//------------------------------// // The Dark Labyrinth // Story: The Last Human // by Crooked Djinn //------------------------------// //You have done well. You now have the weapons to defend yourself and Tzipuur is safe from the threat of angels. Well done. You make us proud.\\ You're jolted awake to the empty void of the Voice. The familiar icy chill clinging to the back of your neck. "Then you saw what happened?" You ask. There is no immediate answer. Instead there is only a crackle of light in the distance. Then light trickled into the void, slowly filling it with luminescence. //We witnessed it all. We must say, you've gone through many trials and have come away mostly unscathed.\\ The light that surrounded you was now slowly colored with darker colors. Brown and beige and other earthly tones. Soon you saw what was happening. The void was taking on the appearance of Tzipuur, that town that resided under the sand. //Look at them. Look at how they continue to live after such a calamity. How they move forward as if nothing had happened. Rebuilding that which was seemingly utterly destroyed. They have the human spirit.\\ You watched as many centaurs moved about the wrecked streets of Tzipuur, thatching fallen roofs and raising crumbled walls.. You saw some rummage through the rubble of their homes, trying to reclaim what they had lost. "The human spirit?" You ask confused. It piqued your interest. If there was such a thing, could it define you as a human being? Your way of doing things and questioning things. Your curiosity. //Yes. The human spirit. The very thing that drives them towards the future. The power that pushes them to survive. To start over and make anew. The force that pulls them towards the inner workings of the universe. Humans seek to discover, to analyze, to dictate, to subjugate, to emancipate, everything within their realm of existence. It is their nature. But most of all. It is human nature to survive.\\ The imagery around you starts to shimmer and dissipate, falling off of the invisible walls and the colors being absorbed into the darkness. "It is human nature to survive? Well if that was so then why are there no humans to this day?" You ask the silent blackness. It was ironic. A kind of irony you were humored by. For a long time there was nothing. Nothing but a low wind that blew in circles around the void. You waited patiently, knowing that the Voice was late in responses. //Anon. A name given to you by one of this era. The Kharo. However, you know this is not your true name. You lost your name long ago, when you were encased in stone. You died long ago in Agartha. The only existence you have now is a shadow. An echo of your former self. You ask why there are no humans left to roam the earth. The answer lies in your former life.\\ The Voice's tone was slightly hostile and louder than before. It felt like it was holding you for trial and knew you were guilty. But guilty of what? What exactly happened all those years ago? Did you have a direct connection to the Aliik'ir? And if so, how? "My former life.. Voice, you say you know me. But how is this so? How can you know me and I hardly know myself?" You ask. You'd point a finger, but in the dark, you wouldn't know where to point. Suddenly, you felt sick in the stomach. Like something had given you a mighty kick. You collapsed, holding your underside. //You ask how we can know you. We, who are omnipotent. We see all! You question us, when it is you who should question yourself!\\ The pain now subsided slowly. Had you angered the voice? It was strange. It seems it liked to do the questioning and not vice versa. "..Why have you called me here?" You ask. Wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. Another long pause. It gave you time to think. If you were directly involved with the extinction of humans, what did that make you? Were you a villain unbeknownst to yourself? It was a frightening concept to ponder. And what if you were? Suppose you did kill everyone in your race, would it be possible to start a new life? Was it possible to wipe away such a sin? And in that moment, you asked a question that threatened to break your heart in two. What would she think? //We have called you here to give you a warning.\\ The voice returns, it feeling a bit far away from you. "A warning? What sort of warning?" You ask, now curious. //A warning to you, 'Anon'. At the end of this journey. You, the princess, the dragon, the captain. One of you will die.\\ Its premonition feels like someone injected you with liquid nitrogen. One of you will die? You immediately feared for the worst. Your brain immediately started trying to process who would be the most likely to die and no matter what, you avoided all thoughts of the princess. "Explain.." You now felt like chains were pulling you deeper and deeper into an ocean of absolute zero. It was so cold you could see your crystal white breath in the darkness. //In Agartha; the slumbering city. On a bridge leading to your final destination. One of you will fall into the fiery depths and be engulfed by flames.\\ Great. A death by fire. But if it was only one of you... You already had a candidate in mind. "And this prophecy is sure to come true?" You ask. //Certainly. We can say without a doubt.\\ Its tone was indifferent as always. But if the Voice didn't care about you, it wouldn't have warned you. Just then you thought to yourself. It could very well be possible that it was using you. But for what? And for why? "Voice. Why are you helping me?" You ask the silence. But before you could get an answer, you felt that sickly feeling setting on. You were about to be thrown from this realm and back into your own. //We will not speak again. Everything you wish to learn waits for you in Agartha. We will meet there, and we will provide you with any answer you need...\\ "But wait! I still have questions that must be answered!" You call out to the Voice as you're dragged under into the ever expansive dark. There is no answer Only the rushing flood of silence pouring into your ears and into your lungs, drowning you. Your consciousness is pulled from your astral body and whisked away through the space between here and there. Suddenly you felt the arid heat on your face and the scrape of sand beneath your face. You were in the desert, traveling to the tower along with your friends. The sunlight creeps in through the crevice of your eyelids and seems to bake your shielded eyes. You didn't dare open them. Opening them would just signify the relinquishment of your sleep and stating that you were ready to face the day, which was untrue. "Hey Anon. Anon, wake up!" You stir in your half-sleep, shooing away the purple claw poking you in the side. "What is it..?" You mumble. "You're not gonna believe this! You gotta come see!" Now instead of one claw poking you, ten claws rocked you back and forth, shaking the sand off of you that had accumulated on top of you overnight. "See what? We're in the middle of a desert. There's nothing to be seen." You roll over in the sand, refusing to wake up. The day you got out of bed would be the day pigs fly and there were no pigs or catapults around. "He's right Anon. You must come see!" You groan. You really didn't want to get up, but the fact that even Celestia sounded surprised convinced you. Reluctantly, you open your eyes to the hot bright orb in the sky. It immediately evaporated the moisture in your eyes and burned your skin. Spike was standing just behind you, shaking you, trying to hurry you to wake. "I'll be right there.. Give me a moment." "....You feelin' okay? You're not sick are you?" Spike asked. "No, no. Just...give me a moment. Long day yesterday." Spike is silent for a long while, then you feel his claws move away from you. "Well, okay. But when you get up you gotta come see!" "Yes yes, fine." You swat a hand in the air. Wanting both of them to begone for the time being. "Don't sleep too long, Anon." Celestia calls over to you before trotting away with Spike. And so you lie there, half buried in the sand and almost drenched in sweat. Maybe you were getting sick. One of you will die. The Voice echoes in your head, ringing about as if a great bell were hung in your skull. You lay in the sand, counting the grains that reflected the sunlight like an ocean of mirrors. You thought of Ro'Jetty as well as the premonition. Hopefully someone found him and Jehuty. It was a tragedy. Despite what he said about Babel, you really hoped he would travel with you. But that was in the past. The past had already happened, and there was no changing that. But there was a possibility one could change their future. Or was there? The Voice had said that its prediction was absolute. That one of you four would surely die. A chilling thought. You recalled to what the Voice told you before you entered the Badlands, when you stood among the twisted trees of the Everfree. There is no stopping the work of fate. If that was so, how could you handle the death of your closest friends. Even Howl, who you hated, didn't deserve to die that way, did he? But at this point, did it matter if he deserved it? You cared a great deal more for Celestia and Spike. Would it really be so bad as to plot Howl's demise? Could you really be so selfish? Condemning another to the inner workings of fate? If you were some dashing hero of legend, it would be you who would cast yourself into the fire to save the others. You think back to the airship, when you received the wardrobe you wore now. It’s funny now that you think about it. You felt like such a hero, the leading man to an epic tale. How wrong you were. A hero wouldn’t lay half buried in the sand, plotting the death of one of his allies. It is human nature to survive. Indeed. You rise from the sand, grains and flakes falling out of your matted hair and off your clothes. Your goggles were lined with sand as well and you did your best to empty them before fitting them tightly around your eyes. Looking about you, you can see that the camp is almost deserted, hoof-prints leading up and over a dune behind you. That must be where the thing you must see is. With a sigh you start off, grabbing your rifle just in case something went down. Your boots sunk slightly in the sand as you begin to climb up the large dune. You're thankful you lost your cloak in the sandstorm, it would just get in the way and cause you to sweat even more. Above the sand dune you can make out the light colors of blue and green, shifting and phasing in and out of each other as they blow in the breeze. It was Celestia, Spike atop her back. They, along with others stared at what lay down below. Her ears perk up at the sound of you stepping harshly through the sand and turns to you. For that instant of eye contact, you felt your entire body quiver delightfully. It was casual, nothing out of the ordinary, and yet. It made you yearn. "Good morning, Anon. Did you sleep well? No bad dreams I hope." She asks, her smile beckoning you to draw closer. "No. No bad dreams. And your sleep?" You ask, finally reaching the top. "It was splendid. You make a great pillow." "Excuse m-" "Anon look! It's amazing!" Spike interjected. He hopped up and down on Celestia's back, pointing wide eyed. Down below was something magical. Magical being the only word you could use to describe it. Faeries. The tiny creatures danced about the levitating sand. They conducted it, lead it to form structures and statuettes. From above, it looked like a mini sprawling metropolis. It was beautiful. They moved so elegantly through the sand, as if they were the winds that carried it. The sand sparkled brighter than it did normally, a special gleam to it that made it seem alive with vigor. Your jaw fell. From such a distance the faeries looked to be nothing more than tiny stars in the day. You felt your curiosity begin to push you down the slope and immediately explore this new wonder. "What are they?" You ask, removing your goggles so that you could see them in all their splendor. Celestia giggled, leaned over and whispered into your ear. "Let's go and find out." Before you could even make a move yourself, you felt her massive wing hit you in the back and you went tumbling forward. Rolling down the dune, you could catch small glimpses of her and Spike laughing at you before starting down on their own. You kept rolling. It seemed you'd roll forever and ever and lose yourself in the sea of sand. But a single sand pillar stood in your way and your back rammed into it like a rock. The impact made you cry out, swearing as you tried to numb the pain. If this kept up, Celestia would be the one to kill you. Even if by accident. Sprawling onto your back, you lay in a t-pose, exposing your face to the bright sun that had yet to reach noon. "Oh, did I push you too hard? Are you alright?" Celestia's face eclipsed the sun and gave her a halo of sorts. Her worried expression looking down on you like a child who harmed their friend by mistake. You'll be the death of me." Her frown quickly morphed into a smile as if she hadn't frowned at all. "Well then, you better be on guard. There's no telling when I'll pounce!" Celestia then jumped over you like a cat and continued onward, Spike bobbing up and down on her back. Standing once again, you dust yourself off and follow them. Rounding the corner you're able to see the faeries much easier than before. They seemed to be human-like, save for some extra qualities. They had impossibly long legs, four bejeweled eyes and wings that fluttered as fast as a hummingbird's. They came in different colors. Very gentle greens, blues, yellows, and other warm hues. They fluttered about, ignoring your presence. "What are they doing?" Spike asked. He was trying his best to make sketches in his journal, but they were so erratic that he couldn't get a good vantage point. You wondered the same. What were they doing? They seemed to be building something out of the sand. But it was mostly pillars and walls in random places. Celestia was even more curious, trying her best to get as close as possible. The other soldiers stared and marveled, having never seen their like before. It was like seeing a magic spell for the first time. Which was an odd feeling for them all, considering they lived in a land where magic was abundant. You round a corner with Celestia and Spike and you can see most of them dancing in a circle, interlocking hands and singing in a language that you couldn't even begin to understand. A single faery saw you, but you couldn't see it as it glided along the sand, slowly making its way towards you. It hid behind a wall when you walked passed, innocently peaking at you, studying you as you studied the rest of its kind. "What strange beings. They seem to be unaware of us." "There are many creatures that exist on the astral plane that normally, wouldn't be able to interact with our own. But there are certain areas around the world where the two intersect, thus allowing us to peer into their world, as well as allowing them to see into ours. But often times, those of the astral plane pay no heed to us." Celestia said, staring at them in great wonder. "So, they might be ignoring us?" Spike asked, to which Celestia nodded. "Then perhaps it's best if we just pass on by. If we mind our own, they'll mind theirs." You say, walking ahead of the rest. "You mean to tell me you're not the least bit curious as to what they are?" Celestia chased after you, pulling on your collar with the tip of her wing. "I didn't say that. In fact, I wanted to know all their secrets the moment I first saw them. But for now, I think we should focus on our journey." Celestia pouted. Something you weren't very used to her doing. If there was ever a being that could refuse her, they'd have a heart forged in magma. "Though... I suppose we could stay and study them... Only for a few minut-" "Then we'll be over here." Celestia said interrupting you. She pointed to the circle where the faeries gathered. Spike agreed with her and went along with her, leaving you behind to 'study' by yourself. You sigh. Curiosity was a curse. It made you stop for every strange thing you happened upon. This desert had far too many oddities in it. You'll never reach Agartha if this kept up. You continue on in your own direction. A pathway lined with random walls and statues of faeries. They were crafted masterfully, especially since they were made out of sand. You couldn't help but test its structure. Poking a finger into the face of the statue to see if it may have been hard as stone, or as soft as sand. As soon as you touched it, the entire statue came crumbling down like a sand castle. It surprised you, forcing you to step back. It was purely sand. Nothing in it to make it stay upright, not even water. It just stood perfectly, bound by some magic. Again you wonder, what sort of magic could possibly exist here in the Badlands? The Centaurs had it, and now so did these strange beings. You squatted down, trying to mold the sand into your own structure. It worked perfectly, it stood on its own, but was still immensely delicate. You molded it into the shape of a cube, very small, and only about as high as a foot. Once again, you poke it, and it fell back into the sand. So it is magic. You thought to yourself. Standing up, you look around. To your surprise, you could see none. Not even a single faery. It disturbed you. Suddenly, you felt alone, but it wasn't the same type of feeling you got when you were the only person in the house. It was a feeling similar to being the only life for miles. You begin to panic a little, quickly walking through the now unfamiliar layout of sand. None. None in sight, only sand walls. They seemed to become more defined, connecting to each other, forming pathways that lead in random directions. "Celestia! Spike!?" You call out, but no one answers. It was as if the wind had swallowed your call. Then, as if triggered by your words, the sand began to rumble. You instantly began to run, not wanting to be on the receiving end of whatever was coming for you. You darted around corners and sprinted down paths, but it didn't seem to get you anywhere. Everywhere you turned was just more walls, the open sand gone from you.Then you realized it. The sand walls were growing taller, melding into each other, forming a labyrinth and sealing you in. You begin to pound on the walls, expecting them to fall away like the statue did earlier, but they stood as if they were made of stone. Overhead, the sand began to form a roof, slowly sucking the area dry of any sunlight. The dark crept up on you, slowly moving about the ground, biting at your heels. You ran, not wanting to be trapped in the dark, running towards the only light source available. But even that was fading, even as you ran to it. You stopped, huffing and puffing. Then the darkness pounced on you and you were swallowed by the black. It was impossible to see. Not a shred of light made its way through the thick sand walls. It was like being in the void, but fully awake. For some reason, that terrified you. It wasn't at all like a dream. The fact that it was real made it possible for you to be exposed to danger. "Is anyone there!?" You call out to the darkness, feeling on the walls, making your way blindly. [PLAY] Silence was your answer. You were alone. An overwhelming sense of fear began to overtake you. Were you always so afraid of the dark? Then you remembered that night aboard the Radiant Dawn. You’d spent all day reading Starswirl's grimoire. After, you tried to sleep, but were suffocated by an alien darkness. It terrified you then too. Was this the same darkness? Then you saw it, the very thing that made your heart nearly stop. You drew your breath in a sharp intake. Your palms were instantly sweaty and your mouth went as dry as the desert. You collapse onto your rear, moving away, kicking your feet out so that you could move faster. In front of you stood the same figure you saw on the ship. Though you had only seen it for a split second, you could see it in full there in the dark. What was it? It was human for sure, but at the same time, something completely different, as if it didn't belong to this world. Its alien presence making you sick in the stomach. It didn't move, but the further you got away from it didn't matter. It still seemed to be just a few feet away from you. Was it following you? You were so afraid you couldn't speak. The dark was now creeping into your mind, rubbing your brain with its dark fingers. Were you going insane? Was the dark really that terrifying? You couldn't stand to look at the figure any longer. It made you want to vomit. You held your stomach and turned on your side. Your throat was contracting, cutting off your supply of air at different times. It all comes rushing out of you. Like a virus being thrown out of your body. You vomit in the sand, the smell making you sick. A terrible cough overtakes you and you do your best not to choke on a lung. But you felt a tiny bit better, enough that you were able to calm down just a bit. You risk a glance over your shoulder only to see that the figure had moved closer, right in front of you in fact. You scream. A scream that bounces off the walls and echo back to you. It filled your ears and the sound exploded within your skull. There was nothing you could do, so you stared at the terrible figure in front of you. In that moment, you were content with falling into insanity. For that was all you could do to escape this terrible dark. Then, as if by miracle, a faery floated gracefully through the air, it illuminating the dark with its body. It flew through the human figure indifferently, dispelling it. The faint blue light continued down the path ahead, unknowing of your presence. As if a powerful magic had washed over you, your frantic hysteria had almost completely vanished and you were sober once more. Your heart began to beat normally, and the drought was ended within your mouth. You could see clearly now, no longer influenced by the dark. But the faery's blue light was diminishing as it continued further down the maze. You didn't want to be trapped in the dark again so you immediately tried to stand, only to find yourself too weak. Now the light was nearly gone and you panicked. You wouldn't be able to survive without it, but there was no way to catch up to the faery now. Then you remembered the leather gauntlet strapped to your left hand. It emitted a light of its own. You thought fast. What you wanted to protect. Right now, you wanted to protect yourself against the invading darkness that surrounded you. The faery's light was gone now. You were in complete dark. Your concentration was almost broken the second you saw the figure begin to form. But as it materialized, it was blown away by the bright blue light of the aegis. Your breathing stabilized and you were able to stand, the maze now being illuminated. Your eyes adjusted, getting used to the light shining from your hand. Now you began to walk. The only sound being your boots in the sand and the light hum of the aegis. "Celestia!" You called out again. And as before, there was no answer. Were you really alone? As you walked aimlessly through the maze, you began to think. The faeries. Surely they had something to do with what happened. Had they noticed your party earlier and saw you as a threat? Or maybe someone provoked them. You thought of Celestia, pestering them about what sort of sweets they enjoyed in their world. Scaring the wits out of them as she tried to uncover the secret behind cakes of the astral plane. It humored you and pushed you forward. Maybe it was something you did. Touching their statue? Or attempting to mold it into your own creation? Regardless of the reason, your curiosity was causing more problems by the day. You began to think on it. Curiosity. Why were you so curious? The Voice said it was human nature, but why? Was it really such a strange concept to you to say no when faced with a mysterious happening? And what about the others? Were they just as curious as you? At times, Celestia would ask more questions than you, some being ones you'd never think of. Sometimes she'd seem more like a scientist than a princess. That thought lead you astray. What if Celestia wasn't a princess? What occupation would she have? An archaeologist? Historian? Maybe she'd stay in politics. You didn't know much about her personal interests aside from sweets and humans. Then that thought lead to another. What was her fascination with humans? What was your fascination with her? You noticed that you thought about her a lot more recently. It didn't strike you as strange, she was one of your only friends after all, but lately she had been filling your mind completely. Often you'd stray from a single thought and wonder into a thought of her. Strange. You thought to yourself as you kept walking through the labyrinth. So far, you hadn't come across anything noteworthy. Just walls and more walls. Then, you came to a stop. You found a strange circular room that connected with other halls. In its center was an odd machine. It hummed like an engine and emitted a bright red light. A light that soaked the walls around it. It was like a fire in the center. Transparent tubes protruded outward from the machine and dug into the sand. You could see sand being pumped into it like liquid through a straw. "What on earth could this be...?" You ask yourself, getting closer to inspect it. It had no buttons or levers. Not even a console around its entire body. The machine was a sphere, with holes in it that produced the red light. You put on your shaded goggles and climb onto it. Peering into one of the holes, you try and make out what could be the source of the red light. Whatever it was inside swirled around chaotically. It was like a miniature galaxy, spinning in every direction it could think of. The sand that came from the tubes were drawn in by the small red galaxy, but what happened to that sand was unknown to you. Perhaps this is what made the maze. Using the sand to form the walls. It could continue this for years, the desert having more than enough sand to do so. Then you think to yourself; if this machine kept drawing sand in to construct the labyrinth, the maze could go on for miles. And you'd never find your way out. The thought filled you with dread. You step down from the machine and remove your goggles. Something had to be done before this maze could grow even larger. You remove your rifle from your shoulder and hold it by the barrel. Going over to one of the tubes of sand, you hold the butt of the gun in the air. The sound of glass shattering bounces off the walls as you smash it with the gun. Now for the others. There were eight of them all together, and you drive your rifle through each of them. Hoping to stop any further growth. The floor was now littered with shards of broken glass. You'd attempt to destroy the machine too, but there was no telling what could be the outcome. Now you needed to find a way out. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take too long, but at the same time you worried about the others. Where could they be? If they were even here at all. You sling your rifle over your shoulder again and look at the many halls leading out of this room. You've forgotten which way you even came from, now it was down to random selection. You wondered where that faery from before had gone. Then you see a white light move through one of the halls. You immediately hone in on it and follow it through the hall. Whatever it was, someone was carrying it. You could hear steps on the sand and the soft sound of breathing. Your own blue light clashed with the white light, mixing into an azure hue. The source was just around the corner, you felt you had to be stealthy. You were in uncharted territory, there was no telling what could be roaming this incredibly dark maze. You hug the corner, not yet peeking around to see who was there. "Whoever is following me, I suggest you show yourself before I run you through." A voice like harp strings. A familiar voice that you've heard countless times. You sigh and step around the corner, relieved to have found someone. "Anon?" It was Celestia, very surprised to see you. Her sword was slightly withdrawn from its scabbard, radiating light. You also noticed how the darkness seemed to cling to it. "Oh thank God. I thought I'd never see you again." You say as you walk towards her with a smile. She raises an eyebrow at that, a devilish smile turning up the corners of her mouth. "Oh? If I didn't know better I'd say you missed me." You stop dead in your tracks. Is that what it sounded like? You could practically feel all the color draining from your face. "I missed you too." She said, her smile more innocent and genuine. You now flushed with embarrassment, Celestia giggling to herself as she approached you. "Anyway, where's Spike? He was with you wasn't he?" Now the princess frowned. "He was, but when all this started, we were separated. I was actually looking for him before I ran into you." Worry filled you. Spike was probably running around like mad, trying to find his way as he stumbled through the dark. No, Spike was resourceful. He'd think of something. You'd find him eventually, you just needed to stay focused. "By the way, do you have any idea about what may have caused this?" You ask. You and Celestia began to walk through the maze, side by side. "No. When you and I separated, Spike and I went to look at the the sprites that danced in a circle. They danced around something, spherical. Then their singing started to grow louder and I sent Spike to find you, but the walls had already started to grow rapidly. The sphere then started to emit a reddish glow, and the sprites scattered in every direction. It was strange to say the least." So the faeries did this on their own. But why? What was the point of constructing such a large maze? Although, understanding a being from another existence was hard for someone from another. "I saw the sphere. Actually I just came from it. It seemed to be the source of the maze, drawing sand from the ground and using it to construct the labyrinth." "Were you able to shut it down?" She asked. "No, but I did stop it from expanding the maze even further. I didn't want to destroy it, from fear that it could cause the sand to collapse in on us." "Good call." "Yes, but we'll need to find the others if we're to find our way out of here." Celestia agreed and you walked down the dark halls of the maze that surrounded you. The both of you continued on in silence. A comfortable silence had descended over both of you as you made your way through the incredibly dark halls. The princess accompanying you hadn't said a word, but she seemed to enjoy the silence you both shared. It made you wonder what she was thinking about. You stole glances at her every now and then. Her face had only a hint of worry. She looked more or less like her normal self, but she thought hard on something that made you want to ask. Her brow would furrow every now and then and she'd accidentally walk into you from time to time. She seemed aloof, lost in thought, her body moving from muscle memory. It was like she was away from the console and set on auto-pilot. She didn't notice your staring. Neither did you until she blinked and glanced down at you. "Anon." She says, returning her focus straight ahead. "Yes?" "Did something happen back in Tzipuur; between you and the captain? I noticed how you both looked at each other." You nearly stop. Nothing slipped passed her. You probably wouldn't even be able to lie to her at this point. "It's alright if you don't want to tell. I just want you to know that I'll listen whenever you need an ear." She didn't look at you. Her eyes stared straight ahead. You thought back to the incident down in the vault, and the family trapped under the rubble of their home. There was nothing about Howl that you liked, but would it be a good idea to ruin Celestia's trust in Howl at this point? One of you will die. Again the premonition echoed in your head. So what if Howl was the one who died? You already hated him. He'd be getting what he deserved, right? You had a right to condemn him to die. "When Ro'Jetty and I left to find Master Jehuty, we found that Howl and his men had abducted him and forced him to open the vault, after which they had murdered him." Celestia was speechless. She stopped, now staring at you, her face stricken with shock. You stopped ahead of her, but you didn't turn to face her. "Soon after, Ro'Jetty charged him and Howl shot him down. He used the guns we used to fight the angels. Claiming that his men were what came first..." You remember what happened vividly. The memory was burned into your mind. You could practically see Ro'Jetty fall to the ground, clutching his wounds and shivering. "Captain Howl, did this?" She asked. You nod. Not wanting to look at her in the eye. "Celestia, I don't think it's wise to let him do as he pleases." You finally turn to her. Talking through clenched teeth and balling your fists. "He must be watched. He is a danger to us all." You knew that Howl was likely not a danger to anyone other than yourself. He already hated you. That morning down in the vault, he spared your life only because you were the only reason they were all in the Badlands in the first place. If the princess found you had been murdered, she would ask questions and eventually discover Howl as the perpetrator. You watch Celestia carefully, her face suddenly looking tired and filled with mixed feelings. She looked down to the ground, sighed, and looked back to you. "Anon." There was a long pause. You stepped closer, wanting to hear her rebuttal. "Captain Howl... he is a stallion of military ranking. As much as I hate to say it, what he did was logical. He was merely thinking of the lives of his men." You open your mouth to protest but she silences you with her own voice, raising it loudly. The sound bouncing off the dark walls. "But I agree with you. What he did was wrong. No matter what his reasons were, he murdered two innocents and that is something I cannot ignore." She walked forward, her eyes holding a sense of grief. Her wings wrapped around you and pulled you close into a hug. Celestia's chin rested softly upon your head and her foreleg wrapped around your back. "I know it must have been terrible for you. Believe me, I can sympathize with you. But Anon..." She pulled away slightly, enough so that she could look you in the eye. The bright light reflecting off of the magenta in her eyes. "You must not seek revenge." She held her stare. As if she were trying to command your heart to be still and quell any anger you had towards Howl. It was unreasonable. "Celestia, that's impossible! He killed-" "Trust me Anon. No good will come of it." Her voice cracked. The light of her sword dimming, so that you could no longer see all over her face. For all you knew, she was on the verge of tears. "Promise me Anon. Promise me you won't seek his life." Her voice resounded off the walls, as if you were receiving a commandment from a god. You thought to yourself. Would it be so easy to forgive and forget? Of course it wouldn't. If you remembered one thing from your previous life; it was that life must be repaid with life. And you wondered, were you always so vengeful? "I promise..." That was the first lie you've ever told. You didn't think anything of it at first, but later you would realize that it was what set the events of the Voice's prophecy in motion. A sigh escaped from Celestia's mouth. A sound similar to a soft summer breeze. Her wings furled and she stepped away. She drew her sword a bit further out of its scabbard, further illuminating the tunnels. She smiled, and you returned that smile with your own and followed her as she went on. You now walked behind her, counting out your steps in your head for lack of anything else to do. At this point, nothing much could be done other than wander aimlessly through the labyrinth and hope to come across something that would give you a clue about how to escape. Celestia seemed to not be troubled at all. Once again returning to the comfortable silence. Then you began to focus in on her. More so her rear. It surprised you, you weren't normally one to stare, but then it felt like you were compelled to. As if something in the back of your mind was egging you on, pushing you towards those thoughts. It was strange and you didn't know what to make of it. Perhaps it was due to the lack of any other females from your own species, and now your body started to look for other, substitutes. Celestia's remark about being adventurous in the baths back in Tzipuur came to the front of your mind. You began to speculate if she were serious. She had played it off as a joke, but you wondered. These thoughts were now invading every part of your being. Like a hungry wolf, stalking you and nipping at your heels. Why were these sorts of thoughts coming to you now of all times? You never had them before, not to mention about someone like Celestia. Or was it because it was Celestia that prompted these thoughts? You began to question your own feelings. Was this some sort of sign your body was giving you? Or was it purely temptation? You watch still as she makes her way down the halls, sometimes looking back at you to see if you were still following. "Anon, don't you know it's impolite to stare?" You stop dead. She found you out. There was no way you'd be able to talk your way out of it. You might as well fess up. But then you heard murmurs. Voices that were neither yours nor hers. Then you realized that the path in front of you now branched off into three different directions, forming a 'Y' shape with a path down the middle. You and Celestia look to each other and you hastily step beside her, sheathing her sword slightly as to dim the light you both shared. The sound of whispers and footsteps traveled back to you, the dark carrying them like a messenger. Then the soft dim light of a torch warmed the sandy walls. Their voices were now distinct, easier to hear, enough to make out words. "It's hopeless...we'll never find our way out." "Oi, don't fret 'bout that. As soon as 'e find the princess, errything'll be right fine." "Even so, that's 'if' we find her majesty... I'm afraid Gig Line is right, we may never find our way out." "Wha? Yer both jus' lettin' this dark get to ya'. It plays the tricks on ya'." Celestia immediately started off, wanting to find the source of the voices. You had finally found someone. "Hold on... do you hear that?" One stallion said, his voice slightly shaky and agitated. "Eh? I don't hear a thin-" You stop. Celestia stops. And the air seems to be sucked out of the passage way as all three of the soldiers gasp.The gasps are followed by a series of loud, blood curdling screams. Celestia immediately makes a run for it, making straight for the source of the light. You run after her, not wanting to be alone in the dark, and genuinely curious as to what just happened to the soldiers down the hall. The terrible sound of flesh being ripped from bone and horrifying buzzing hit your ears at full force. It sounded like a swarm of locusts attacking cattle. Celestia rounds the corner and she stops, nearly falling forward. You catch up, turning the corner and looking over her. What you saw was enough to draw the sickness from earlier. The torches the soldiers had lit were now completely snuffed. And a few paces from them lay three bodies. And faeries. Hundreds of faeries swarmed over the three stallions like insects, gnawing at their bones and plucking out their eyes. They were being devoured by a hundred mouths, all at once. Then the sound of a hundred mouths stopped, and a pair of a hundred eyes now stared at the both of you. In that moment, you knew. These weren't enchanted entities from a realm beyond. They were what hunted you day in and day out. These things were angels. Second Sphere: Virtue They looked different now. No longer were they mystical and majestic, but horrifying and abominable. Their various colors had now turned as dark as the halls and their eyes were a decaying, sickly green. Tiny crystal-like horns sprang up from the sides of their heads and their wings now resembled ink strokes in the air. You're motionless, paralyzed by fear. Your legs probably wouldn't move even if you tried. Celestia was also still, but she wasn't as afraid. She studied them. Taking in their ghastly presence with full acceptance. She looked her enemy in the eye with an unfaltering stare. They stared back, but they didn't remain idle for long. Like a swarm of flies they seemingly merged into one another, becoming a wave of a thousand teeth. Now was the time to run. "Run!" Thinking fast, you hold out your left hand and concentrate. What was the one thing you wanted to protect right now? Both of your lives. A wall of azure light explodes from the aegis and hugs the surface of the walls, floor, and ceiling. It did well to separate you from the angels, but who knew how long the wall would stand. You turn, Celestia turning with you, and sprint down the narrow halls. Behind you, you can hear the terrible muffled shrieks of the angels trapped behind the aegis. "Any ideas?" Celestia asked, galloping along side you. Who knew where you were heading now. Your best course of action was to just put distance between yourselves and the danger, but what would you do if they find you? There was no way you'd be able to take them all with just your rifle and Celestia's sword. No, you'd need someone like Spike for that. "We'll have to find Spike. The best we can do for now is run and hope we lose them." It wasn't a perfect plan, but it would work for the time being. "Any idea what they’re called? They don't look like the others." Celestia asked. You knew what they were called, and like before it puzzled you. Why did their name always reveal itself upon your first sight of them? "They are Virtue." An ironic name. You had a suspicion that it was they who were responsible for this strange darkness. It wasn't like any other darkness, you'd be able to handle it. It was like a predator, perverting your most basic emotions, or amplifying them. Then it came to you and you calmed your run and halted. Celestia almost didn't notice as she only stopped when she looked behind her to see if you were followed. "Anon? What's the matter?" You didn't say a word as you swung your rifle from around your shoulder and pointed it down the hall behind you. You aimed nowhere in particular. You didn't even have to hit anything, you just needed to test a theory. The aegis was beginning to vibrate. You took it as a sign that the barrier was about to shatter. Which meant you didn't have a lot of time. "Anon?" "Celestia, before I found you, did you have any strange experiences with the dark?" You ask. "What do you mean? Do we really have time for this?" She stepped closer to you, eyeing you curiously. "Did it feel like someone walked along side you? Whispering in your ear, planting thoughts that normally you yourself wouldn't think?" Celestia's breath withdrew sharply in a gasp. It confirmed your suspicion. This was no ordinary darkness. It was alive. Part of the Virtue, perhaps its main body. Curious, an angel with two bodies. The light from your rifle illuminates the hall around you and travels down the other end. It looked like a bullet jetting through a pillar of smoke. "Look! The walls!" Celestia pointed at the sandy walls. They were coated with shadow as heavy as soot. The dark now clung to the walls like water being evaporated off a sidewalk. Now you could see that the maze was not air tight. There were cracks in the ceilings and walls, allowing small beams of light to shine through. Now you'll be able to navigate without any sort of handicap. But you weren't out of the woods yet. Your left hand started to ache and it felt heavy. You nearly drop your rifle recoiling from the pain. Your barrier just fell, you could feel it. Down the hall, you could hear the hundred cries of murderous pixies. "Anon, we have to go now!" Without any sort of warning, Celestia took you by the collar and slung you over her back and broke into full sprint. You bounce uncontrollably on her back. Not yet gaining your bearings. You had to make sure to keep your head down, the ceiling being rather low. Still, it felt nice being able to ride her like this. It felt in a sense, natural? "Anon, I'll need you to keep firing ahead to give us light." "Aye." One hand will have to do. Your other was still recuperating from the spell break. Good thing the kick back on your rifle was hardly noticeable. A toddler would be able to handle it. Balancing the barrel next to Celestia's lowered head, you fire. Each round rippling through the darkness and frying it like a lamp burning insects. Celestia darts around corners and curves around bends like she were water. You could feel her muscles working to keep you both going. Her hind legs kicking off the ground with the force of a locomotive. Every now and then you risk a glance behind you, to see if you were gaining distance between the angels. You weren't; every time you looked over your shoulder, you could see their sickly green eyes hounding after you. But this time, when you looked back they were gone completely. You figured Celestia simply outran them. It was a reasonable conclusion. You were about to lean down and tell her that she could take it easy for awhile, but as she turned to the right, the path simply dropped into a deep, dark chasm. The both of you went tumbling forward into that void that drained everything. Your stomach began to hit against your lungs as you plummeted, screaming all the while. Celestia's wings unfurled and you felt the air around you brush aside as she dove under you. Catching you in mid air. "Oh thank god. I thought that was it.." "You can worry about that later. Here they come!" Celestia was looking upward into the black sky within the chasm. A thousand green dots made their way towards you. Thinking fast you fire your rifle skyward, evaporating the dark clouds and managing to take down a few Virtues. There seemed to be more of them, like they were growing. Eventually there would be enough to move across the sky like a dark cloud. "Dive! Celestia, dive!" You didn't need to tell her twice. So far, you've yet to hit the ground and you could stand to go a bit deeper. It was either that or charge the enemy. It felt more like falling rather than flying as the both of you jetted further into proverbial hell. You donned your goggles to protect your eyes from the air. Behind you, the Virtues were gaining. Celestia was the fastest creature you've seen to date. She could probably out fly one of those airships, but for these tiny angels to remain just a few yards away was amazing. Then you raise your hand, turning your body so you can point it upward. It takes all your concentration not to fall, while also casting the spell. Once again you focus on the idea of protecting your life. More so Celestia. And like rain, the spell comes forth. The transparent, blue wall stretches the entire length of the cavern. Once again separating you from the threat. You exhale heavily. It took a lot out of you and you hunch over, patting the side of Celestia's neck to signal her it was safe to stop. Her wings beat harder than a drum and she rears up to stop her descent. Almost sending you flying off. The Virtues rammed the barrier, trying to break it as they did the previous time. You gave yourself about five minutes before that happened. "Anon, shoot downward. I thought I saw something along the walls." You nod and fire off three shots down into the bottomless pit. You can't even see where they end. But you can see what Celestia was talking about. Along the walls were numerous passage ways. All of them connecting to this chasm. There were so many to chose from. At least one would lead you to your comrades. But which one. Then again, did it really matter? The angels weren't going to wait for you to choose. "Pick one and fly Celestia!" You again pat the base of her neck and her wings respond, thrusting you forward into the closest hall. After you reentered the hallways, you felt a pressure build up in your left hand once again. The shield was going to break in a matter of minutes and you couldn't keep this up forever. Celestia will eventually get tired, and they'll eventually find you. Celestia suddenly stopped. The halt almost sending you flying forwards. It was a dead end. "Tch....Damnation. Anon, you better prepare yourself. We're in for a fight." Celestia whipped around with the speed of lightning. She planted her hooves in the hard rock beneath you and stared straight ahead. The sound of glass shattering coursed through the cavern, along with the screeching of mad beasts. You heard their wings flutter and beat around in the pit ahead of you. They were searching for you. It wouldn't be long until they found the pair of you and tore you limb from limb. "We'll charge them." "What?" She cranes her neck to look at you. She was clearly confused "As it stands right now, we have nowhere to go. We have almost no choice but to sit and wait for them to find us and kill us. And I'm sure Celestia, the proud princess of Equestria, won't take that sitting down." She smiled. It was a smile that said "Damn straight." "Fine. But you better hang on tight. If you fall, I'm not coming back for you." You laugh, ruffling her multicolored mane as you placed your hand on top of her head. Her ears shot upward at that and she made a motion like she was going to look at you, but then stopped and continued looking ahead. You wondered to yourself then. When did you become this close? Perhaps it was because the both of you were in a life or death situation and it helped calm her nerves, which is why she allowed it. Or rather, she enjoyed it. Heaven knows you did. From the dark beyond you, you can make out the grassy green eyes of Virtue. The lime orbs ever shifting and changing. Celestia stomps the ground with her hoof and lowers her head, her wings slightly unfurled and horn pointed outward. You draw the sword that waited patiently by her side, the pillar of light eradicating the darkness around you. It felt brilliant in your hands. You knew the moment you found it in the vault that it would be something that made you feel a slight ecstasy if you were to use it. With the sword clasped lightly in your right hand, you focus on your left. You've never tried but now was as good of a time as any. Again you focused on that feeling. Celestia. Blue clashes with the white light as a shield grows around your clenched fist. A circular buckler hugging the side of your forearm. It was small, but it'd do for now. "Any ideas after we make it through?" Celestia asked. "Right now, I think we should try to get back to the room with the machine. I doubt we'll find our way out of the labyrinth without destroying it." "And what of the others?" "We can always dig them out later." You say, laughing to yourself. Celestia chuckles and adjusts her weight forward. Her wings now half-way at full mast. "Hang on!" Her hind legs kick off with a powerful explosion similar to thunder. The sudden air shift almost throwing you off. Ahead of you, the angels charge, their jagged teeth dripping with saliva. You ready your shield, placing it in front of you and raising the sword in the air. With the size of the Virtues, you hoped it'd work like a specially made fly-swatter.You counted the paces that brought you closer to them with each second. You could see the proverbial 'white of their eyes' and you immediately start swinging. Celestia works her way through like a drill eating through rock and your right arm never stops swinging. Every now and then an angel would tug at your shield, but ultimately be done in by you bashing your shield and sword together. You did your best for Celestia too. Making sure that none of the angels tried to take a bite out of her. But even without you, she seemed to be doing well. At least three Virtues impaled themselves on her horn and they squirmed, trying to remove the rod out of their chests. As soon as they even came close to you, you'd swing your sword. Evaporating them with great ease. A saber was much more civilized than a gun, you though. Ahead, amidst the swarm that engulfed you, you could see the entrance into the cavern. Celestia had subconsciously tucked her wings in, not wanting to injure them in the charge. But you knew as soon as her hooves left the ground, she'd be off like a rocket. But you were distracted. While you looked ahead, you didn't notice the Virtue crawling over your shield. It dug its jagged, rock-like teeth into the skin of your arm, tearing the cloth of your shirt and staining it with blood. It felt like someone tried to dig into you with a stalactite. You shout, the noise being involuntary. The Virtue's claws now dug into your upper arm, ripping into the muscle and making you wish you wore full-body armor. Celestia didn't lose focus. Like she said, if you fell, she wasn't coming back. You didn't want to test if she was serious. As the angel continued to gnaw on your arm, you placed the hilt of the sword into your mouth and wrapped your free hand around the little devil's head. It was like a dog, locking it's jaw in place so that you couldn’t remove it, no matter how hard you pulled. And by god did you pull. Other angels tried to swarm you, but you made use of the shield that still latched to your arm and repelled them. You yanked hard on the Virtue's head. Trying to pry its teeth out of you, which felt like trying to remove rusted razors. Your teeth bit down on the hilt with the force of twenty pounds as you yanked and pulled. Your own blood falling freely from the wound. Up ahead, you were running out of time. You weren't sure if you'd be able to deal with this if you were in mid-flight. You now tried everything, you even tried to pluck out the green marbles that were its eyes. But it was no good. It was like a tick that didn't come out no matter what. If only you had Spike here to burn it. You let go of it's head, retrieving the sword from your mouth. You didn't feel exactly safe with what you were about to do. After all, the light weapons could tear through organic skin like a heated blade through wax. Not to mention the constant bobbing you had to endure while riding Celestia, and the number of angels that still attacked you as the both of you made your way through the horde. With the precision of a grade A scientist, you lower the blade near your arm. You can see the Virtue start to stare at it through it's mossy green eyes, it only makes it's grip tighter. You bounce, almost cutting off your own arm. "Celestia! Try and keep steady will you!?" You shout. "Forgive me if I'm running for my life!" "Well run slower!" Once again you lower the blade onto your arm. You were just inches away. One slight bump, or jostle and your arm would be gone completely. Then, as if ill fate decided to play with you, Celestia ran out of walk space. And you were now slightly falling downward. Your hand slipped. You cursed as your shaking hand collided with the Virtue's head. It shrieked and disintegrated. By some miracle, you were able to pull the sunlight blade away just before it met skin. Although you probably burned a few arm hairs and instantly evaporated the blood. "Are you alright!?" Celestia asked, trying to shout over the loud angels that gave chase to you. "I'm fine! I've just been bitten is all!" "Aww, would you like me to kiss and make it better!?" She teased you, looking over her shoulder and batting her eye lashes. The thought of Celestia trying to kiss your wound, which at the moment was trickling with blood, didn't amuse you in the slightest. "Focus! Get us back to the round room with the machine! I'll block their path!" With that, Celestia's speed doubled and you sprang up through the chasm like a weed in summer. You sheath the sword and dispel your aegis buckler and cast it outward behind you. Creating a new shield that would hold them for a while. You were getting good at this. You were going so fast that you were afraid Celestia wouldn't be able to stop herself and you'd both smash into the ceiling. You held on tight just in case, bracing for impact. But just like that she turned, almost a right-angle and your neck cracks in three places as it jerks to the side. Now you were flying down the halls, making erratic turns and advanced flying techniques. Celestia seemed to know where she was going. How good was her memory? Was she like an elephant? Her rear sure did fit the bill. You surprise yourself with that last thought. You'd have to save it for when she teased you again. You resembled a jockey, hunched over and legs tucked in tight around Celestia's sides, careful not to disrupt her wing beat. Before, you had heard that Rainbow Dash, that blue mare with the multicolored mane, was the fastest flier in Equestria. Being here, zipping through these halls busted that myth completely. The halls were starting to feel familiar. The directions and twists and bends now recognizable. This is where you found Celestia, and up ahead you could see the red light peeking at you from around the corner. You were home free. But the turn was an immediate right. Celestia was going so fast there was no way she'd be able to turn like that fast, and with such precision. "Celestia! Slow down, you'll run us into the wall!" "Nonsense! We'll make it, trust me!" And so you trusted her. Something you wish you could do without a sense of dread in your gut. Before you knew it, the wall was right there in front of you. You were going to crash. Or were you? Celestia's wings had stopped completely and you seemed to glide along the hall. Then, with a peculiar stroke of her right wing. You both barreled to the right. It wasn't like that time in Tzipuur where she burrowed through the rock in a spiral. It was akin to becoming like water bending around a corner. The maneuver was so fluent. There was hardly a way for you to believe it actually happened. For as soon as it happened, it abruptly ended with the both of you flying into the red room and falling to the sandy ground. You instinctively held out your arms to catch yourself, but the wound on your left arm being too much to bare and you immediately face plant into the sand. Gasps fill the room as you both crash in. Celestia slowly stood, looking around the red room. She smiled and nudged you in the side. You look up to see that everyone had appeared to have found this room. All of the soldiers you were looking for were already found. "Anon!" Spike cried out, making his way towards you. "Where were you!? I thought you were a goner!" You chuckle and raise yourself upward. "Kept you waitin', huh?" "Anon, we don't have much time!" Celestia snapped back to attention and made her way over to the machine. The orb now hissed loudly, the spiral inside spinning at unfathomable speed. You scramble to your feet, careful not to knock Spike over in your haste. "Do you have any ideas on how to destroy it?" You ask Celestia, who circled the machine, trying to find any clue to its structure. "Not at the moment, no. What if you try hitting it?" "Hitting it?" "Yes. Sometimes the best solution is usually the easiest one." "True, but how do we know it won't-" The familiar pressure starts to build in your left hand. It felt like someone was giving you the firmest handshake of a lifetime. "Alright." Just like with the glass tubes, you sling your rifle off of your shoulder and grip it by the barrel. The others looked to you, wide-eyed and cautious. You swung as hard as you could with your injured arm. The impact sending a terrible vibration through your entire body. Then, a red sort of lightning arced over the sphere, throwing you back. "Anon! What are you doing?" Spike caught you as you stumbled backward. "We need to destroy this machine. The creatures we saw earlier were angels. Celestia and I are being pursued." The intensity of the danger hits you and you feel your heart start to pump faster and faster. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Around you, you heard whispering and murmurs. The stallions were shifting in their places, on edge for the impending attack. You swing the butt of the rifle again. A metallic 'thume' ringing out and bouncing off the sandy walls. Again, a red arc of lighting hits you and staggers you. The light was shining brighter than before, trying to ward you off by putting on a display of power. Arrogant machine. Your left hand was now starting to feel like it weighed twenty pounds. The barrier should have shattered by now, but you did your best to hold it as long as possible. But at this rate, the barrier would shatter and you'd all be trapped. And you were making no progress in taking down this machine. You needed someway to buy more time while you worked. You'd need someone to guard the entrance and hold them off as long as possible. "Spike!" You shout. "Uh, yeah?" With your left hand you point at the hall you and Celestia came from. "I'll need your fire for this one. I want you to stand over there, and at the first sign of the angels, I want you to fill the hall with fire. You think you'll be able to do it?" You ask. Spike now shied away slightly, kicking his tiny foot in the sand. "I don't know Anon, what if I can't? I'm not sure I have it in me for something like that." "Nonsense. You saved my life twice with your fire, Spike. And now I ask you to do it again." You hold out your fist to him. Half-dried blood coating it. Spike looked at you, his eyes growing slightly wider than they usually were. You smiled, reassuring him. This was a job only for Spike. Your guns wouldn't be able to keep them all at bay and you doubt you could conjure another shield. Your spirit was wearing thin and you needed to rest. Spike was still for a moment. And then with a puff of his chest, he snorted out two small pillars of smoke and smiled. His scaly fists brushed against yours and he turned and made his way towards the hall the angels were expected to appear. "You two..." You pointed at two stallions who carried very large shields from Canterlot. They appeared to be made of solid gold and weighed a ton. "...I need you to support Spike. Make sure nothing gets past him." "Yes, sir!" They said in unison and hurried over to join Spike, almost dragging their shields. "Since when did you start giving orders?" Celestia was beside you now. She smiled wryly and you shrugged. You didn't see it as giving orders. You were merely asking a favor. The aegis now started to let off a slight stream of steam. At this rate, it'd probably brake if you held the shield any longer. "Celestia, give me a hand." "I would, but I'm afraid I'm lacking in the 'hand' department." She said, waving her hooves in front of your face. You brushed her aside and went back to work. This was definitely not a time for games. You climbed onto the machine. Staring into the holes that dotted its surface. Staring down into the light, you can see that the spiral at its center was now rapid. No longer staying center and practically bouncing off the walls. "Celestia, give it a buck." She nodded and turned her back on the machine. With all her might she shot out her back legs with the force of a lightning strike. The impact made the machine shudder and you felt as if thunder had exploded right next to you. You take a look inside again, but nothing appeared to change. "Again." Around you, the stallions covered their ears as Celestia bucked and bucked on your command. The ringing was enough to rattle the entire maze. It was like she were her own little earthquake. She gave it one final kick, by far her strongest one. It caused you to fall on your rear from how hard the vibrations were, but it still didn't seem to do anything. Celestia was now getting frustrated. She grit her teeth and flared her nostrils. It made the other stallions step back a little when she starting kicking up sand and muttering under her breath. A shooting pain went through your hand like a knife plunging into your palm. It was the aegis. It now burned like heated metal and scarred your skin. You cry out in surprise and remove it without thinking. Without the aegis equipped, the barrier would instantly fall. The Virtue's roar could be heard from the hall as testimony to that. "Spike! I suggest you prepare yourself!" He nodded. The two soldiers on both sides of him planting their stone-like shields into the sand. You stand, hurrying to the machine. It was now burning with an incredibly bright fire. Once again you look inside. The spiral was gone, only a condensed orb of magic levitated in its center. Like a miniature star. Then you got an idea. "Celestia, hand me my rifle." You stretch out your hand, not taking your eyes off the orb inside. Around you, the sound of fluttering wings and sharp whaling could be heard. Everyone now prepared to stand at the Alamo. "Quickly!" You shout. The rifle finds its way into your hand and you look back. To your surprise, it was Howl. Celestia was with Spike. She had her own gun, and laid on her stomach next to him, aiming down the dark hall. "Is there anything you need help with?" Howl asked. There was no hint of hostility on his face. Only deep concern for his fellow soldiers. You frowned, but then turn your attention back to the machine. It now coursed with red lightning, but it shot outward instead of hovering around the sphere. "I want you and your men to climb on. Have them aim their guns at the orb in the center. And be quick about it." Howl immediately was off, relaying the instructions to everyone who was present. Within seconds they all piled on, aiming their guns through the many holes that punctured the sphere. You really hoped this'll work. "Anon! They’re here!" Spike shouted over his shoulder. The two stallions and Celestia made ready. You could see Spike start to freeze in place as he watched the Virtues slowly creep around the corner. Their decaying green eyes staring through him. "Don't falter Spike! Don't let fear control you, instead use it as fuel!" Spike then looked at you. He remembered how scared he was back in Tzipuur, and how afraid he was of dying. He used that fear to overpower the angels and save all of your lives in the process. "Don't worry if you don't get all of them Spike. That's what we're here for." Celestia said. The other two stallions looked down to him, smiling. Spike nodded, and with his new conviction he inhaled. The air in the room seemed to thin largely as Spike puffed out his chest, taking in as much as he could. The Virtues were right in front of them now. As if Spike pulled a trigger in his lungs, incandescent flames crawled from his gaping mouth and charged the angels. It was like a demon of fire, greedily swallowing up anything it came in contact with. You watch for only a moment before turning to your own task. It was Spike's job to buy you time, it was your job to get you all out of the labyrinth. "Alright, all of you see that red orb in the center? My guess is that if it's anything like the angels, our weapons should be able to destroy it." "Destroy it? How do you know the sand wont come crashing down on top of us? We'll be buried alive!" Howl was beside you, looking at you with ill trust. You stared back at him, slightly turning your nose up in the air. "Well I hope you ponies are good at digging." Shots already sprang out behind you as Celestia and the others fended off the angels. This was your only chance. You all agree that on three, you'll concentrate your fire on the orb. The red light was now pulsating, and crimson lightning shot outward. The machine flailed about like a child as you held the pillow over its mouth. You count aloud. Each second feeling like a minute. On three, you all pull the triggers and fill the sphere with the white light of the rifles. Another pulse sends most of you flying off. But you keep shooting. The walls and the ceilings were starting to rumble, sand being kicked up in the commotion. The lightning was now more aggressive. It arced like a thunder god's fury, all the while Spike's flames acted as your shield. Again you all fire, attacking the condensed red orb in the center. You had no way to look inside, but you'd say it was working, for large slabs of sandstone started falling from the ceiling almost crushing a few ponies. "Hurry Anon! I don't think Spike can keep this up much longer!" Celestia called to you. She was now on her hooves, juggling her sword in between her mouth and her hooves. Spike's eyes were shut so tightly, they probably wouldn't be able to open again. His tiny lungs felt like a wooden bridge trying to support three elephants. You kept shooting for his sake. The sphere began to crack, the red light peeking through, the inside being even brighter. You stopped firing and began to tear at the chipping casing. With your hands you pulled off the shell of the machine. The others helped you as you rushed to pry open the machine. Celestia, along with the other two stallions were giving it their all, keeping the angels from getting too far. You tore and tore away at the casing, the red orb now visible. It was within arms reach, but as soon as you reached for it, your hand was burned. It was hot. It was like sticking your hand into an oven. The sand was drawn into the core and pressurized to form the hard sandstone around you. Behind you, you could hear Spike's flames give out. He collapsed in the sand. The few angels left trying to make their way into the room. "Howl! Your gun!" You shout over the chaos. Howl passes you the gun without hesitation and you grip it by the barrel and hold it over your head like a club. The heat was now pouring into the room. It was like standing over a volcano. Without much thought for what could happen, you brought the butt of the rifle down and rammed the orb, sending it flying and shattering over a wall. Now the sand around you began to falter and the red light faded. The ceiling was the biggest danger. Howl was right, there was too much sand and you'd be buried alive. You jump down from the now destroyed machine and retrieve the aegis you’d thrown down earlier. There was no time to put your hand in so you held it in both. Around you everyone was in a panic. Many held their shields over their heads, trying to avoid being crushed by the falling sand. There were so many. Maybe you could shield them all from the sand, but there was no time for everyone to huddle. Looking at Celestia and Spike, you immediately wanted to chose them. They were the easy choice, but what would she think if you let these soldiers die? You concentrate. A single thought being shoved to the front of your mind. Howl said you couldn't protect everyone. Maybe not, but you'll sure as hell try. You fall on your knees, straining your mind. You focused as hard as you could. Your breath stopped and your hands clinched around the glove. Protecting everyone was your goal, and it would be a goal well met. The magic in you answered your call and sprang forth from the aegis, the azure light illuminating the crumbling room. It created a massive dome that stretched over all of you, the sand sliding off it's sides. Celestia watched as you lay hunched over, almost screaming at the top of your lungs. Day was breaking, expelling the dark that held you prisoner. It was like being born again and many cheered at the sight of it. Meanwhile you struggled to maintain the spell. There was still a great deal of sand left, and you doubt you'd be able to keep this up for more than a few more seconds. Then you felt a goddess' touch upon your back. You open one eye to see Celestia sitting beside you, her wing draping over you like a great quilt of comfort. You stared into her eyes, and they stared back. They pushed you, encouraged you. You felt at ease and found it easier to control the spell. Soon the sand would fall away completely, and you'll be in the shining sun once more. Soon after the collapse of the labyrinth, you immediately collapsed. It was like all the energy in your body had been sucked away by the aegis in your hands. You entered a deep sleep, one well deserved as Celestia had put it. Spike had came to a little after you fainted and now he looked over you as you slept. There would be no march today, everyone was too tired. Who knows what they all experienced in the dark. What thoughts that came to mind in that black burrow. Celestia was standing a little ways away from the camp. She watched as you lay on the blanket she placed you on. "I should have listened to you. Now you can't even move because of my mistake. I should have known better." She spoke to you, but hardly expected you to answer. She was more speaking to herself, quietly blaming herself for everything that had happened. She put everyone in danger so she could satisfy her own curiosity. It was incredibly selfish. Something that she hadn't been guilty of for a very long time. She was faultless, never making any sort of mistake or committing any wrongdoings, but now she found herself making all kinds of mistakes. Why was that? She turned away and sat in the sand. Her gaze shifted to the stoic tower that seemed closer than it was before. "I've changed.." She said to herself. The only thing offering a reply being the soft wind that blew through her mane. "What is it that's changed me so?" She thought to herself, but when nothing came to mind, she frowned. So she thought harder, shutting her eyes and twitching her ear, swishing her tail in the sand like a frustrated cat. "Ugh! What's wrong with me? I can't even think of what ales me. I must be getting old. When did I start making mistakes? At what time did I start acting so selfish?" She continued to ponder in frustration. She asked herself. Am I really here for Anon... "...Or to satisfy my own curiosity?" Her tail stopped swaying and she opened her eyes. She thought about how strange it was to be here in the Badlands, this boundless desert. Out here, there was no way she could use her magic. She didn't feel 'one' with the world as she usually did. She couldn't even feel the sun within her. She looked to the sky, the sun taking center in her pupils. She stared, its light never being anything to turn her away. In all Equestria, she was the only one who could truly gaze into the heart of the gold star and not be blinded by it's incredible light. But it seemed so far away. With her out here in this desert, it felt terrible, almost agonizing. So why did she willingly come along this journey knowing full well that she'd feel like this? She was curious, yes, but that couldn't be all there was, could it? Why was she so interested in a forgotten old city anyway? "What on earth compels me to be here?" She grumbled. "Do you always talk to yourself when you're alone?" Her head darted around to look at you. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly hanging open. She blushed, embarrassed that you were able to surprise her and catch her talking to nothing but sand. "A-anon! You should be asleep. You must rest, magic fatigue is very serious, you could fall into a coma!" She stood, sand falling off of her as she stepped towards you. "I'll have to sleep later. We're still marching today, aren't we? I don't want to lose time." You say as you slowly make your way forward. Celestia watched you, worry written all over her face "We're almost there. It'll take a day's march at best now. We shouldn't...." You fell over. Asleep and motionless. Celestia caught you, wrapping her foreleg around you as she tucked you into her chest. For a moment, she stood there stunned. She mused to herself how peaceful you look while sleeping. Then, she gently sat with you still held closely to her breast. "Oh. I see now." She said. She listened to the soft tones of your breathing and took joy in it. Her wings wrapped around you once again, providing you a blanket. "I came because I wanted to see what became of you..." ....My little human....