Darkness.
Me standing in the dark, looking out. Nothing out there. But I feel it. Something is here
“hello?” My voice, unsure in the void, echoing into the distance.
Hello, friend.
I felt that reply. I didn’t hear it. Did I? Something is off about this.
I called out into the darkness, “Who’s there?” A quick silence followed my voice as it trailed off.
Call me Fellenth.
“What are you?” It’s nothing of my creation, and I am clearly not dreaming. Am I? Is this a dream?
Friend. But I am Elken.
Immediately I knew who it was. The prisoner across from me. The elk. He somehow is talking to me. How? I was very suspicious, and was starting to prepare for a fight.
You know not of Elken magic?
My jaw dropped open a bit as I realized he had read my thoughts. He can see things.
I will not intrude.
Fellenth sounded reliable enough, but I was still very cautious. Tentatively, I asked, “What do you need?”
Help. You can free me.
I was confused at this, since I was in no position to help. I decided to humor him. “How?”
Your key.
The key that the stallion gave me earlier must be by my body. But how did Fellenth know?
Your mind.
“No more reading my mind,” I demanded. But I continued quickly, “Why should I help you, anyways?”
Freedom. Revenge. Sky.
I immediately got angry. “Don’t you DARE talk about her. I don’t care if I need your help or not. You read more, you die.” I was truly preparing to fight now, ready for anything.
Please. I’ll explain. Take the bag off.
This stopped me for a moment, wondering what he meant. Then I figured out he meant the bag on his head. Curious, I spat out, “Why?”
Restrains magic. Come to me.
His “voice” was more urgent now, almost pleading. Almost. “But how? I’m asleep.”
Wake.
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My eyes shot open as I woke up, instantly awake. I was lying on my side, sprawled out. My body was sore, but wasn’t in as much pain as I had imagined. Maybe I was getting used to it. I craned my neck painfully and looked over to the elk. The sensation of being watched was happening again, and I felt like he was calling me. I winced as I brought my head back down, and had to forcibly push in order to move my body. Pain immediately accompanied the motions, but I was starting to get determined.
I had to hear the answers.
I flopped heavily onto my stomach, feeling instant pain all over my body. I was already sweating and gritting my teeth, but I couldn’t give up yet. I reached out and grabbed the key and card, and put them in my mouth as I put one hoof forward, and slowly started to pull my way along. The going slow and painful, taking massive amounts of energy to keep going. I started to grunt as I exerted more and more, inching along at a snail’s pace. But I had to continue.
Come.
I paused, letting my body lie and get some rest as I breathed heavily. I had heard someone say something, but I didn’t think I heard it aloud. I was assuming it was Fellenth, but I wasn’t sure. Wherever it came from, it was like a sound carried by the wind, barely audible.
I let myself rest a little bit more before continuing to pull myself to the cell door. I was almost within reach, yet it seemed like it had been a great distance.
As I put one more hoof forward, I was now able to get to the cell door. But this was going to be the challenge, seeing as how I had to get the key to the lock up a ways on the cell door. I put my forehooves on the bars in front of me and pulled me up to it. Then I had to push my torso up by my hooves and reach, which was excruciatingly painful. I almost had to pause, but I went through the pain. Barely. I swung my left hoof up to the lock, and managed to latch on to it tightly as my other forehoof gave out. I was holding myself up by the bar, and it was causing me to grunt loudly in pain. I dangled there, slowly giving up.
I can’t do this. My body can’t..
Sky.
I heard the voice clearer now, and recognized the word he had called. I knew what he was trying to do, and it was a good strategy. Because I knew I couldn’t give up. He knew something about her, and I had to find out what it was. So I growled loudly, tears of pain starting to form as I threw my right forehoof up to another bar and held myself. I pulled myself close to the door, and fumbled with the key from my mouth to my hoof.
But just as I was about to bring the key to the lock, the key slid right out of my shaking grasp and fell.
Slowly.
It was almost suspended in slow motion as I watched with crashing hopes.
No!
As it crashed onto the floor with a tink, I quickly lost all my strength and dropped to the ground, not caring about the screaming pain as I collapsed heavily onto the floor. I lied there and stared over at Fellenth, who still did not move. However, the other prisoners stirred a little, hearing the key drop. However, not one said anything.
I limply threw my right hoof onto the door pulled at it. Surprisingly, it moved a little. Instantly, I decided to start pulling on the jail door more. It slowly moved a little more.
Why isn't it locked?
Then it hit me. The image of the stallion that gave me the key. he closed the door, smirking. But didn't lock it....
Didn't lock it... He's playing at something. But what? I dismissed thinking about it too deeply since I had a lot more to do.
Using all my willpower, I slowly moved the cell door far enough apart to squeeze my way through. The cell door was quiet enough, so I wasn't worried about any guards rushing in. So, I rested for a little bit, pain being numbed by adrenaline that started to flow through me, and steeled myself for the challenges ahead.
Close.
Since I was closer to Fellenth, I started to hear him stronger than before and with that, I could start to feel a little bit of emotion: hope. This helped me become determined and start to drag myself closer. I ignored the pain I felt, and kept putting one forehoof in front of another. I had to keep moving. Must. Keep. Moving.
Reaching Fellenth's cell took a large sum of energy, not to mention a dizzying amount of pain. I was breathing heavily and sweat was covering my body, flattening my disheveled mane. But I had reached his cell. Now all that was left was to unlock it. Before exerting myself like last time, I quickly checked to make sure the cell was locked. Shaking it, I confirmed that it was. Steeling myself once more, I slowly and painfully hoisted myself up to the lock. I was shaking with pain and exhaustion, but I was so close that I kept pushing myself. Moving the key carefully to the lock, I was rewarded with a simple insertion and turning of the key before I heard a small click.
Satisfied, I pulled the key out and slid down the door easily before opening it enough for me to pull through. Being so close to Fellenth, I could feel a powerful aura surrounding him. I felt a little more energized, which helped me crawl as fast as possible. Reaching his figure, I crawled a little on top of him to start undoing the bag. "Sorry," I added as I was struggling with the bag as well as being on top of him. He seemed amused, because I heard a small chuckle in my mind. I was having particular trouble getting the bag off of his antlers, but clamoring onto his back and focusing one antler carefully, I managed to get it off of one antler.
As soon as I could see the antler, several things happened. Firstly, the tips of the antler glowed, and instantly the bag shot off of the other antler. Secondly, I heard the chains holding Fellenth release and fall off. Lastly, I was magically lifted off of him as he stood up to his full height. He stretched regally, making absolutely no sound. Then he turned his head and pierced me with his ominous black eyes.
Thank you for releasing me. It is time for many explanations. First, however. We must fix you, small pony.
I was still being levitated by magic, but that seemed to be the plan. Fellenth's antlers shown a little bit brighter and in an instant I felt a warmth growing throughout my body. Then, I felt sharp pains and heard cracking as I assumed his magic started to reshape my body and mend my broken bones.
Good. Now, while we wait, how about some explanations?