> Morsidus Grim-Record: To Hell And Back > by Asdera3485 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > How Did This Happen? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All through Ponyville, everypony was enjoying the sunny afternoon. That was, until a loud scream cut through the small village. Morsidus was freaking out, due to the fact that he was a human once again. Everyone was in shock, they didn’t know what happened and how to deal with this new development. All they could do was watch Morsidus run around and scream. “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!?!? WHY AM I HUMAN AGAIN!?!?” He screamed as he went to the wall and started banging his head on it. Snowfire Blitz went to look at the muffins to test a theory. He put his hoof on one and used his Changeling abilities to feel the magic in them. Twilight was going through one of her books trying to see if there was a way to put him back, while Zecora went to comfort Morsidus. She rested a hoof on his leg. “All is not lost my love. We will use our combined efforts to find a way to put you back.” She said as she started rubbing her hoof along his leg. “I wouldn’t count on it.” Snowfire said as he finishes his spell. “There is an old Changeling spell on these, that when consumed, returns any being into their original form, and since Morsidus’ human self has no magic, he can’t change back.” They just looked at him with an almost pleading look, hoping he would have a way to reverse it. Unfortunately, Snowfire just looked at the ground and walked away. “Damn, I was hoping this was just an illusion. Remind me to find that cross-eyed Pegasus.” He said as he got up and grabbed his cigarettes, then went out into the balcony. Twilight thought about what Morsidus said, then left the Library. 10 minutes later Morsidus came back in to see that there was a Pegasus magically held to the table. He immediately recognized her as Derpy. Twilight was talking to her and trying to find out something. “I told you Princess Twilight, I don’t know who sent them” she said as she squirmed against the magical binds. “I was doing my regular deliveries, he asked me to bring them to Morsidus as a tribute for his heroics, then wanted me to go back to him to make sure I delivered them. He gave me a double chocolate macadamia muffin as thanks. It was delicious.” Twilight felt like Derpy was telling the truth but wanted to ask one last question. “do you remember what he looked like?” Derpy shook her head. “All I know was that he was a Pegasus and he wore a black cloak with a little point on the hood.” She said as she felt the magical binds release her. Morsidus walked up to her and looked her in the eye. After a few seconds, he patted her on the head and pointed at the door. Getting the idea, she bolted out the door. “Spike, take a letter.” Morsidus said as he sat on the couch. Dear Princess Luna, We have a problem. One of Fang followers used the innocence of a Mail-Mare to send me a box of muffins. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem except Snowfire says they were enchanted with a spell that changed me back to my human form with no way to change back. Your guidance as well as that of your sister would be greatly appreciated as soon as possible. Your loyal friend Morsidus After Spike sent the letter, a portal opened in the middle of the floor, and a large imposing figure walked out of it. He was a pony the size of Celestia but wore nothing but a black shroud. Everyone who could see his face, noticed it was just a skull. In his magic was a scroll that was still burning at one end with Spike’s Fire Breath. “Morsidus Grim-Record. As per the will of Faust, you cannot be allowed to stand on Equus.” He said. Since he had no skin or muscles, no one could tell his expression. Everyone just stared at him, unable to think of anything to say. “Until Faust wills your freedom, You are to be Banished to Tartarus.” And with that said, he charged up a spell and he and Morsidus were gone. > The Situation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As soon as the spell was finished, everypony left in the library finally reopened their eyes. They stood there in disbelief. "What just happened?" Twilight asked. As she looked to the others, she found they were just as confused as her. With no answer in sight she felt like they were with no hope of defeating the followers of Fang Wolf-Shadow. "I believe I can answer that." Everyone turned to the voice to see Luna standing in the front doorway. "My Uncle has taken Morsidus into the depths of Tartarus." She explained. Everyone looked at her in shock. "But why Princess Luna?" Snowfire asked. Luna just looked to the ground in sadness. "The details are lost to history but the story goes like this. Milennia ago, my mother, Queen Faust, had found a group of stranded humans in the area of what is now southern Vanhoover. She found them very hostile and determined them a threat to her creations." As she let that hang in the air for a second, Twilight spoke up. "So she banished them and made sure that no more of their kind could set foot on Equiss again. But Princess Luna, you have seen him, Morsidus would never harm us and has proven time and again that he cares about our health and well-being." Luna put a hoof to her chin in thought. "That is very true Twilight, but remember this. He was in pony form before, but now that he is once more human, he is affected by the old law. I'm afraid that as until he finds a way to change back or my uncle deems him safe to ponykind, he will remain in the depths of Tartarus." As she said that, Zecora sat and started sobbing, with Snowfire rubbing her back. "It'll be ok Zecora. I'm sure he's trying to convince the creepy skeleton to let him free." Luna chose that moment to to explain more. "I'm afraid it is not that simple. Morsidus must prove that he is harmless. Just saying that he is will fall on deaf albeit non-existent ears. Not even me or Celestia can get him to reconsider. Only he or my mother can let him free." Zecora finally calmed down enough to speak. "So what sort of challenges must he face? Surely they must be rather simple tasks if the law is as old as you say." Luna shook her head. "Again, it's not that simple. The challenges are different for each being. He will be put into a dream like state, where he must go on several quests, using only his knowledge and heart. He will be given an arsenal to choose from at the beginning of each sequence if it is deemed necessary." "Other times, it could just be a quest of the mind. He will be put into situations that he has seen or done before. If he passes all of then without losing himself to the darkness in his heart, then he will be set free, and returned to us in the same shape as when he left ." "If that's all, then he shouldn't have any problems, right?" Came another voice from the door. They all looked to see Elayas sitting there. Luna was about to speak when a scroll appeared before her. She opened it and her eyes went sparked with recognition and she finished reading. "It seems Morsidus has started his trials. But after they are all said and done, he must go through one last trial. He must face that which plagues his mind and face the darkness in his heart. Only then can he return. My Uncle also states that he will try to return him to his pony form if he is to return. This is indeed good news. For now, we can only wait and hope that Fang's followers don't cause us trouble."