//------------------------------// // Chapter X // Story: Papa Gehrman // by SolidArc5542 //------------------------------// Cold wind blew against his face. The blood soaked bandages covering his eyes did a good job, protecting his eyes from the snowstorm he was walking through. How had he arrived here? He couldn’t seem to remember. The only thing he could remember was a hunter. He remembered a Saw Cleaver… and a Hunter’s pistol. Had he done something terrible? He was just hunting beasts, after all. His wife and children are probably fine, enjoying the comfort of his house. He couldn’t wait to return to them. For some reason, he felt a soothing warmth run through his body, even though the temperatures outside were cold enough to kill an ordinary man. But he was no ‘ordinary man’. He was Gascoigne. Proud hunter of the Healing Church and slayer of many beasts. But he was also a man who loved his children very much. He would sacrifice hi life for his children, he would kill for his children, and he would hunt for his children. Just to make sure they were safe. The same could be said about his wife. Whenever he went out to join the nightly hunt, they begged him to stay. Whenever he forgot, they played the soothing tone of his beloved music box. “Oh, Viola,” Gascoigne said to himself, the warmth in his body suddenly disappearing. “What has become of you? Please be safe. I will return, I always do.” Looking down at his bloodied shoes—which were stained with the blood of beasts, Yharnamites, and his own—Gascoigne let out a sigh. What good is a hunter, if he doesn’t have a place to call home anymore? But king Sombra, this Great One. He promised him he could return him to his family, return him to his home. When he had asked Sombra where he was, and why he was here, he did not answer. At first Gascoigne was hesitant, but when Sombra started asking him questions, that’s when Gascoigne learned the truth. The king told him that he was a Great One, after Gascoigne had asked him if he was, and that he had lost something dear to him. Gascoigne did not know much about the Great Ones, he only knew of their existence and that the Healing Church constantly tried making contact with one. He never knew if they succeeded, though. Because he was more interested in hunting beasts. The smell of blood, the look on their faces, it all made him feel alive. The adrenaline that was being pumped through his veins when he encountered yet another beasts, was a feeling no one could describe. You’d have to feel it for yourself. Sombra told him how he had lost his kingdom to two evil Princesses. How he was defeated and that his physical body was gone, and he was left a shadow, wandering the outskirts of the Crystal Empire. Gascoigne never got along with royalty. He despised of them. They sat upon their thrones, giving orders and sending dozens of hunter’s into their deaths, while they watched from a safe distance, drinking and eating the night away. Gascoigne listened to the king’s story, taking in every bit of information he saw as important. When the king had finished his story, he asked a question that Gascoigne had not expected. He asked for help. Specifically, help to retrieve an item. The Crystal Heart. Gascoigne declined his offer at first, stating that he needed to head home, that his wife and daughters were waiting for him to get home. King Sombra was not too happy about him declining his offer, and roared at him that he would never see his wife and daughters again, did he not help him. Gascoigne first took this as a threat, saying that he should find another hunter to do his dirty work. He told him that the night would end soon, and that Yharnam would once again see daylight. When he mentioned Yharnam, however, king Sombra began laughing manically. “Now I get it!” the king laughed, looking down at Gascoigne as his shadowy form hovered above him. “Do you even know where you are?” Gascoigne shook his head. “Probably somewhere far away from Yharnam,” he replied, walking away from him. “I will find my way back. I always do.” “I think that you are nowhere near this ‘Yharnam’ you talk of,” Sombra’s voice echoed through the frigid outskirts of the Crystal Empire. “You will never see your family again.” Gascoigne stopped dead in his tracks, turning his head. “Silence yourself, before I do.” He threatened. “Your beloved daughters… dead.” Sombra whispered into his ear, his shadow form latching itself around Gascoigne. “Your beloved wife is probably dead, too.” “They are not,” Gascoigne retorted, shaking his head furiously. “They are not dead! The beasts will not get to them!” “Help me, and I will make sure they are all right. Help me, and I will take you to them. Help me, and you will see… Viola again.” Sombra whispered into his ear, chanting the same three lines over and over again. Gascoigne tried to walk away, but he couldn’t find the strength. He wanted to forget about everything. But he could not forget. He had to remember. He HAD to! “I will see them again?” Gascoigne asked. Sombra chuckled grimly as he loosened his grip around Gascoigne. Hovering above him once again, the humongous shadow spoke up. “Yes,” Sombra replied. Gascoigne looked down at his hand. Grabbing hold of his Hunters Axe, he looked up at the king once more. “I will help you, if you help me.” He said, cutting open the palm of his hand. “This will seal our deal…” And so, the hunter began his new mission to find the heart and return it to its original owner. What happened afterwards; he couldn’t care less about. His family is what mattered, nothing else. King Sombra watched as he saw Gascoigne disappear into the far distance, the heavy snowstorm blocking the king’s sight, preventing him from seeing his pawn. Sighing to himself as he turned around, he took a glance at an object he was holding with his magic. An object which he would use to his advantage, should Gascoigne think to betray him. He would have never known the name of his wife, were it not for this Tiny Music Box. Gehrman and Twilight entered the library. Closing the door behind them, Twilight called out to her assistant. After a brief moment of silence, she could hear her assistant running downstairs. “I’m coming, Twilight!” Spike called out to her. Finally reaching the library, Spike smiled at her. “Hey Twilight,” he said. His eyes widened when he saw the humongous creature standing beside her. Blinking several times to see if his eyes weren’t deceiving him, Spike looked at Twilight. “What is that thing Twilight?” he asked, pointing his claw at Gehrman. “Spike, meet Gehrman. Gehrman, meet Spike.” Twilight introduced the two. Spike eyed Gehrman curiously. “Gehrman,” he repeated, taking a few steps forward. “Is he a new friend of yours?” he asked, looking at Twilight. “Yes,” Twilight replied, smiling at her assistant. “We’ve recently met. But he’s a friend that I can assure you.” Spike nodded his head, looking up at Gehrman. “How are you doing?” “I am doing rather well,” Gehrman replied, looking down at him. “It is nice to meet you, Spike.” Spike couldn’t help but smile at him. ‘Seems like a nice guy,’ he thought to himself. Gehrman was about to say something, until the sound of a hoof knocking on a wooden door prevented him from doing so. Both human, pony and dragon turned their heads to the library’s entrance. “Oh,” Twilight said, walking towards the door and opening it. “I wonder who that could be.” She opened the door and was met by a pink blur flying passed her, followed by a cyan blur. Shaking her head furiously, Twilight closed the door, only for it to be blocked by an orange hoof. “Well ah’ll be Pinkie, ya were right about his height. He’s a tall fella, I’ll give him that!” “Darling, please step aside so I can get a better look at him.” “I’d like to get a better look too, if that’s okay with you.” “Twilight,” Gehrman said, looking at the three ponies who stood in the doorway. “Friends of yours?” "