//------------------------------// // Run! // Story: Let's Play a Game // by Zelda Spectrum //------------------------------// Chapter 10 My Items: 12 tinderboxes 4 laudanum bottles Notebook Hammer and chipper Key to Freedom I put the note back in the chest and close the lid. Now that I have the key to the front door, I need to figure out how to get past the water monster and up onto the wooden balcony. Looking down at the boxes I knocked into the water a while ago, an idea forms in my head. I move over to the barrel that is still on the table, turn around, and buck it over to the left side of the room where it lands in the water. When the monster splashes over to investigate, I jump into the water an make my way to the wooden staircase. Realizing that it has been fooled, the monster roars and splashes back in my direction to try and make a meal out of me, but it is too late. I climb up the staircase and onto the wooden balcony where I see a metal door at the end. As I get closer to the door, I notice it is locked with a weakened padlock. I reach into my saddlebags and pull out the hammer and chipper. I pull out the hoof tool as well and place it on my left hoof. Inserting the chipper into the hoof tool, I take the hammer in my mouth and place the chipper inside the padlock. After a few swings from my hammer, the padlock breaks and I can now exit through the door. I place the tools back in my saddlebags and enter back into the room where I cleared the rock slide. I race down the corridor and up the flight of stairs to the door to the Main Hall. Once there, I take the key out of my saddlebags and trot over to the front door. However, when I insert the key into the lock, I hear a voice I was hoping never to hear again. “I won’t let you get away, you cur!” I turn around to see the Psycho charging at me with a giant kitchen knife. My heart starts pounding like a drum as I turn around and turn the lock; it opens with a click. As I quickly push the door open, I take the key out of the lock just in time to slam the door in the Psycho’s face. I immediately walk back to the door and use the key to lock it back. Now that they are stuck in the house, I turn around and run into the Everfree Forest back in the direction of Ponyville. As I run, I hurl the key somewhere into the forest and I hear it land with a plop. I do not know where the key landed, but I do not care. I feel a weight slip from my shoulders as I run and feel the warmth of the sun on my coat through the trees. I do not know if Cloud Runner made it out or not, but I have hope. We may not be the same when I return to Ponyville, but we will feel much better knowing the town is safe from those monsters and we can put this whole ordeal behind us. 20 years later… A white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane is wondering around in the Everfree Forest. Luna’s moon is shrouded behind dark clouds, heavy rain, and strong wind. As he tries to make his way through the muddy terrain, he kicks something metal with his front hoof. He looks down to where he has stepped to find a key covered in mud. Using is magic, he picks up the key and inspects it as the rain washes off the mud. It has become very rusty from years of weathering here in the forest. Lightning suddenly flashes, snapping the unicorn back to his surroundings. As the lightning flashes, he sees an old abandoned house in the middle of the forest. “At last; refuge!” the unicorn shouts in delight. Without hesitation, he sprints up to the front door of the house only to find it locked. His happiness starts to diminish as he continues to get drenched in rain. He then remembers the key he just found and tries it on the door. To his surprise, the door opens with a click and the key shows no sign of breaking. He hurries through the doors of the house eager to get out of the rain. “Hello?” he calls out, “Is any pony here?” His question is met by the voice of a teenage filly with a mentally disturbed tone. “Well, well, well, look what we have here.” The voice said, “It seems we have an unexpected guest; or maybe I should say…FRESH MEAT!” The End…?