The Pit

by R3NDL3

Episode 6: The End of a Soothing Rain

Chapter 21 - Demons never rest

I walked back to my bedroom as Blue and Misty walked to their own. I was scared that maybe Ecstasy was going to come here tonight.

Vanilla was still asleep, so I made sure to be quite. I had to get ready to fight the demon that could be coming to visit tonight, but how? I didn’t have a holy weapon like Storm did. I sat on the bed to think more.

I put my head in my hooves. I had a distant memory return. Equestria. I remembered running through grassy fields with friends. Picking flowers for my mom. It was peaceful... and I left it just like everypony else in The Pit. Why? Now I find myself hunting down demons and worrying about if I was going to die. I was worried... about death...

A tear streamed down my face. I had to stop thinking about that. It only hurt me. I stood up and walked out. I decided to go and talk to Kage and Kynes.

I walked into their room and Kynes waved to me, “Hey there, Digi. How are you?”

Kage smirked, “Did Vanilla wear that maid costume?”

Kynes laughed, “Oh yeah! Did she?”

I blushed, “Yes, but that’s not what I want to talk about. I wanted to talk to you guys about Ecstasy.”

Kage laid back, “You mean the demon that might be coming to see us?”

I nodded, “Yes. Might be coming to see us tonight.”

Kynes looked at me, “Woah woah woah. I just got done shooting up Crimson Tear, and now you’re saying another demon might come here tonight?”

I scratched my head, “Well I don’t know. Maybe.”

Kage pulled out his steel pipe, “I got this,” he looked at it and set it back down, “it does shit.”

Kynes nodded, “That’s another thing. The only one who seems like they can actually harm a demon is Storm. What the hell do we do?”

I shrugged and sat down, “I don’t know. Distract, I guess.”

Kynes laid back, “Fantastic. Fan-fucking-tastic.”

Kage laughed, “I just hope it won’t be tonight. I already had enough action.”

Kynes smirked, “I bet Digi and Vanilla got enough action, too.”

I blushed again, “Do you guys just like embarrassing me?”

Kynes laughed, “It definitely is fun.”

Storm opened up the door, “She’s coming.”

We stood up. Kage scratched his head, “The demon?”

Storm nodded and walked away. Kynes looked at me and Kage, “Shit.”

We walked out and into the main building with Storm. We all stood there. Storm pulled out his glowing sword, “I don’t know where she is exactly, but she’s almost here. I can sense it.”

Kynes walked forward, “Sensed it? How do you sense it?”

Storm began to walk toward the door that lead outside, “This blade has changed me. We should be in the courtyard.”

We nodded and walked outside with Storm. It was dusk. The last light of the sun was slowly receding from the sky.

Storm turned to us, “I know you do not have weapons capable of killing a demon, but I still need your help. Even if you have normal weapons, they can still cause pain.”

Kage shrugged, “Then why was Crimson Tear not caring earlier?”

Storm turned to Kage, “Because he was focused on killing.”

Kage nodded and pulled out his steel pipe, “I guess I’ll just have this out, then.”

Kynes looked at me, “Why did it have to be tonight?”

Storm overheard, “Evil doesn’t sleep, Kynes. Demons don’t either.”

Kynes sighed, “Yeah, but I sure want to.”

Kage nodded, “You got that right.”

Storm turned to us, “Will you two shut u-”

A scream came inside of the church. It sounded like...

I ran inside before anypony else. Adrenaline coursed through my body all because of one scream. I ran through the hallway to my room. I ran past Blue and Misty who were standing out of their bedrooms.

I opened the door and saw a pegasus holding Vanilla. She had a dark purple coat, a long, black mane and tail, and magenta eyes. It was Ecstasy. The Thorned Rose.

She looked at me and smirked, “Hello, Digi. For a pony who wants the best for Vanilla, you certainly don’t keep an eye on her.”

I picked up a wooden plank from what looked like an old chair, “Put her down!”

She smiled, “No. I have something else planned,” she licked Vanilla’s neck and bit it slightly, “something fun.”

I teared up a little and ran toward her, “PUT HER DOWN, YOU BITCH!”

I swung the plank at her, but she just blocked it and grabbed me, too, “Two ponies? Even more fun.”

She smiled as I struggled to get loose, but we were already flying away.

Where were we going? I didn’t know. I looked down at the church that was getting farther and farther away as I hoped that Storm, Kage, and Kynes would come and help.

I looked at Vanilla and whispered, “I love you.”

She looked back at me and teared up, “I love you, too.”

Chapter 22 - In a bed of roses

It felt like hours went by. I just wanted to go back with Vanilla. We were brought inside an old wooden building. It had dark red carpets and curtains. We were both thrown inside a room with the door locked behind us. The bed sheets were a pink colour. I looked at Vanilla, “Where are we?”

She sat on the bed and wiped her eyes, “I believe it’s an o-old brothel.”

I tilted my head, “Old brothel?”

She tried to stop crying, but couldn’t, “Y-yeah. Who was that, Digi?”

I sat down beside her, “Her name is Ecstasy. She’s a demon.”

She laid her head in my lap. Seeing her like this almost made me want to tear up, but I knew I had to find a way out. I looked around the room.

There were no windows, so that wasn’t an option. No vents, so that was also crossed out. The door was locked...

We were stuck in here, it seemed. I kissed Vanilla on her cheek and rubbed her side. This is why I needed to get her out of here. I didn’t want her to go through this. What was a brothel anyways?

I looked down at Vanilla, “What’s a brothel?”

She laughed slightly underneath her tears, “It’s a whore house. A place I would have worked at. In fact, I did work at this one for a little while. I remember it.”

“Do you know of anyway to get out of here?”

She shook her head, “No. I wish I did.”

She kissed me and laid down. I stood up and walked around the room. I walked to the door and put my ear against it. I heard a pony walking toward it.

I sat down on the bed and Vanilla sat up, “What is it?”

The door opened and Ecstasy walked in smiling, “Hello, my play toys. I expect you to be feeling at home.”

Vanilla got up, “Let us out.”

She shook her head and smirked, “I don’t think I will. But I do think I will have fun with your little coltfriend.”

She looked at me and winked, but Vanilla stepped in the way, “You better not lay a hoof on him, you bitch!”

I stood up. Ecstasy walked toward Vanilla, “Then maybe I’ll just have fun with you.”

She grabbed Vanilla and pulled her out of the room. I ran toward her, “NO!”

The door shut in my face and locked. I banged my hooves against the wood. I did so for about a minute.

I turned around and put my back against the door, sliding down it. I cried, “Why? Why is this happening?”

I hit the door with my elbow and punched the wall. What was she doing to Vanilla? The thoughts rushed through my mind, only making me cry more.

It was about half an hour until I heard a pony coming down the hallway toward the door. I got up and turned around. The door opened and Vanilla was tossed in, the door locked after. Vanilla hugged me, tears streaming down onto my shoulder. I hugged her tightly and held the tears back.

She walked to the bed and sat down, looking down and crying. I sat down by her and held her hoof. Her clothes were torn slightly. I teared up slightly, “A-are you ok?”

Why the hell did I ask that? Of course she wasn’t. Vanilla looked at me and cried on my shoulder, “P-please. W-we need to get o-out.”

I stood up and walked toward the door, “I’ll get you out.”

I looked at the door and backed up. Vanilla watched me. I nodded at her. I ran toward the door and it opened right when I reached it.

I looked up and saw Ecstasy staring down at me, “Hello, Digi.”

Vanilla ran toward the door, “You better not, you bi-”

The door slammed in front of her face and Ecstasy picked me up, “Let’s go have fun.”

She smiled as I struggled to get away. I couldn’t. She took me into another room and threw me onto a warm bed. She smiled and floated over the bed. Her wings pushing air down onto me.

She laughed, “Are you ready, Digi?”

I shook my head and crawled away. She smirked and pinned me down onto the bed, “Now don’t run away, Dig-”

She stopped in mid sentence. Her mouth was wide open. Why? I crawled out from under her. She began to change into her demon form.

I looked behind her and saw Storm. His blade was stabbed inside Ecstasy. I stood up quickly and backed away.

Storm twisted the sword inside Ecstasy and pulled it out, “How does that feel?”

She turned around and slashed her claws toward Storm, “Bastard!”

Storm dodged her claws, “Angry?”

She slashed her claws toward him once again, “Die!”

He jumped away from her attack, “No? Furious?”

She jumped toward him, “FUCK YOU!”

Storm dodged and held his sword up to Ecstasy’s neck, “How about dead.”

Ecstasy sighed and then smirked, “Go ahead and kill me, demon hunter. My siblings will simply hunt you down and make sure you suffer. They will come for you. One by one.”

Storm sliced his sword through her neck, decapitating her. The corpse fell down and turned to dust as Storm put his sword away, “I’ll be waiting.”

I just looked at the pile of dust, surprised. Was it really that easy to kill a demon? Or was it perhaps she wasn’t as powerful as Crimson Tear?

Storm stepped into the dust, “Where’s Vanilla?”

I looked up at him, “Th-this way.”

I walked toward the room Vanilla was locked inside. I was still surprised. Everything happened so quickly. I noticed Kage and Kynes weren’t with him, “Where are Kage and Kynes?”

Storm continued to follow me, “I told them to stay behind to look after the church.”

I scratched my head as I reached the door, “Why?”

He looked at me, “One demon means a whole mess of them, like Ecstasy said. They know where we hide now. We aren’t safe anymore.”

I opened up the door as I looked at Storm. Vanilla ran out of the room and hugged me as Storm stared back at me, “Get ready, Digi. This was just the beginning.”

Chapter 23 - The coming storm

Storm lead us outside the building through the back entrance. He turned to us, “I think that we should just walk back to the church and skip over the sewers... I understand you’ve had a hard time.”

Vanilla looked down and began to tear up. I held her close to me and looked at Storm, “Yes. Thank you.”

Storm nodded and turned around, walking away as we followed him. I was holding Vanilla close as we walked. She cried. I could see some bruises and cuts on her. I couldn’t help but tear up slightly as well.

I kissed her forehead and tried to cheer her up, “We’re out of there now. It’ll be ok.”

She stopped and fell to her knees, beginning to cry loudly. Storm turned, “What’s wrong?”

I knelt down beside her and held her hoof, “Please. It’s going to be ok.”

She shook her head and rocked back and forth, “No... I-I can’t go back. I can ne-never go back.”

I wiped a tear from my eye, “It’s not your fault. Please, Vanilla.”

She looked at me, “I know it isn’t, Digi! That doesn’t change the fact th-that it happened...”

I knew she was... raped... I knew she was, but I didn’t want to think about it. How couldn’t I, though? I couldn’t help but let the thoughts fill my head. I let them and I could feel the tears coming up, but I held the tears back. I had to be strong for Vanilla.

I hugged her tightly, “We can’t change the past, Vanilla, but I’ll make sure the future is better. I promise.”

She slightly nodded and I helped her up. Storm turned back around and continued to walk as we followed.

I whispered to her, “I’ve been thinking of how I could get you and Misty back to Equestria. It should be possible, I just have to fi-”

Vanilla stopped me, “B-but what about you?”

I sighed. I couldn’t just leave all that I’ve done here behind. I got myself into this fight and I’m going to finish it. I’m going to make sure it stops. I tried to smile, “I’ll try and come later. My first worry is to get you two out of The Pit.”

She turned to me with a furious expression, “I want you to leave with us! Why won’t you leave with us?!”

I teared up slightly, “I got myself into this fight. I’m not going to leave until it’s finished. I’m sorry Vanilla. You know that I love you, but I can’t just leave evil like this free to do what it wants.”

Her expression turned more serious, but then she sighed and nodded, “Ok... If you say so,” she smirked and chuckled while crying slightly, “Blue was right. You really need to choose your fights more carefully.”

I smiled. I need to talk to Blue more. I didn’t really want to admit it, but he was like a father to me, yet I didn’t talk to him much. I turned to look at Vanilla, “Yeah. He’s a good stallion, isn’t he?”

She smiled, “Y-yeah. You should talk to him more. He said that he wanted to.”

I chuckled, “Can you read my mind or something?”

She kissed me on the cheek, “Someone has to know what you’re thinking about.”

Storm glanced at us while continuing to walk, “Are you feeling better, Vanilla?”

She teared up. She began to fully remember what happened earlier, “N-no, but I think I’ll be okay.”

I sighed and kissed her, “I love you, Vanilla. Never forget that.”

She smiled slightly and nodded, “I love you, too.”

It was silent for a while. We just followed Storm toward the church. After awhile we passed by the theatre where Storm killed Big Don. It was burnt down. Some ponies were picking up the rubble and cleaning out the place.

I turned away, knowing what happened inside there. Vanilla looked at me, “What happened here?”

Storm glanced back, “Nothing. Just an unfortunate event.”

I looked down and sighed, “Yeah... Unfortunate.”

Vanilla looked confused, but nodded as we continued to walk. Unfortunate wasn’t enough to explain what happened in there. All those ponies died. Today was more than just unfortunate.

After a few more minutes of walking, we saw smoke in the distance. Storm paused, “No.”

He began to run toward the smoke. Vanilla looked at me, “Is that...”

My eyes widened, “The church.”

Vanilla and I both chased after Storm. What was going on?

We reached the church and saw Storm with Kage and Kynes. I ran over to them, “What happened?!”

Kynes shook his head, “I don’t know. We saw Crimson Tear and some other ponies with him walk into the church and all of a sudden a fire started.”

Kage scratched his head, “It spread fast. We had to get out of there.”

I looked around, “Where’s Blue and Misty.”

Kynes pointed to the church, “Blue ran in to get Misty, but he never came back out.”

I looked at Storm and we nodded at each other. I stood up and began to run toward the church with Storm, but Vanilla stopped me, “Please come back, Digi.”

I kissed her, “I will.”

I let her go and ran inside the church. Fire surrounded me. Storm was already farther inside than I was. I could faintly hear Misty screaming and Blue talking.

I rushed toward her screams through the burning building. I needed to get to her before this whole place fell apart.

As I got closer, I heard something else. It sounded like another pony, and he was close. I chose to ignore it. I needed to get to Misty.

I made it to her room and saw Blue holding her. I ran over to him, “You ok?”

He scratched his head and coughed, “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Let’s get the little one out, though.”

I looked at Misty, “Are you ok, Misty?”

She coughed, “Mhm...”

I nodded and turned toward the door, beginning to escort Blue out of the building. I heard that other pony again. Who was that?

After walking through the burning building for a little while, we made it out, but Storm was still inside, it seemed.

I pointed my hoof toward Kage, Kynes, and Vanilla while looking at Blue, “Go and stay with them. Make sure Misty is ok.”

Blue tilted his head, “What about you?”

I turned back to the church, “I’m going to get Storm.”

I ran inside the burning building once again, this time hearing two ponies with Storm. They were fighting. I could hear it clearly as I ran to where it was coming from. The tower.

When I made it up, I saw an alicorn holding a sword with an obsidian coat and fiery mane and tale with his back facing me standing next to a rather fat pony with a cream coat and a lanky brown mane and tale. They stood over another pony which I guessed was Storm, but I couldn’t get a good look.

The fat pony noticed me and turned toward me, “Oooooo. Food!”

I backed away and got a good look at Storm... wait...

It was Storm. I knew because he had the glowing sword and the same armor, but he wasn’t a pony. He was a... changeling.

Chapter 24 - A change in tides

Storm looked at me and shook his head while the pony with the fiery mane noticed me, “Oh look, Gluttony. Do you want something to eat?”

The pony with the cream coat, apparently named Gluttony nodded furiously, “Oh yes, War! Please! Let me eat.”

I looked at the pony with the fiery mane. War? Gluttony? What is going on?

War smirked, “Go ahead and eat the pony. I have no quarrel with him.”

Gluttony rushed over toward me. My eyes widened and I jumped out of the way before the pony could grab me. I ran toward Storm as War raised his sword to his neck. I rolled underneath War’s blade, grabbing Storms sword from beside him and blocking War’s attack at the last second, “You’re not going to do this!”

War smiled and slowly lowered his blade, “I enjoy a bit of conflict.”

He slashed toward me and I quickly blocked his attack. I jumped back and he smirked, “Gluttony!”

The fat pony looked at War anxiously, “Yes?”

War slashed toward me, quickly blocking him once again. He chuckled, “Eat the changeling.”

My eyes widened as Gluttony rushed toward Storm. He opened his mouth, his jaw unhinging, creating a gaping maw. No.

I ran over to him, while War sliced his blade through my side. I could feel the pain, but I ignored it. I couldn’t let Storm die.

I grabbed Storm, his back hooves already in the mouth of Gluttony. I ripped him away and jumped out of the window of the tower, falling a good forty-five feet.

I think I broke a few bones. Storm’s sword was stuck in the ground about ten feet away from me. I looked at the changeling and could see him struggling to hang onto life. Storm was missing his legs. His entire lower half was ripped away from him, now being eaten by Gluttony.

I teared up, “S-Storm!”

He looked at me, coughing up green blood, “Take my sword... finish what I started... Take ‘The Begotten’.”

The Begotten? Was that the name of his sword?

I crawled toward him as Blue, Kage, and Kynes rushed toward me. The church began to fall apart as I held onto Storm, “Don’t leave, Storm. We can finish this together.”

Storm tried to smile as he teared up slightly, “I can’t, Digi. My body is broken, just like the church. There is no place for me here now.”

I tried to hold back my tears, “But how will I find the demons?!”

Storm laid his weary head into the grass as he looked up into the sky, “Take the blade, Digi. Don’t worry...”

His eyes glazed over as he spoke with his final breath, “They’ll find you...”

I fell over onto my back. No... Why did Storm have to go? Why did he have to die?

As I looked up, I saw War looking down at me. His eyes were completely black with a hint of a scarlet flame. He smirked down at me as he turned and walked away.

I could barely hear what was going on around me. Kage and Blue started to pull me away from the now collapsing tower as Kynes snatched the sword out of the ground and rushed away. The tower was the only thing still standing, and it was now falling.

As I was dragged away, the burning tower fell on top of Storm. His body now burning with the building. It was poetic in a dark sense. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see it, but I could smell it. The burning building.

My hearing slowly returned to me. Vanilla set my head in her lap, “Digi! Please talk to me!”

She was crying. I nodded slightly, “I-I’ll be fine. I just want you and Misty to be ok.”

She smiled as tears streamed down her face, “We’re ok... We’ll be ok.”

My feeling returned to me. The pain from the gash in my side. The broken bones from the fall. It was too much. I couldn’t go back into the church to rest. It was destroyed. Where else could I go?

I remembered the apartment we stayed in when we first arrived here and gripped onto Vanilla’s shoulder, “P-please t-ake me b-back to th-the apar-ment.”

She quickly nodded while crying as I drifted off. Everything left me. My feeling. My pain. It was gone. The only thing left were my thoughts.

Was I dead?

No... I couldn’t be. I’m still alive. I have to be, but Storm...

Storm... Storm is dead. He burnt with the church. Maybe it was the way he would’ve wanted to go... I’ll tell that to myself just to make his death slightly less painful to me... but only slightly.

He was a changeling, but that didn’t change the fact that he was a friend.

I guess that didn’t change the fact that he was now burning underneath a collapsed church tower, either, but I’m still alive, and I will finish what he started.

I’ll finish what I got into.