//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 Can You Swallow Your Fear? 
// Story: Wayward Hearts 
// by SilverTopHat 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 4 
Can You Swallow Your Fear?
“Are you absolutely sure you want to leave right now? We can spend the rest of today to prepare and leave in the morning.” I tempted Trixie but there was determination in her eyes that burned like a fire. 
“No. We leave now! My magic is on the line here and another chance to prove I am the greatest in the land.” Trixie declared confidence flowing from her. She put her wizardly hat on and trotted out the door into the afternoon sun. I gripped my knife tighter I gave Sapphire an encouraging smile and followed Trixie.

The trip to the forests edge seemed to take an eternity. And yet standing before the edge I heard no birds singing. The forest inside looked dark and sinister with unknown dangers. And here I am standing here with only a knife to defend Trixie and myself with. Even with the sinister look the forest seemed to call to me, like a sirens call. The tension I felt the other day began to rise within me.
“We can still go ba-”
“NO! The Great and Powerful Trixie will not run from a silly forest! If you're scared than run back to Sapphire!” Trixie interrupted me and stepped boldly into the forest. The only sound in the forest was the lonely crickets filling the air with their noise. The deeper we went into the forest the darker it got. Shadows began to make me even more on edge when they began to shift. The color of green flashed at the corner of my eyes but when I focused nothing was there. I tested the edge of my knife against the underbrush when it got thick and there was no way around. For a knife it did the job decently it still however take a while. While swinging the knife through a overgrowth it got stuck in something solid. I peeled back the vines and there was a sign posted here. The paint was faded but by some magic the sign shimmered a dull green. 
The letters were written in another language than my own. Trixie had to read the sign for me and her expression seemed to relax a bit. 
“It says, abandon all courage and turn back.” Trixie read aloud.
“Sounds like a dare to me.” I said with a wry grin. The forest was having an effect on the both of us. The shadows that played at my vision was maddening because each movement could be a Timber Wolf tracking us. The air was still here like a line where the wind dare not cross.
“Do you think I'm incapable?” Trixie asked suddenly.
“What?” I asked not hearing what Trixie mumbled.
“I said, do you think I'm incapable?” Trixie asked more fiercely. A pang of guilt hit me over the head like a hammer.
“No, I don't. I was mad earlier and I'm sorry for saying that.” I apologized. Another shadow played at the edge of my vision. I swear they're getting closer! A knife wasn't very much at all so I snapped a branch off from the overgrowth and began whittling one end into a spear. Trixie let out a sigh and shook her head.
“Good. You were wrong to doubt the might of Trixie! Even for a moment.” She informed me cheerfully. I wanted to bop her on the head at least once for that remark. 
“Do the shadows seem to move? Or is it just me?” I asked aloud.
“I haven't seen anything move Michael. It's just you. Oh! I think I can see the ruins of Courage's Folly! Hurry now!”

The structure had been a fort but the battlements lay crumbling and scattered. Stone melted in places where spells must have been discharged. The fort itself was made of dull dark crystals with spikes stretching to the skies. Indeed, any flying creatures would have wanted to keep clear of this thing. And in the distance I could hear mocking laughter chanting something I couldn't make out. The noise seemed to be coming from inside the fort and getting louder. A shadow moved in the corner of my eye again but it was within arms reach.

I jumped hard and turned to the movement swinging my knife out and cutting a few leafs. Feeling like a fool I shook myself and chuckled at my jumpy nerves. I bumped into Trixie drawing me back to attention.
“Something wrong Trixie? Why did you stop?” I asked irritated that she stopped here. Trixie sniffled and began to shiver and began to say something about a Twilight Sparkle and a Ursa minor. I got in front of her and her eyes had turned green with some purple smoke leaking from them. She was looking at a red gem embedded into the wall. 
“Michael? Why are you leaving? N-no stop laughing. Stop laughing!” Trixie raved at the gem. What sort of insanity is locked this gem? I grabbed Trixie and pulled her into the door way. The spell was broken when eyesight was lost.
“What? Where did?” Trixie stammered looking around the new room.
“Some sort of magical trap. What's an Ursa minor?” I asked checking her over.
“Like really big bear made of stars.” She answered plainly. The sound of hoof steps made us look at what would live here.

The monsters that stood there looked like other ponies but there was something off about them. Their gray coats are patchy with skin showing, their manes were filthy and caked with something. They lacked lips but they had a mouth full of fangs and they were the ones laughing. Their eyes were evenly glazed white and had a cruel glimmer about them they moved their mouths to speak but all I heard was hissing.
“Twilight! What are you doing here!?” Trixie demanded from the nightmarish creature.
“Trixie, that's not Twilight.” I warned raising my knife and spear. “Or I really hope that's not what she looks like.” I shook Trixie. More of the beasts came to its side and joined in its grotesque hissing. One of them licked is teeth and began to drool.
“Twilight!? What do you mean! I've been replaced! No one replaces me!” Trixie yelled.
“Hey Trixie how many ponies are there?” I asked readying my knife as the tension began to bubble to dangerous levels. I was already planning where I which one I would attack and where.
“One. Don't tell you can't count.” She told me like I was stupid. That was all I needed to know. I ran forward knife and lashed out toward its throat. The beasts eyes widened as the knife slid into its flesh the purple smoke poured from its eyes and into my face. I finished sliding the knife around the fiends throat when a piercing pain sparked in my leg as another beast bit into my leg. The knife flashed across its eye as the spear sunk deep into its neck making it release its grip. I rolled over the beasts back and I cranked the spear snapping its neck and breaking the spear.

Trixie stood there talking to ponies that weren't there as the fiends descended on me. I slashed and stabbed at the beasts as best as I could. Adrenaline pumped through my system causing pain to subside from my leg. The beasts were enraged that two of them had died and yet, they didn't approach. They just kept flashing their eyes and hissing at me. Trixie began to scream as one of them approached her.
“NO! Stay away!” Trixie cried out. I grimaced as I charged through their ranks slashing and jumping onto the beasts back. The beast was as short as Trixie and just as well built so my extra weight brought it to its knees as I whipped the knife around its throat. Blood slicked my hands and my leg was beginning to demand my attention. But a red haze drove this wagon as I charged back into the fray landing cuts as well as receiving them.

The standstill happened again, they stood there eyes flashing and purple smoke pouring out from their eyes. This time they seemed scared that whatever they were trying to do wasn't working. Wait, Trixie's eyes did the same thing when she was looking at the gem and now when looking at these things! Where they trying to inspire fear in me?
“Sorry! I'm sorry for failing the entrance exam for gifted unicorns!” Trixie was sobbing into the dirt. “Well they certainly had her under their spell” I thought glumly. Something shiny caught my eye as we circled each other. Behind the beasts there was a sword chained to a pedestal. The hissing was getting more intense as a beast galloped at me. I side stepped its charge and buried the remains of the spear into its chest earning a ear piercing screech. I ran toward the sword with all the strength I got.

The sword's chains had decayed and crumbled in my grasp. The pommel had a clear gem coming to a sharp point with a ruby trapped inside. The hilt guard fanned like butterfly wings, if the wings were smooth and sharpened and stretched over half of the hilt. The blade was black with silver as the sharp edges as for the general shape of it was like a narrow triangle. What really stood out was the purple crystal cat eye in the cross guard that seemed to stare into your soul. The handle could accommodate both of my hands but I could use one hand with equal skill.

I looked back to Trixie and I saw her surrounded by those things. The purple smoke poured from Trixie's eyes and into their mouths. Oh my god they're eating her! I hefted the new sword and charged at them. I swung at the beast closest to me aiming for the neck. The blade just sailed right on through the beasts neck like it was made of butter! The beasts stopped feasting on her to turn on me. I cleaved a head in two spraying me with their blood. The last one buck me in the stomach sending me to the ground. It took the opportunity and lunged for my throat but I propped the sword up making it impale itself on the blade.

The bugger still lived and tried to snap at my throat, blood and spit splattering my face as it screeched in my face. I let the freak bite my arm so it couldn't bite my neck.
“AAAHHGGG!!” I screamed out as it sunk its long fangs into my arm. First rule of fighting: you're going to get hurt, so you must choose where you get hurt. I twisted the blade trying to finish this freak off but it only made it scream more. I let go of the blade and plunged my fingers into its eye socket and ripped it out. The beast wailed in agony but still held on.
“Why. Won't. You. Just. DIE!!!” I growled it emphasizing each word by punching its throat. The beast eventually stopped moving and just evaporated into smoke.

I tried to sit up but my body became to heavy. There was pain in my stomach and I got to my hands and knees to throw up. I looked around for Trixie and all I saw was the beasts dark green blood with splashes of crimson mingling with it. My leg was still bleeding freely with my arm now. I fell back down in the blood slicked floor. The last of my vision fading along the tension but my promise to Sapphire was still incomplete. Heh, I wonder if their fear magic is finally working against me now dying in a place like this is pretty epic. But it's so cold and no one will no what happened to me. 

Something cold poured itself over my wounds and seeped into the very essence of my being. Then I could see a small dull violet light barely lighting my vision.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie demands that you get up!” Trixie shouted but seemed to call from the bottom of a well. Something was forced down my throat that tasted horrible! The liquid was cold and brought my pain back in all of its misery.
“Get up!” Trixie was a lot closer now. I opened my eyes and saw Trixie binding my wounds with bandages, empty bottles laid scattered around depleted of its contents. “Good your eyes are open!” Trixie looked relieved and then looked around worried.

“How many?” I choked out.
“What!?” She asked frantically.
“How many of those beasts are there?” I said despite my weak voice. I found my sword laying close to me and picked it up while I got to one knee.
“No I don't see any. NO! Don't move! Your still bleeding, let the potion heal you.” Trixie clamored over me. I looked around the ruins trying to see anymore beasts but nothing stirred in the dim  glow. Dim glow? I looked to Trixie and saw a dull violet light coming from her horn. The pain was slowly subsiding in my limbs just enough to stand up and use the sword as a cane. The pointed tip sunk into the floor as I leaned on it.
“Look around for the amulet I got your back.” I said while looking around the room. I tested my leg and noticed that it didn't flash with pain anymore. I walked around with Trixie making sure she didn't fall into a fear trance. I felt better as time went on and we found an ancient journal. The journal was of some pony cursed by a tyrant called King Sombra. The pony was one of many that had been a “crystal” pony that had been part of a failed rebellion and was cursed to a disgusting shape and couldn't eat food anymore but fed off of ponies.

What she entombed here was Sombra's sword. Apparently it was his most exotic of items but not the strongest. The pony had been carrying the Alicorn Amulet but had to move on and hoped that no one else ever has to know the terror of Sombra. Sadly most of the journal had been written in a secret code except for the first page saying who she/he was and what her/his purpose was. The only thing that came close to names were random shapes: a hoof with wings, a horn with a gem, and what I think is a fish with a wicked smile. The owner signed the journal with a horn with holes in it with a large “C” wrapped around it, which might have been a moon.

“The Alicorn Amulet is real! I knew it! And we took out the jerks that hurt Short Stacks!” Trixie squeed with glee. I still was shaking off the memory of that beast snapping at my neck.
“But what of this blade?” I asked shaking the blade a bit. Trixie flipped through the book and seemed disappointed.
“I'm not finding it here. Perhaps Prince Sombra only used it as an icon?” Trixie mused. Trixie tried to levitate it out of my hand but the purple eye shined violently and caused Trixie to fall down in terror. I quickly covered the eye but stared into the eye on the opposite side of the blade and saw what had terrified her so.

It was the faces of the creature I had killed with it and the agony I could inflict on Trixie if I so wished it. The eye left no detail out, no horrendous option unexplored. I could feel the magic trying to dig into my head like a thousand bugs marching across my brain. I roared out as the blade invaded my mind and searched for something. Even when I threw the sword down and grabbed my head trying to force the blade out. And yet it wasn't trying to take over my mind, it was trying to understand. Visions of a dark unicorn using the sword to strike fear into a crowd of really shiny ponies but never striking out with the sword.

Pain and death must have been a new experience to the blade because it was trying to find more like it within my own mind. Any video game and movie that was even the least bit violent drew its attention. A parade of death and suffering marched through my head as the screams of agony was the music it kept in step with. The worst thing was my own imagination was being used to come up with more of the horror. My voice was the only constant like the beat of a drum of the cacophony that sang inside my head. Then the blade dug deeper to find the “why” of it all and it finally found an answer: to protect someone else despite their fear. 

Then the screams began to quiet down and the marching slowed to a halt as the blade left my mind and back into it own body. Amongst the ruined shambles of my mind stained with horror still fresh in my ears and eyes I felt something that it left behind, a message: “I am yours.”

I rocked back and forth, gripping my head trying to sort out what happened. I realized that I had been staring into the damned blades crystal eye the whole time. The horror bled away from my eyes and ears as the room came back into focus. The only thing that had changed about the blade was that the gem was now topaz instead of purple. Trixie had the knife that I had brought in her magic and looking at me with terror in her eyes. She said something but the words had been lost to my ears.

“My mind is my own again.” My voice quaked and sounded hoarse despite my effort. I glared at the blade in anger and tossed it away from me sliding it a few feet away. I stood up trying to steady myself against the wall and looked down at myself. my clothes were soaked in the beasts blood as well as my own. I fell back to my knees again and tried to throw up again but nothing came up. I got to my feet again and realized Trixie had been saying something to me again.

“Are you even listening to me? Are you OK?” Trixie yelled while drawing the knife closer to me.
“Yes! I am myself again! Are you OK?” I said trying to get Trixie to put down the knife.
“You were screaming and I couldn't get you to stop and whenever I tried to stop you from clawing your eyes and ears out you tried to bite me!” Trixie drew the knife away from me but still kept her distance.
“The sword crawled into my head and toyed with me. Just like the beasts tormented you.” I explained. Trixie looked at me skeptically but didn't want to bring up the beasts again. “Any idea where the Alicorn Amulet might be located?” I asked trying to switch the subject.
“No, but I know a small pawnshop had been bragging about having an artifact. I might check there but what if it's like the sword there?” Trixie asked me worriedly.
“That's definitely a risk. But hey! You have your magic back!” I croaked out cheerfully. “And it only took a near death experience to do it!” Trixie began to tear up and yelled at me.
“How can you joke about that! You were the one that almost died! And it would have been my fault!” Trixie screamed at me in rage.

I looked away and found  looking back at the blade. I felt drawn to it like a sirens call and I didn't feel tense anymore. When it left my mind it felt like it submitted to me. I'm not dead and what doesn't kill makes you stronger, or that's how the saying went. I walked over to the blade and stood over it.
“What are you doing now? Get away from that thing!” Trixie yelled at me as I curled my fingers around its handle.
“Trixie, this used to be King Sombra's sword right? Isn't that what the journal said? I think it chose a new master.” I tried to explain as I knelt down to hold the swords eye to my own and stared into it. The topaz gem didn't even glow to my stare but holding it now the horror in my mind seemed to bleed from my mind and into the gem.
“Your eyes! They're smoking!” Trixie called out to me. I looked into the iris or the gem and Trixie was right. The sword was pulling purple smoke out of my eyes and yet, I wasn't scared. It was pulling fear out of me not inflicting it into me.
“Trixie,” the words barely audible to my own ears. “we all make choices, right?” Trixie nodded stepping forward to hear me. I gave the sword a few practice swings expecting the visions of horror that never came. “I chose to conquer my fear because I refuse to live in fear. That is what it means to have courage. To do this I must at least learn to control this blade.”

I turned to the concerned pony and smiled the best that I could. Lead began to fill my limbs with the sword became very heavy in my hands. My knees protested under my own weight as my eyes began to rebel against me, slamming shut without permission. The sword fell from my grasp clattering to the floor. Trixie quickly closed the distance to catch me as the floor rushed up to me like a long lost lover. As if the sound came from another room I could hear Trixie grumble.
“OK, now I know that Sapphire puts something in her potions!” I chuckled softly as I was losing the fight to stay awake.
“Probably. . .” I chuckled back as the void took me gently in her embrace.





Sensations pierced my void. It felt like I was being dragged across coarse sandpaper by an invisible leash. The leash was held my a cruel master which choked me with every tug. A hammer crashed against my head periodically like a bored carpenter. Time ceases to hold meaning in the void but this punishment was lasting way too long! The hammer struck my head a few more times before the sand began to rise off the paper and cover my body in its scratchy grip. 

“We should be safe here.” An uncertain voice pierced the sand and into my ears. The iron doors that replaced my eyelids strained to open with half failure. Trixie floated around in a grayish haze staying near me but whenever she moved, her features blurred. She seemed scared. Her eyes were wide and her breath was racing.
“Why did you have to be so heavy! Now I'm alone and I don't know if I can defend both of us! Wake up!” The frightened pony whispered worriedly to me. What had scared my friend so badly? A thought struggled to escape the foggy depths of my mind to the surface: more of the Fear Beasts. If she gets scared enough they'll sniff us out like dogs. I stretched out and wrapped my arms around Trixie making sure I had one hand covering her sight.
“Shh, sh, shh. No fear here,” I whispered tiredly into her ears while struggling with speech. Trixie struggled against me trying to wiggle out of my grasp. I could feel her heart flutter fiercely against my hand. Concerned that her fear would give us away I continued gently. “Imagine the brilliance of the sun, now feel the breeze in your mane, the roar of the crowd applauding your great and  powerful performance. Shh, shh.” The words calmed her heart and slowed her staggering breath into a predictable rhythm. “Good,” I cooed in her ear. “Do not speak but did you hide us well?” The pony nodded gently in my hand. “Then let's be calm and hold no fear in our hearts. Close your eyes, trust me to protect you and rest so we can leave in the morning.” My hand became wet with Trixie's tears as she began to weep in the still silence.

Even though the potions side effects still clogged my veins making my sense sluggish, I still couldn't sleep. My attention was focused on the narrow opening that lead to our small hiding place. The space was barely big enough to hold both of us. I wasn't sure how long Sapphires potion had put me to sleep and there wasn't a way for me to find out without breaking Trixie's calm focus. I'll have to play the waiting game. The only thing I could see from the crack is a wall that was sprayed in blood. She couldn't have dragged me very far if the blood reached this far.

I wasn't very confidant in Trixie's ability to hide and I was still to groggy to dare a venture to retrieve my sword. This game of risk was driving me up what little wall I had in this hole in the wall. Trixie still wept and I began to wonder if she didn't believe I could protect anybody, or pony. “I will not be ruled by fear!” I thought angrily in my mind. I shifted Trixie under me as I tried to sneak out. Something bit my hand but it wasn't that hard. I looked back down at Trixie wide awake with a mix of fear and confusion in her eyes. I put a finger to my lips and whispered.
“We still need to be very quiet now, I'm going to get that blade. I'll be right back, don't worry I do this kind of thing all the time.” I had to lie to her so her confidence wouldn't decay. I peaked around the corner and saw the room was still and quiet and could hear the wind whistle through the cracks in the walls. A low mournful sound very similar to someone crying. The bodies had evaporated into nothingness but the blood remained or was it even blood? The only light came from dark gems embedded into the walls. The blade was in the middle of the room about twenty feet from where we were now.

The distance may very well have been a freaking mile! Important object in the middle of a clear room was screaming “It's a trap!” I almost covered my ears! And yet, if I could get to the blade we would stand a better chance at surviving the night. I tested my body to see if I could manage a mad dash to the sword. I gave the room one last look around easing my own mind for what was to happen. I slipped quietly out of the gap and dropped to my knees trying to hug the floor while making no noise. No sounds were made or any other signs of pursuit. I stood up and quickly sprinted on pained legs to where the sword had fallen and picked it up, ready for battle.

Nothing. Nothing came swooping at me and the only thing I could hear was the wind mournfully whistling and the wheezing gasps of my own breath. I turned in a circle ready to take on whatever came but nothing came. I walked around and picked up Trixie's hat which had been trampled and splattered with blood during my fight. I brushed the dirty hat and tried to make it look more presentable before giving it back to Trixie. In a moment of weakness I put on Trixie's hat just to see what it was like to wear a pointy wizards hat! It didn't fit quite right, most hats were like that for me and this one fitted better than most.

I looked at the sword in hand and noticed that the topaz had started to glow faintly. The blade still looked strange and yet holding it now, feeling its weight and handle it felt right. I walked back to the hole and called to Trixie.
“All clear.” I whispered to Trixie. I put Trixie's hat back onto her head. “I found this out there.”
“Thanks.” Trixie whispered back. It took us a while to find a comfortable position to sleep and I was able to angle the swords point to the opening just in case.
“You stink.” Trixie said a matter of fact.
“It's just the smell of victory. And blood.” I teased her rubbing the arm that had been bit which now was a scar. “I have you to thank for this scar. But it's time to sleep now.” Trixie grumbled something but obeyed anyway. I felt Trixie fall asleep in my arms but I myself couldn't sleep so I kept vigil as I watched light grow into the morning.





I rubbed Trixie's back until she woke up. I climbed out of our hiding place and made a walk around the large room to make sure it was clear. Trixie adjusted her large hat to her preference.
“All clear.” I said with a little bit of sand now clinging my eyes. The quicker back to Sapphires house the faster I can get proper sleep but not before we looted the rest of this fort! I proceeded up some crumbling stairs in vain. Nothing remained but tattered cloth and ruined books, whoever the mystery owner of the journal stripped this place ages ago. 
“I demand that we leave this place now!” Trixie commanded me.
“We got to be sure that we don't miss any treasure.” I explained. “Something here might be worth something back in town.” 

“I don't care. I want to go home with my coat intact!” The small pony countered. I lowered my head in defeat as we left the cursed fort. The forest outside was brighter than what we entered and in the distance we could hear birds singing, bugs chirping and I could see the sky brightening into a more pleasant hue.  It was almost as if we dispelled some unpleasant curse from the place.
“Where you come from, is this normal?” Trixie asked me skeptically. I sighed outwardly and chuckled a bit.
“No, not in the slightest. I said that so you wouldn't attract more of those Fear Beasts. I had no clue if they could smell fear or anything.” I admitted. Trixie looked shocked and then looked mad pouting almost.
“I can't believe you lied to me.” She growled angrily.
“Half lie!” I shot back. “I lied that this was normal to me, not that I would protect you!” I stressed quietly. The walk was filled with a tension I blamed on a bad nights sleep. I took a better look at the blade, the blade itself was fairly wide near the hilt but narrowed into a point and the other end. The golden eye stared back at me and I yawned back realizing how tired I was. I kept looking at Trixie to see if her mood lifted or not, it hadn't.
“What else are you lying about!” Trixie demanded of me suddenly.
“What?” I said surprised by the out burst.
“What else. Are you. Lying about!” Trixie stressed to me. She looked at me mad about something.
“Nothing else.” I said simply. Trixie didn't speak to me for the rest of the walk and when we got in sight of Neighbraska she suddenly broke into a gallop leaving me in the dust.