"I've been reckless" Eight finally spoke, having rested down against the wall next to the door. "I am reckless..."
Violet had occupied her time by cleaning up the room of all its scattered papers, levitating them into a neat stack with a levitation spell, giving Eight time to rest, but quickly stopped to turn to him, a look of worry on her face. "Eight..."
He didn't look at her, his sad gaze to the report paper between his hooves, titled 'Report on Darksiders'. "But that stops today." He said, his thoughts going back to the cruel words that Creature had whispered into his ear.
"You're Liam's recklessness. Your his accident, and you'll never be any more than that."
He scowled but his face quickly shifted to that of determination. "I may be a mistake... I may be an abandoned part of someone else, but that's not all I will be." Finally, Eight found his resolve, pushing himself to stand up off the floor, standing tall. Softly, he levitated the report up, folding it before slipping it to the deepest end of his pocket.
Violet didn't say anything. Nothing she could've said would've helped, so instead, she approached him, wrapping him in a tight hug, catching him by surprise.
Eight still wasn't used to the feeling, the warmth it brought. It made him pause before he finally melted into it, managed to hug her back.
- - -
A few minutes later, Eight and Violet found themselves trotting cautiously down the stairs into the 2nd-floor hallway, watching for any more shadow creatures, before stopping between the branches in the hallway, their gazes shifting between the splitting pathways. Something felt off.
"Does anything seem... Different to you?" Eight whispered, levitating his sword softly to his side, ready for anything that would occur. He couldn't quite put his hoof on what changed, but he could feel that something about the atmosphere had shifted.
Violet looked between Eight and the hallways before swallowing, cautiously moving slightly into each one, not saying a word as she examined and looking over everything before she finally looked to Eight. "Doesn't it seem... Quieter than before?"
Eight's ears stood up, listening closely, only to be met with nearly nothing but the natural, quiet creaking of the build itself and the soft wind emanating from outside. He began slowly sliding his sword onto his back, looking around again, before finally speaking up. "I think we might be alone."
Violet's eyes went a little wide, her partially cowering stance shifting, for once, standing up straight. "Where did they all go?"
Eight just stood still, trying to come up with an explanation, but found he couldn't think of anything and didn't actually care. "I don't know," With a sigh, he trotted forward, passed Violet, and into the hallway behind her. "But let's not waste this opportunity to get out too."
Violet just stood and watched before nodding, trotting up next to him, admittedly, a little too close, but Eight didn't say anything and just chose to watch her.
He couldn't help himself but find himself softly smiling as they stepped onto the stairs leading further down.
"Huh?" Violet tilted her head, looking up at Eight, one eyebrow raised. "What's got you smiling?"
Eight could make himself stop smiling as they stepped into the first floor and stopped, his smile, instead, grew a little wider as he stared. "Nothing, it's just," He shook his head before bringing his hoof up, placing it on her head softly. "I hadn't noticed how much shorter you are than me."
Violet had frozen in place, not really sure how to process his words. Her head bearly reached above Eight's neck, her horn included. After a moment she shook her head before softly glaring. "Hey! That's rude!"
Eight paused, tilting his head. "Oh, sorry, I'm not trying to insult you or anything," He quickly pulled his hoof away, scratching the back of his head. "I just hadn't noticed before... Didn't really have the opportunity." Eight couldn't help but let out a nervous chuckle as he spoke.
Violet's glare did soften a bit but still wasn't quite gone yet. "Well, I'm not weak, just because I'm short." After a few moments, it was her turn to make a determined expression. "I... I'm tired of not being able to help... I don't want to be... Something to be kept safe." Violet's determined look deepened. "No, I want to help! I want to fight like you, by your side!"
Eight stared at her for a long moment, caught off guard by just how passionate she was, but just then, he really started to understand her.
She'd been living in this town for a long while, hiding and running for her life from creatures far more dangerous than can be described. Anyone would get tired of not fighting back, of cowering in the shadows. And then he shows up, making them look trivial and her look weaker.
Eight's surprise turned to a gentle but understanding smile before he once again patted her on the head. "Okay, deal."
Violet stopping, staring in confusion at him. "Wha-?"
"I'll help you learn to fight these things, from what little I've actually learned, and in turn, you can fight by my side," Eight smiled at her more, pulling his hoof away and trotting further into the hallway. "As an equal."
It took a moment for Violet to fully register what he had said, her expression shifting from hope to hesitation, but finally, after a moment, she softly smiled. Another moment later, she had quickly trotted after him.
- - -
The entrance hall was left in total ruin. Its wooden floor was blanketed by a beautiful red carpet, that now sat torn to shreds by the claw marks of the many creatures that had trampled over it, just on their way inside. Intricate patterns of vines had once been engraved into the wall, but now, all that was left were warnings- that although weak alone, those shadow creatures were not to be messed with, in groups.
Eight couldn't find his words, slowly coming to a stop in the center of the room, where a pole that held an intricately designed clock had once stood, now laying on the ground, the glass that shielded its face shattered and scattered.
"Oh, my goddesses..." Violet whispered, trotting up beside him. "How can something do this much damage?" She looked almost sad as she spoke, moving and kneeling next to what was left of the clock. "I remember coming in this way. I couldn't help but stop and admire the room." A hint of nostalgia oozed from her every word, bringing her hoof down to wipe some of the glass away from it. "I even remember stopping in front of this and watching, waiting for the hands to move, but... They never did." She let out a soft sign. "I can't believe I ran back here after I saw you following me..."
Eight let out a sigh, turning to her before trotting up to that clock as well. "Come on, we should go. Nothing we can do now." Not even waiting, he stood up tall and began making his way towards the exit, leaving Violet no choice but to stand and follow.
The sun softly rose over the far horizon, barely being block by the nearby buildings across the street, one of which, being another shop.
"Finally," Eight took a deep breath, before letting out a relieved sigh. "Some fresh air."
Violet stepped out after him, not being able to stop herself from doing the same. "I had almost forgotten what the sun looked like."
With a smile, Eight collapsed onto the ground, into a wet patch of grass off to the side of the concrete pathway that led to the sidewalk. He could feel himself begin to relax before Violet stepped up next to him, sitting down with a dumb smile on her face.
"Feel good?" She said in a slightly mocking tone, but even she started dragging her hoof through the grass.
"Better than can be described." For the first time, Eight felt like he could actually relax, not feeling the weight of responsibility anymore. It only took one sound to take that away, though.
The familiar popping sound of Teia echoed from behind him.
Eight's smile faded.
"Sorry to interrupt." Teia leaned down over him, into his vision, her hair dangling down just in front of his face. "I need to talk to you."
Eight's joy had quickly been evaporated, replaced with annoyance. "I'm done talking." Without any warning, he sat up, catching Teia by surprise, making her stumble back before he stood up completely.
"Wha-" Teia was left dumbstruck but quickly shook her head, getting her composure back. "But this is important."
"No," He quickly cut her off, turning to face her with a dull expression. "What's important is me and Violet find a way out, now." Sighing, he calmed himself. "I don't care about answers anymore, Teia. If getting answers involves throwing myself into another reckless battle, I'm done looking for them."
"But-" Teia tried, only to be cut off again.
"But nothing." Eight said sharply, reaching into his pocket before pulling out the map of the town and opening it. "That castle is more than 5 miles away, and I could barely make 1 without running into danger." He turned his attention to the streets on the map, managing to spot the name of the road they'd exited onto- Bastion Rd. "From the looks of it, we're closer to the exit than we are to the castle."
"Eight," Violet had spoken up, catching Eight by surprise. There was a sadness in her voice. "We can't leave."
"What?" Eight looked up from the map, towards her.
Violet was still sitting in the grass, staring down at a nearby flower with a sad expression, digging her hoof into the grass around it.
"What?" He questioned, looking between Violet and Teia, a confused expression on his face. "Why?"
- - -
Eight felt his determination fade as all three of them stared down over the edge of the ruined street that was once the exit to the town, into the empty void that had enveloped anything and everything below.
"There isn't any way out of Silence, for you." Teia finally spoke up, shifting her gaze to Eight. "Silence is completely and totally cut off from everything."
Eight was struck nearly silent at the sight, but he soon found his words. "How?" He whispered the annoyance he had suppressed coming back in full force. "How is this even possible." He turned to Violet.
She softly let out a sigh and shrugged. "I don't know, I just woke up here." She began, her gaze slowly shifting upward, staring into the sky. "I woke up here, falling from the sky." Softly, she shook her head, trying to jog her memory. "That was about... 3 months ago."
"You've been here for..." Eight found himself caught on her words. "3 months?"
Violet had survived 3 whole months of running and hiding from those creatures. She gave a soft, sad smile, not turning to meet Eight's eyes. "I had little to no memory, barely a fragment of who I was before I had arrived here."
"The only way to escape Silence sits locked up, in that castle at the center of this place," Teia spoke back up, catching both of their attention. Her voice sounded regretful and worried as she turned and began trotting away from the ledge. "With my powers, I know I can get to it, but unfortunately, I can't take anyone with me... The power I have, that allows me to teleport from place to place, unfortunately, only works for me."
Eight thought about her words for a moment, trying not to let the worry of Violet overtake them, before narrowing his eyes a little, curious. "Teia, what exactly are your powers?"
Teia stopped in place, her ears standing tall in surprise. For a moment, she just stood there before lowering her head and turning it to look over her shoulder. "I'm not sure if I should tell you..."
Eight just raised his eyebrow, before letting out a sigh. "Was that another rule you were given?"
Teia stared at him for a moment, before looking away in thought. "Actually..." Her eyes shifted back and forth from Eight to ground before finally looking back at him. "Now that I think about it, I don't remember being told not to do that."
"Is it something related to time?" Violet suddenly said, trotting past Eight before pointing a hoof at Teia's flank.
Eight just watched, tilting his head before looking where she pointed.
On Teia's flank was the image of a glowing clock. Teia looked a little caught off guard by her suggestion but shook her head. "Oh, uh."
"I mean, your Cutie Mark is a clock, so I just assumed." Violet quickly said, seeing Teia's expression.
"I mean, uh, yes." Teia shook her head again before turning completely to face them. "It has something to do with time, actually..." She suddenly stopped, her voice trailing off, as she fell deep into thought again.
After a moment, Eight trotted up next to Violet, the two of them watching her intently.
A few moments later, she let out a sigh and smiled a little. "I'll make you a deal, Eight." Turning up to meet his stare, she continued. "If you can make it to the castle, on the other side of town, I'll tell you about my powers."
He cocked his head, raising another eyebrow. "Is that a promise?"
After a moment, Teia brought a hoof up and pressed it against a closed eye. "Stick a cupcake in my eye." At Eight's confused look, she giggled a little before letting out a relieved sigh. "And Eight?" For a moment, she paused before standing up tall, putting on a brave face. "I'll try and help out a little more." Thumping a hoof against her chest, she smiled with confidence. "Forget a few of those dumb rules, I'm done standing on the sidelines and not helping."
Eight stared for a long moment, a little shocked, but soon found himself smiling, for once, thankful for Teia.
She simply smiled back before finally relaxing and turning. "That's what I came here to talk to you about," With a sad sigh, she looked back at Eight and Violet before closing her eyes. "So, unfortunately, I'll need to be on my way for now... I promise to tell you of any dangers moving forward." And with that, she tensed up her body, smiling, before suddenly vanishing into a soft flash of light, the loud pop echoing around in the aftermath.
Turning to Eight, Violet let out a sigh, trotting back up the street, into town. "Well, what now?"
Eight quickly followed after, in deep thought before finally speaking. "First things first, let's map out our route to the castle," Gently, he levitated the town map out of his pocket with the Crystal, opening it. "Then you're going to tell me what the hell that 'Cutie Mark' thing is."
Violet tilted her head, genuine confusion crossing her face. "You don't know what a Cutie Mark is?" With a glance, she added. "But you have one."
Eight suddenly stopped, turning to her, before following her gaze, seeing that on his flank, bearly hidden by his coat, the image of a dark droplet with something at its center was displayed.
- - -
The sound of hooves echoed through the alleyway as Eight and Violet trotted forward, their eyes wandering across stray graffiti that lined each wall, as well as rotting garbage.
"So, cutie marks are..." Eight paused, trying to find his words. He'd found himself nearly dumbstruck by the idea of cutie marks. "Cutie marks are a picture that appears on your flank to show what your special talent is- what makes you... Special?"
A soft 'uh-huh' escaped Violet's lips, her mind clearly elsewhere before she turned her attention back to him. "They're seen as a sign of maturity in most parts of Equestria when you finally understand yourself." With a sigh, she added. "It's definitely not, but still, they're something to be celebrated."
"That seems honestly kinda stupid." Eight's words escape his mouth before he could stop himself. He could feel the soft glare from Violet before she let out a sigh again.
"I still find it odd that you don't know about them." Violet softly slowed, lifting the back of Eight's coat, staring at the picture on his flank curiously. "Though, with a cutie mark like that, I can understand being confused. I can't seem to understand what it represents."
"That," Eight was quick to speak up, feeling a slight amount of embarrassment from how often she'd looked at it. "And I have no memories of cutie marks." Softly, Eight kicked his coat back down before continuing to trot. "I'm not sure where that Liam is from, but it's clearly somewhere, where that kind of thing was foreign."
"Yeah, I guess." Quickly, she caught back up, trotting by Eight's side. "Speaking of that, could you explain it to me again? I can't quite grasp that Darksider thing, and you, uh, being one?"
Eight stopped in his tracks, his gaze to the ground before he turned to her. He just stared and thought, before he spoke simply. "I'm a piece- closer to a fragment of someone else, named Liam." With a wave of his hoof, he added. "Something about crossing universes, I don't really know." Eight looked over Violet, still finding no trace of scratches or bruises on her. "You should know, you're a Darksider too."
Violet cocked her head, raising her eyebrow. "How so?"
"You don't bleed." Eight said bluntly, before continuing to trot forward. "You and I both seem to heal physically, extraordinarily fast, but the pain doesn't go away unless we rest and heal using this Crystal."
"So," Violet just stood there, staring as he spoke before she looked to her hoof. It's clear that she'd be wondering about that too. "I'm a fragment of someone else?"
Eight softly turned to her.
"I'm just someone else?" Her voice sounded sad as she spoke those words.
Eight looked down to his hooves, looking for the right words. Was he just Liam? Was he destined to be another Liam? "No." Eight spoke back up, turning his gaze back to Violet. "You used to be someone else."
Violet looked to him, caught off guard by his words.
"I'm not Liam, and I don't want to be." Eight took a deep breath, trying to believe in his words. "I'm Eight, and I'll be whoever the hell I want to be." Again, he found himself pausing. Did he really just want to be called Eight? He hadn't fully realized, but if he so chooses, he could call himself something else.
Violet stared, struck silent. It was clear on her face, she was considering his words. And in but a moment, she had run up and hugged Eight, squeezing the breath nearly out of him. "Thank you." She finally spoke.
"You're... Welcome..." Eight said through squeezed breaths.
A moment later, Violet let him go, before softly giggling. "Sorry."
He took a deep breath, pressing his hoof against his chest. "It's fine." He said, a small raspiness in it. "Now, ahem, let's keep moving. We're bearly 1/3 of the way there." Eight turned to trot, only to stop again, not hearing her follow. Quickly, he turned back again, his eyebrow raised.
Violet stared hard at Eight, something clearly on her mind. "I can be... Anyone I want to be?" She muttered under her breath.
"What of it?" Eight trotted back to her, cocking his head.
Violet stared more, a look of determination on her face before she suddenly smiled. "Hey," she spoke quickly, jumping slightly closer to Eight. "How about being my big brother?"
Eight gasped and stumbled back, his face going completely red. "Wait, what?!" He couldn't quite find his words, the only thing he could manage to get out was "wha- but- brother-?"
"You said I could be anything," She spoke back up, a hint of excitement evident in her voice. "And I want to be your sister! I've always wanted a big brother!"
Eight's mind had gone fully blank at the idea, his words still escaping him. It took a moment before he managed to shake his head, collecting his thoughts. "That's a big ask, Violet."
"Is it?" She said with a head-tilt, genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"Yes!" Eight quickly spoke, steadying himself. "That's... Wow, I don't know." Eight turned and began trotting away, his face completely red. "I'll, uh, think about it?"
Violet's smile had softened, but she seemed to accept that, trotting after him. "That works for me."
- - -
The trot through the alleyways had become noticeably more awkward since the two last spoke, Eight not being able to wrap his mind around Violet's request.
His thoughts were a total mess, still trying to rationalize it all, but he just couldn't keep his mind straight, mixed with partial exhaustion.
"Eight?" Violet suddenly spoke up, a hint of worry in her tone.
That was enough to catch Eight's attention, pulling him out of his thoughts before he stopped and turned to her. "Violet?"
Violet just stood in place, huddled closer to the ground again, a look of fear in her eyes. Her ears stood up tall, listening closely. "Please... Tell me I'm just hearing thing..."
Quickly, Eight lifted his ears, listening too. His eyes grew wide as the familiar sound of growls along with the stampeding paws of far too many Shadow Dogs echoed through the alley. Quickly, Eight turned back around, pulling his sword off his back with the crystal's magic. "How can there be so many of these things?"
Violet quickly pressed herself closer to Eight, looking between the alleyway ahead of them and behind them.
Suddenly, Six shadow dogs rounded the corner behind them, skidding to a stop as they drew close.
Gasping, Eight turned, stepping in front of Violet and bringing his blade in front of himself, getting into a defensive stance. "This... Is not good..."
Violet panted loudly, her eyes wide. "What do we do?" She whispered, her voice quivering.
Just then, a smile seemed to break across each of the faces of the creatures, their growls growing louder, before three of them turned to face one other.
"Wha-?" Eight couldn't even finish speaking before his eyes grew wide.
With the unison of three ear-piercing cries, all three Shadow Dogs pouncing together, their bodies melding to one another, creating a pitch black blob that oozed and pulsated in the air.
Violet collapsed against Eight at the sound, clutching her ears.
Eight just braced himself against the sound, bearly seeing what was going on through a single squinted eye.
Soon after forming, a claw quickly shot out of the blob, planting itself in the cracked concrete below, followed by three more. The blob began shaping itself to that of a tiger, a saber-like head coming out at the front, bearing its four large fangs, however, the claws of the creature never seemed to attach themselves back to the body. They seemed to move as if being telekineticlly controlled.
Eight stared in shock, his eyes wide and his breath shallow.
Without any warning, the creature pounced at Eight, outstretching its claws, floating far away from the body and moving behind Eight. As soon as the Saber bit down onto his sword, its claws had slashed at his back.
Eight screamed, dropping to the ground, his sword falling to his side.
"Eight!" Violet screamed, stumbling back.
The creature didn't wait for a second, winding up a powerful bite, aimed for his neck. Suddenly, it was pushed back, a violet aura around its neck.
Eight stared up before turning to Violet.
She was standing, shaking, her eyes locked on the creature. "Run." She could barely muster, panting loudly. Her magic around her horn began to flicker. "Eight, Run!"
He quickly shook his head, kicking up onto his hoof and scooping his hoof into his Crystal's magic, dashing and grabbing Violet's hoof.
Her magic quickly broke as she turned and sprinted with Eight, panting hard.
As soon as the creature's paws hit the ground, it dashed quickly after them, the three other shadow dogs following behind.
Quickly, Eight turned to a corner with Violet, slashing and destroying a Shadow Dog as it pounced.
However, the Saber quickly jumped the corner, landing in front of them, and sending a claw at him.
It hit his sword as he barely managed to bring it up, before quickly reprising with a quick slash at the creature. His blade bounced off of it, him bearly spotting a darkly colored bone-like armor encompassing most of its body.
Without a second thought, it sent another claw at Eight, slashing at the side of his neck.
He quickly fell back, landing hard onto the ground, screaming loudly.
Violet stumbled down next to him, panting hard as her horn glowed again. She quickly swung her head to the side, a large dumpster rolling out across the alley, slamming into the creature. Violet's magic suddenly popped loudly, fizzling before her head collapsed to the ground, leaving her panting hard.
Groaning, Eight didn't waste his time, rolling onto his hooves and lifting both his sword and Violet into his Crystal's magic before breaking into a sprint, dodging past the Saber, and turning down another alley.
The extra pack of Shadow Dogs quickly sprinted after them.
Panting hard at the strain he was putting on his body, Eight slashed at one with his sword, cutting through it.
Just then, the Saber rounded the corner, quickly catching up, seemingly missing a single claw.
"Come on!" Eight screamed, turning his attention in front of himself. His eyes grew wide as he approached a large hole in the ground, blocking off the entrance to what looked like a factory. Thinking fast, Eight lept up, forcing the Crystal's magic around himself too, using his momentum to floating himself and Violet across.
However, the Saber quickly sent its claw up, slashing his back, knocking him forward.
Eight's consideration broke, the magic around him and Violet breaking.
They both quickly tumbled forward, Eight bearly grabbing onto the ledge, as Violet hit the ground next to his sword.
He gasped, looking back at the creature, seeing it growling and trying to reach its claw, but couldn't get it far enough.
"Eight!" Violet gasped, wrapping her hoof around his, panting hard.
He looked back up at her, grinding his teeth as he pushed himself, Violet pulling with what strength she had left. Quickly, he collapsed to the ground next to her, panting hard. "Violet?"
She continued to pant hard, her head slumped to the ground. "I'm... Okay..."
Rolling onto his side, he watched her, bearly managing to stay conscious, before groaning. "Oooh... I really hate this place..."