Wind, hypnotized by the sight of the monster before him, was pulled back into reality when the creature let out another deafening roar and let go of the ceiling. Its body twisted about in midair, leaving Wind to stare up at its eight legs, ready to pummel him into the ground. Acting on instinct alone, Wind turned and broke into an all-out sprint to the room's edge. Despite his otherworldly speeds, Wind had barely escaped the spider's reach when the ground shook beneath him, signaling the monster's landing.
Wind could hear the beast charging at him from behind, using its massive size to keep pace with Wind, who had since begun panting heavily. Despite his victory against the smaller spiders, that earlier battle had taken a considerable amount of energy out of him - more energy than he had realized.
Wind, you're slowing down! You've got to keep running, or else he'll catch you!
I-I know... Wind panted. Instead of running...I've got to stand my ground...and fight...
Uh...what?
Gritting his teeth, Wind made one final push with his legs to get some extra distance and whirled around to face the monster. Up close, it seemed to be only larger and more horrible than before, with mandibles as large as Wind's entire body clicking furiously together. However, it too, stopped moving and stared Wind down, its one eye glaring with intense hatred. Throwing caution to the wind, the farmpony let out a battle cry and kicked off from the ground, launching himself onto the creature's armored back. Taken by surprise, the monster hesitated for a brief moment. In that moment, Wind stretched his sword up towards the cavern's roof, yelled out a battle cry, and drove his weapon down onto the creature's back with as much force as his powered-up leg muscles could muster.
The contact of sword on metal sent fierce vibration up Wind's foreleg and through his entire body. His teeth rattled inside of his skull as the force from his own attack knocked him clear off of the spider's body, sending him crashing into the dirt below. After a brief second of silence, Wind began to whine and rock back and forth, clutching his foreleg against his chest, his eyes tearing up from the pain.
Ow-ww...ngh...
Alright, not your brightest moment.
Sh-shut up...
Getting shakily to his hooves, Wind looked up to see the monster bearing down on him, a victorious gleam in its eye. Stifling a cough, the farmpony glared back with equal force and determination.
"I'm not going down without a fight!" Wind yelled. "You oversized arachnid!"
Hissing, the spider sent one of its gargantuan legs flying towards Wind from its right side. Thinking quickly, Wind dashed forwards, feeling the leg's fur skim the top of his mane as he did so. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a left leg swing towards him. He leaped straight up into the air, dodged the left leg, and twisted his body so that three of his hooves were touching the underside of the first leg. From his position, he was above the spider's back, and he kicked off from his makeshift platform, full force, aiming his sword for the monster's eye.
That's the one part of him that isn't shielded! If I can take it out...
However, Wind's plan was ruined when he saw two iron plates emerge from the edges of the eye where they touched the armor and connect in a circle, shielding the eye. Panicking, Wind pulled his sword to the side and stretched out his legs, preparing to land on the spider's back. He ungraciously tumbled head over hooves across the armored surface of the creature before skidding to a stop just a moment before he would have fallen off. Turning around, he saw the armor concealing the eye slide open. The eye darted around confusedly for a brief moment before resting on Wind. Growling, Wind made a dash towards the eye, ready to strike. However, one of the creature's legs flew up in front of the farmpony, quicker than he could react to in his tired state, and slammed into him, sending him flying horizontally across the room. The wind was forced out of him as he struck the wall, and he lost the strength to even cough as he slid down to the ground.
Struggling to breathe, Wind looked up to see that the spider had already come to meet him. The farmpony tried desperately to focus his blurry vision and rose shakily to his hooves. The spider remained still, staring at Wind curiously. Wind saw something glowing out of the corner of his eye and turned his head just a millimeter to look at it with his peripheral vision. It was one of the torches that had been hung on the room's walls - Wind guessed that he had accidentally knocked it down from its metal casing.
Fire...if I can somehow get that torch pressed against his eye, I would have a good chance of winning. Even if it just ends up against his armor, it could maybe melt it away.
I don't know...that thing has really good reflexes, and it can close up its eye at will. It won't be easy at all to get its eye to stay open for long enough. And to even begin melting away the armor, you'd need to press the flame up against it for a long time - longer than you'd ever have with a giant, angry spider trying to kill you.
It's still the best chance that we've got. I have to try it.
Wind returned his attention to the beast before him, refusing to give off any indication of his plan. The spider clicked its mandibles angrily and pounded its legs into the ground. Refusing to show how terrified he was, Wind yelled back, reared up onto his back legs, and threw some punches with his front hooves. After a moment of silence, the spider's clicking intensified. Its eye closed and its body began to shake. Fearing an attack, Wind dropped his stance. However, the creature did not attack - it simply stood there, clicking and shaking. It was not until the spider dropped to the ground entirely that Wind realized that it was, in fact, laughing at him.
A wave of fury and indignation shot through his veins, despite his fear. "C-cut it out! It's not funny!" was all that he could manage. Wind growled and prepared to leap forwards when the eye suddenly reopened.
Ah...hkehkehkeh...
A hissing, grating voice echoed throughout the cavern loudly. The hot anger that had rushed to Wind's face just a moment before froze over like ice.
Mmm...once again, I have - *ahem* - overestimated the situation.
The spider drew itself up from the floor, stretching out its legs to loom over Wind at its full height. I feel obligated to thank you. I have not had the need to...hkehkehkeh...fight anypony or anything in many moons. However, I had hoped that the powerssss that be might reward me for that wait with a...hkehkehkeh...sssspirited battle. Those powerssss have...mmm...disssappointed me, it seems.
The spider's eye narrowed. For that, I mussst also...mmm...condemn you...
Still slightly frozen in shock, Wind slowly began to step back from the monster. Gulping, he managed to reply dumbly, "...y-you can talk?"
The spider crashed down its front legs before Wind, causing him to shriek and shuffle backwards. The creature's eye was filled with hate. Do you think that I can talk?
"Oh, y-yes!" Wind replied, smiling nervously. "Y-you can sure talk, alright!" He continued to shuffle away from the spider. Unbeknownst to it, Wind was inching ever closer to the nearby torch, putting up a mask of fear as a facade.
Wind gulped inwardly. M-mostly a facade, anyways...
Edging closer to the torch, Wind tried to keep the spider distracted by keeping up the conversation. "I don't suppose you know why we're here?"
I happen to know exactly the reason. You're searching for one of the three...mmm...masksss of the Hero. I do indeed have what you're looking for, but you'll find it rather difficult to take it away from me...hkehkehkeh...
Wind narrowed his eyes. "That remains to be seen."
Does it? You're already having quite rough time...hkehkehkeh...
Wind could feel his heart slamming away inside of his chest as he continued to shuffle his way to the torch. "S-shut up. I haven't even started, yet. And once I find your weakness, it'll be easy."
The monster took a menacing step forwards. Mmm...my expertly protected, armored body has no weaknesses...my offensive ability is enough to take care of you, as you've seen...but I'll put everything into this fight, anyways...because you've made me mad...hkehkehkeh...
Hardly daring to breathe, and mere feet from the torch, Wind made one final reply to the spider. "And what have I done to anger you?"
The creature's eye narrowed, glaring down at Wind. My daughter, from the clearing...her name was Gohma. She was my sssstrongest child...and now you've killed her. I, Armogohma, as her mother...must avenge her...hkehkeh -
Not waiting for Armogohma to finish her statement, Wind dashed the final distance to the torch, picked it up in his mouth, and flew to Armogohma's front in the space of a second. Leaping over her fangs with a powerful backflip, he bore down on her eye from above with murderous intent, thrusting the torch out below him. However, Armogohma managed to react quickly, closing up her eye as Wind fell down upon her back. Predicting this, Wind tucked his body into a ball, rolled across the monster's back, and sprang to his feet, grinning.
"I've already found your weakness!" he cried. Armogohma hesitated, her body tensed and prepared for an attack. Wind continued on. "Your eye is your most vulnerable spot, and you can only protect it by cutting off your vision! It's true that I can't attack you now, but dodging your blind attacks won't be a problem now that I'm prepared. The next time that you open your eye will be your last!" Wind hoped that his powerful words were disguising his true fear and uncertainty.
Mmm...hkehkehkeh...have you forgotten where you're standing...and what you're fighting?
Suddenly, Wind felt a minute rush of air blow against him. Thinking quickly, he leaped upwards, dodging one of Armogohma's legs by a hair. He felt the monster shift beneath him just as he landed onto its back, throwing two more powerful legs at him.
I can still feel you...ssssmell you...hear you...
Wind growled and rolled to one side, but the legs managed to follow his movements exactly, changing course to continue rocketing straight towards him.
T-that's impossible! He isn't even looking!
A spider's senses are very astute...and living in the darknesssss of the underground has only served to enhance those senses...I could easily survive without my vision.
In a last ditch effort to escape, Wind leaped straight off of the spider's back, aiming to run away and regroup - but Armogohma was ready. One of her legs swung up in a titanic uppercut, snapping back Wind's neck and causing him to slam his head on her armored side. His vision shattered into a kaleidoscope of grays, reds, and blacks. A shrill whining began to sound in Wind's ears as he sank to the floor, practically motionless. Knowing that he had to somehow get away, he summoned up the last ounce of his strength and tried to limp away from Armogohma. Barely able to stand, he felt himself coughing up blood as he fell down after traveling just a few feet. As he continued to cough, he mused on the fact that, despite feeling his body shaking and heaving from the coughs, he couldn't hear a single noise coming out of his mouth.
WIND!!
The Hero of Time's voice came to him as a distant echo, and he could barely register it in his wounded state. He tried to stand multiple times, and each time, he fell down once again. His world narrowed down to the Hero's muffled pleas, the indescribable feeling of pain and numbness shooting through his body as one, and the sound of Armogohma cackling above him.
Thissss battle was over before it even began...you were a fool if you ever thought otherwise...why the Fierce Deity's descendant chose you as the Hero's vessel, I'll never know...hkehkehkeh...
Wind felt the last shred of his consciousness fading as Armogohma walked past him, each of the spider's steps a thunderous boom to the farmpony. He dimly realized that she was making her way towards Kiesh, who was crying out in a loud voice of indignation. Broken and defeated, Wind was just slipping into unconsciousness when Armogohma spoke to him one final time.
From here our plan will be ssssimple...now that he has given us a sign, we mask bearers will come together...and awaken him. His power will be such that a vessel would only serve to...mmm...hinder him. He will conquer your world easily, and with us at his side...hkehkehkehkeh...everypony will die. Anypony and everypony...especially those who you love...
Do you have a family, vessel?
A faint spark went off deep inside of Wind.
In the space of a few seconds, a plethora of images flashed through Wind's mind. He saw himself shuffling his way along a deserted path, completely alone. The night around him was dark and heavy, dragging the farmpony down into despair. He suddenly saw a bright glow light up the darkness of the night. Squinting, he saw an old, run-down cottage before him, sagging to one side. Its front door was open, and just outside of the cottage stood two figures - a mare and a filly. Their figures, outlined by the light shining at their backs, were pure black - their faces and bodies were completely shrouded. Wind didn't have to see them to recognize them.
A bright, sunny feeling rose up from deep within him. His melancholy limp turned into a brisk trot and then to an all-out run. The feeling grew more intense with every hoofstep until it became a blazing inferno of happiness, passion, love...and anger. Wind made one last push towards the house, reached the shadowy figures, blew past them into the house itself...and slammed back into reality, finding himself standing face to face with Armogohma, giving the creature a look of absolute hatred.
The monstrous spider's eye widened, and she took an uneasy step backwards. She seemed to shrink underneath Wind's murderous glare, and for the briefest of moments, she saw the faint apparition of a golden triangle surround the simple farmpony.
Wind suddenly whirled around and dashed away from Armogohma. In just a few seconds, he had made his way to the entrance of the room. Not looking back once, he disappeared into the darkness of the corridor beyond. Armogohma's confusion quickly transformed into a victorious feeling. She triumphantly turned to look down at Kiesh.
I've won, little pony...mmm...your friend has just abandoned you to save his own skin. Hkehkehkeh...your journey has ended before it had even -
Armogohma stopped, confused once again. Kiesh, disregarding her words entirely, was laughing.
~~~~~
Wind ran through the cavern at top speed, managing to follow the path of the wall on his right. He refused to slow down and instead lowered his head to run even faster. Before long, the faint glow of the cavern's entrance shone in the distance.
~~~~~
Armogohma began to stomp her way towards Kiesh. If you're mocking me, you're going to pay...
Kiesh smirked, stifled a cough, and raised his head to meet the spider's imposing glare with an equally forceful one.
"You got carried away...and said too much."
~~~~~
Wind slammed his hooves against the ground, scraping up copious amounts of dirt as he tried to slow himself down. He managed to skid to a stop just underneath the cavern's entrance. He whipped around to face the direction that he had come from and dropped into a low stance.
~~~~~
Armogohma slammed her front legs down on either side of Kiesh, shaking the entirety of the cavern. You are in no position to dictate what I can and cannot say.
Unfazed, Kiesh simply grinned. "It doesn't matter what you say right now...the damage has already been done."
~~~~~
With a noise like a cannon blast, Wind kicked off from the ground and shot down the cavern as fast as he could manage. He rocketed forwards like a bullet down the barrel of a gun, and his speed nearly doubled in just a few seconds. He scowled and thrust his left foreleg - and by extension, his sword - against the wall. Seemingly immune to the recoil that he should have been experiencing, Wind stubbornly scraped his sword against the wall as he dashed his way back to the room. After just a moment, the friction of steel on earth lit the sword on fire, and Wind pointed the sword behind him, leaving a floating trail of fire in his wake. The impossibility of the burning sword didn't occur to Wind, and he additionally failed to notice the faint golden aura surrounding the weapon.
A glint of light shining at the edge of Wind's sight rapidly grew to encompass the farmpony's entire world. Knowing what would come next, Wind strained his legs with all of his might and increased his speed to an even higher level. The air screamed around him in its haste to get out of his way. Wind leaped like a shot through the room's entrance with a roaring bang.
"ARMOGOHMAAAAA!!!"
The world around Wind slugged along as though it was in slow motion. Armogohma heard his voice, began to raise her legs - and realized that she was far too late.
Wind gritted his teeth and braced his body for impact. "THIS..."
He flew across the length of the room, in mid-air, in less than half of a second.
"IS MY...!!"
He brought his sword around to his front with a mighty heave. His now bloodshot eyes opened wide.
"POTENTIAL!!!!!"
Wind's sword collided against Armogohma's body with a flash of light and a sickening crunch. The monster's shrieking turned to strained gargling as Wind stubbornly pushed his white-hot weapon through the spider's throat. His sword roughly cleaved its way through several hundreds of pounds of living flesh - and then some. Armogohma's armor was powerless to stop the assault, and it swiftly broke apart underneath Wind's onslaught. A faint, squishy popping noise, overtaken soon afterwards by the grating of sword on flesh, signified the destruction of Armogohma's eye.
Then, just half a second after Wind had struck the monster, he had carved his way out of it. His attack had managed to slow his body down tremendously, such that he needed only to skid forwards a few meters before coming to a complete halt. For about a minute, the only sounds that Wind could hear were his own heavy panting and the hissing of his sword, now unignited. He turned to look at his sword, and, with faint curiousity, realized that his foreleg had begun to turn red.
A millisecond after, and the pain registered.
"YEE-OOW! HOT - HOT - HOT!" Wind shook his foreleg frantically, trying to shake off the weapon to no avail. His eyes began to tear up from the pain as he dashed towards Kiesh.
"KIESH! HEY!"
The traveler stoically looked up from his position on the ground. "Hello."
"GET IT OFF!" cried Wind.
"Please specify yourself," Kiesh replied.
"PLEASE - TAKE - OFF THE SWORD! YOU CAN CONTROL IT WITH YOUR MIND, RIGHT?!"
"Essentially, the process works that way - "
"JUST DO IT!!"
Sighing, Kiesh closed his eyes. The sword retracted and the band slipped off of Wind's foreleg and onto the ground. A ring of fur had been burned away around the farmpony's foreleg where the band had been pressing against him. Hissing and groaning, Wind vainly blew on his wound, trying to heal himself. Stopping after a few moments, he collapsed with a huff next to Kiesh.
"Kiesh..." he panted. "I want to know something. Tell me honestly - is there some kind of mechanical switch inside of you that regulates your personality? Because that's the only thing that I can think of that justifies your behavior. One minute, your talking like some kind of brave soldier to me, and the next, you're just this iron wall of unfeeling."
"Mechanical switches do not exist or form inside of ponies, much less ones that regulate personality. To my knowledge, I have no such switch."
Wind stayed still for a moment before keeling over entirely, letting his face hit the ground with a hollow smack. "...y-you know what? Forget that I asked anything."
Kiesh shrugged. "Very well." He stretched out his neck to gaze past Wind, towards the center of the room. "I assume that you've slain Armogohma."
Wind stood up shakily. "Y-yeah, I think that I have...just give me one minute to check."
He turned around and set off towards the center of the room to look at what was left of Armogohma's body - and flinched away at the sight. A massive pool of green blood had stretched itself out underneath the beast, which was at this point truly unrecognizable as anything that could be - or could have once been - alive. The two halves of its carcass had fallen inwards, causing all eight of the monster's legs to be pointing up at the room's ceiling, as if reaching out for some way to cling onto life. Thankfully, Wind did not have to see the creature's mangled eye.
"Ugh..." Wind groaned. "If you could see that thing just over my shoulder, why did you ask me if it was dead?"
"One can never be too sure," droned Kiesh.
Suddenly, the spider's legs twitched slightly...and then a deep, otherworldly sigh seemed to emanate from the corpse.
Wind's eyes widened. "H-hold up. Something's going on."
With a shock, Wind saw Armogohma begin to dissolve into a thick, purple smoke. Every last bit of mangled spider-flesh simply transformed on the spot and collected itself into a big ball near the center of the room. Even the green-tinted blood upon the ground hissed and evaporated up to become more of the stuff. Once the spider was completely gone, the smoke began to spin around quickly, generating a weak windstorm that buffeted the farmpony. Despite the small scale of the winds, his body had been through tremendous pressure and damage, and he fell back to the ground easily. As the winds picked up in strength, gaining enough speed to generate faint whistling sounds, the ball of smoke collapsed in on itself, growing smaller, and smaller...until, all at once, the winds stopped and the smoke solidified into a hard object that fell to the floor.
Once again, the room was silent. Without breaking this silence, Wind slowly began to walk forwards towards the object. Upon reaching it, he realized that it was a wooden mask. He took it up into his hooves and inspected it. Four eyes had been painted onto it where a pony's eyes would be, and two large, curved fangs, akin to tusks, stretched out from either side of the mask's mouth-hole. Where a nose would be, there was a simple expanse of flat wood. Wind realized that, unlike the rabbit's mask that he was wearing at this very moment, this mask's whole face had been painted with painstaking care.
H-hey...is this it? Is this one of them?
Um...yeah, it is. This one popped out of that spider from up in the clearing when I originally defeated it...I guess its name was 'Gohma,' right?
Wind gulped, his throat dry. Y-yeah, it was Gohma...
The farmpony's gaze drifted off into space. ...this is it, right? One down, two to go? One third of the way there?
Yeah, I guess so.
After a brief moment of silence, Wind let out a huge breath. Every muscle in his body unclenched as he fell to the ground, waves of unrepressed exhaustion finally rolling over him. He ripped the rabbit's mask off of his face, letting it fall to the floor beside him. He felt an uncanny ripple pass through his body before the mask's powers left him. His eyes had already begun to close.
We'll get the second one...tomorrow...
Heh...you bet we will. For now, though, don't worry about that.
You did good.
Wind fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Nearby, Kiesh grunted and rolled his eyes. "I suppose I've got the first watch, then..."