepped on. Only a bloody mess was left of him.'
I almost gave him my condolences, but decided not to. Because he did not look very bothered by what he said as he kept writing on paper. 'Since then I've done some research. Discovered that a whole bunch of creatures are trying to kill us or something and since then I've been trying to inform everyone.'
Suddenly a certain question popped up in my mind. "For how long have you been doing this?" I thought those creatures had appeared at the same time that I had entered this world. But what he says makes it look like they've been here long before me. 'Twenty-five hours, thirty-three minutes and fifty-nine seconds.' He quickly wrote. Things had been going by very quickly.
"Ok, so I help you convince everyone to fight against the invading creatures and you'll help me reach that big light somewhere in the horizon?" He nodded eagerly. I was still very hesitant. Mainly because of the speech part. Usually when I gave a speech before a crowd, it did not end well. I also knew nothing about these shadowy beings. I didn't even know how to read their names. It would be pretty easy to offend them.
'You'll have some time to prepare until everyone gets here.' "How much is everyone?" He took a few seconds to think, even using his fingers to count, before writing his answer. 'Enough to fill this stadium one and half time.' If I had been drinking anything I would have spitted it out. This was a big stadium, as big if not bigger than the biggest stadiums in all of equestria.
I never had any problem standing and talking in front of crowds, maybe if I had been I wouldn't have to flee from so many angry crowds, but they were in the dozens of ponies. This stadium could hold thousands of spectators and none of which would be ponies.
"I will think about it." That was as honest as an answer that I could give him. 'You still have some time to think and prepare. Just tell me when you're ready.' He looked slightly nervous. At least I think he does, his face is featureless so it's pretty hard to know. He then gave me a whole bunch of keys. 'This will allow you to move through the building. There's a bar on the ground floor. And a library on the third and fourth floor. And more stuff on all floors.'
I stared at the bundle of keys that I now held in my hooves. "We could go eat something. It's hard to think on an empty stomach." I had to agree with him. Eating something and having a bit of rest will probably help me think.
"Why not."
I was holding a strange box in my hooves. And I now also stood in a strange shop. I examined the box which had seven locks welded onto it while the shopkeeper examined me. Or made sure I didn't steal anything. That didn't bother me as I was busy analysing the strange wares available for sale. All kinds of shining baubles and trinkets caught my eyes.
I felt slightly disappointed that I had no money or anything to trade with, as many of the exotic wares looked very interesting. Like this box. Why would it have seven locks? Most of which looked useless. Actually a lot of other items laying around had that same issue. They looked well made but inefficient, having a lot of redundant features.
I put the box back into it's rack having no way to buy it. And I couldn't ask Cosmo as he had decided to explore the stadium on his own. So I left the strange shop. Strange because it had been built in what looked like an old hotdog selling stand, with multiple walls having seemingly been broken on purpose.
The same could be said about everything in here. Every shop, stands, stalls and booth in the stadium, and the stadium itself, were in a heavy state of damage with makeshift and shody signs of repair. A vending machine covered with nails, stairs made out of broken ladders, bookshelves made out of broken chairs and chairs made out of broken shelfs, doors that were simply holes covered with curtains and much more.
It however all had a simple charm. Or maybe it was the liveliness and tranquility of all the shadowy beings that were living and sleeping through the facility. They were playing all kinds of games, from poker to somehow stabbing each other with those same cards. Some games went from relatively normal to ridiculous and absurd.
And quite brutal at times. There were times where they would throw each other around causing who knows how much property damage. I almost got hit by a four legged being that got thrown through a door as I passed by. He quickly got up and ran back only to be thrown into the wall. This repeated itself multiple times before I decided to leave.
The beings themselves were pretty nice, but like only five or six of them used paper and ink to write with. Which made communicating challenging. I had to try and read their body language, which was hard as none of them were very pony-like and made even harder as they had no facial features. Not even the mouths.
One taught was kind enough to teach me how to use the vending machines laying around after I almost maimed myself. The machines had the unpleasant habit of turning whatever snake you chose into high velocity ballistic projectiles. Also ,ever used those that aren't covered in at least two dozen nails, for some reason.
They also had no problem sleeping anywhere and everywhere. Some sleeped on broken stairs, while others lay on discarded piles of sharp debriss. Some sleepely dangled from holes in the walls and floors. I laughed a bit as I saw one of them was sleeping while attached onto the ceiling with duct tape.
I was starting to get the hang to the layout of the building after having gotten lost repeatedly. Which I did just now after having entered an unexplored area(by me) of the stadium. After having bumbled around for about fifteen minutes I entered the seating area overlooking the playing field. It was relatively crowded. Some just sat alone while others stood in groups doing who knows what.
The playing field itself was much more crowded than the seating area. The beings there were playing all kinds of games and sports without rhyme or reason. At least I think so. There were quite a few explosions and a whole bunch of beings being thrown into the air. It was also an incoherent mess.
As there were plenty of different groups playing all kinds of different games , sometimes bumping into other groups. It was an entertaining sight to say the least.
Until a makeshift rocket flew near me blowing a dozen seats into pieces. So I left. I thought about where to head. I could go to the library and see what strange literature was likely there. Or I could go to a restaurant and eat something else. I decided not to, after remembering the prevalent smell of cooked meat that had been there.
The roof would give me a good view of the surrounding area. And I was curious about what kind of contraptions would be situated there.
Cannons and catapults. That's what lay on the roof. All kinds of makeshift armaments that looked like they would disintegrate upon use.
Reaching the roof was easy enough, the only challenge being the ramshackle stairs and a locked door. I opened the door with the keys that I had been given earlier. Only a dozen shadowy beings could be seen hanging around onto the floor. Tending and repairing the makeshift artillery.
One of which exploded without any reason. Which was not reassuring.
I decided to ignore the volatile armament and examined the horizon. The glowing pillar of light that indicated the rift was concealed by the distance and plumes of smoke. The signs of ever progressing destruction were however slowly getting closer and closer.
I looked up into the sky seeing only a dark expanse filled with some dim stars. Not even any kind of moonlight.
A shadowy being tapped on my shoulder. I looked at him and the piece of paper he was holding 'Should I be worried about that.' He pointed towards the increasing signs of damage. I simply nodded. This made him look worried before he left to continue working on a triple barreled arbalest.
I thought a bit. Getting from here to the rift, which should allow me to head back home, would not be easy. And if I succeeded then I would be leaving all of the inhabitants of this realm alone to their fate. Which did not sit well with me.
Well I still had time to ponder my options.