> The Darksiders: Prologue - Eight
>  by Darksoma
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Silence.

The only thing the unnamed pony's ears could make out- dull unending silence. His eyes couldn't see anything beyond the pure blackness of the void, with only a few glimmers of grey light shifting in and out of view. Soon though, even they faded to black. In spite of that, he knew of his location- The Edge of Creation.

The large pocket of existence that stands between the walls of the universe and the space between dimensions.

"Eight?" A voice echoed around the unnamed pony, catching his attention. "Please, open your eyes."

Gently, compiled, finding a glowing white shard floating weightlessly before him, seemingly watching him. He turned his head, looking all around himself, seeing one shard after another. He was surrounded by them.

"Who are-?"

Before he could speak up, the same voice echoed through his head again, making him wince. "You don't seem to have a home in this dimension..."

"Wha—?" he tried again, only to be cut off once more.

"Shhh... We'll find you a home, Eight."

With that, a slow bubble of light began to envelop him, sprouting from just behind the first shard. As the bubble grew and surrounded his entire body, a bright sky began to form from the light. Clouds flew past his vision as he floated down towards a darkly lit town, light reflecting off each individual window. It looked completely abandoned.

"Eight?" He whispered to himself, turning his attention back to the shard.

It didn't respond.

Within moments of the surrounding light fading, gravity suddenly took hold, dropping him towards the concrete streets.

His screams echoed through the air, as his body flailed in the wind, the world completely blurring around him, yet somehow, the shard was following him down.

"You're safe with me." The voice echoed one last time, seeming to fade away.

He could feel himself begin to slow and stabilize in the air until he was once again upright. Gradually, he approached the ground, extending his hoof and feeling the concrete below make contact with it, before gravity finally took complete hold, setting him gently upon the abandoned street. "What... Is this place?" He looked around slowly, taking note of the street name- Dulken St.

Just then, a sudden, cold wind blew hard from behind, as random papers and leafs shot past.

He stumbled forward, barely managing to catch himself, before he quickly moved close to one of the buildings, trying to avoid it.

Every building seemed totally unlabeled, with each one having their doors all tightly boarded shut.

He quickly attempted to yank one of the boards off, which was blocking off the entrance to what looked to be a shop, it's interior being visible through its display window.

However, a small glimmer of light flickered from the center of the street through the reflection, catching his attention.

He quickly turned and stared, seeing something shiny, rolling around in the wind. Cautiously, he approached and scooped it up, seeing now that it was a white shard- the exact same one that had followed him down.

Without warning, another burst of wind shot past him, threatening to knock him over. He quickly ran back towards the building, making sure to hold the shard tightly against his chest. As the winds blew harder and harder, he once again tried forcing himself into the building, yanking and pulling at the boards, to no avail. After a long moment of catching his breath, a look of determination crossed his face, before he took a step back, taking a deep breath before making a quick dash for the door, pivoting just before it and twisting into a powerful buck.

The wood broke with a loud snap, splintering but giving him a small opening into the building.

Reaching his hoof in, he quickly turned the knob and pushed the door completely open, crawling inside and slamming the door closed behind himself. Slowly, he took a deep breath before suddenly choking, coughing on the dust that covered every inch of the room.

"Well, that was unpleasant," he found himself whispering, just as his coughing nearly subsided. "But I'm finally inside." he quickly pressed his arm against his mouth and nose, breathing slowly as he cautiously turned, looking around the room.

Barren bookshelves lined the left wall, caked in dust. A few had even collapsed completely, leaving behind splintered, rotting wood. A desk sat just to the right of them, an old register sitting atop it, the drawer open and empty of any currency.

Letting out another sigh, he lifted the shard away from his chest, looking down at it before trotting up to the desk and setting it down. "I can't carry this thing around like this." He stared at it for a long moment before slowly moving to the other end of the room, peering down a dim hallway, barely being lit by the sunlit. Moving slowly, he stepped into it, noticing a set of stairs at the other end, leading up to a second floor.

Two doors lined the left side of the wall, one laying open, revealing a pitch-black room while the other remained shut.

Looking to his right, he spotted a light switch and flipped it.

Nothing happened.

"Great, no power," He let out a sigh, looking back down the dark hall. Slowly, he began making his way towards the first, shut door, pushing it open, revealing a small empty closet filled with dangling spider webs, coming from the ceiling and walls, though he wasn't able to spot any actual spiders. With a look of disgust, he closed the door, not seeing anything of note, before making his way over to the next door, which still sat open.

Looking in, he could make out what seemed to be a fairly big room, topped off with an old, dusty bed. Past that, many of the details were lost in the dark. Even if he wanted to go in though, a small desk blocked the doorway.

Turning back to the stairs, he peered up them, bearly seeing into another dim, but wider-looking hallway. Approaching, he looked down at the first step, checking for any damage before slowly bringing his hoof up and stepping onto it.

It let out a soft groan at the sudden weight, but overall, seemed to be stable enough.

With a sign, he gradually made his way up, a quiet and soft clicking becoming audible as he reached the top. Pausing, he looked around the new hallway.

Two closed doors each lined the right and left walls, with one other door sitting completely open at the other end, opposite to the stairs, the room inside seemingly pitch black. The soft clicking was emanating from it though, barely audible over the wind outside.

Cautiously, he moved towards the first door on his right. Trying the doorknob, he was disappointed to find out it was completely locked up and quickly turned, moving to the door directly behind himself. He turned the knob, this one, notably, being unlocked, and pushed open. Just as it reached halfway, it jolted hard, slamming against something heavy, a loud scraping sound echoing around the hallway. He jumped a little at the sound before taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Very slowly, he leaned inside, finding a totally wrecked bedroom, a turned-over bed partially blocking the doorway.

On the opposite wall was a window that peered out into an alleyway, the light from outside barely shining through it. Next to that was a ruined dresser, which sat open, its doors and hinges bearly holding on. Inside, torn-up clothes shifted and swayed, slightly dangling out and against the floor. With them, a silver neckless could be seen.

A gentle smile crossed the unnamed pony's face. He could definitely use that to hold that shard around his neck.


- - -


After pushing his way past the door and retrieving the neckless, he stepped back out into the hall, quickly wrapping it around his neck. He began softly making his way further down the hallway before coming to a stop at the next door on the right wall, the clicking sound growing slightly more audible as he approached, yet he could still just barely hear it. Softly, he pushed that door open, revealing what seemed to be a study.

Bookshelves lined both walls, a desk sitting between them on the opposite wall to the doorway.

Stepping in, he looked around, taking note that while the shelves were mostly empty, there were still books here, though they all looked pretty dusty and worn, that he wouldn't doubt even brushing against them would turn them to dust.

That is, all except one, that lay flat against the desk, it's cover a deep violet.

Slowly, he approached it, running his hoof against its velvet cover before pulling it open, revealing a series of blank pages.

"Curious." he quietly said to himself, lifting it up and closing it. "This might be handy. Better hold onto it." With that, he turned and began moving for the door, only to suddenly bump into a nearby chair he hadn't seen.

It sat alone close to the door. Beneath it, were scrapes dung deep into the wooden floor, as well as disturbed dust. It had clearly been moved relatively recently.

He quickly shook his head, filing that thought away for another time, before exiting the room. He turned and looked down the hall, directly at the pitch-black doorway, that soft clicking still emanating from it. He stared for a long moment, a feeling of dread filling his body, before shaking his head again, turning his attention to the last closed door. Clutching the journal in his hoof, he slowly reached out and pushed the door open.

Beyond it, there was another, much cleaner bedroom, a single bed pressed against the wall in the center of the room, with two tables on each side. Notably, it looks to be the same size as the bedroom downstairs.

Entering, he spotted something laying flat on the bed- a black trench coat, spread out, as if in waiting. Most importantly, he could see it had pockets- big pockets. Without a second thought, he quickly dropped the book onto the bed and picked up the coat, looking over it before gently sliding it on comfortably. It fit him like a glove.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a full-body mirror pressed against the wall. Moving in front of it, he turned his body, examining himself.

His messy dark brown hair draped down over his dark red eyes, his coat's color seeming to be a desaturated brown. This was the first time he'd actually gotten to see himself. Luckily, it seemed like the black trench coat matched his color scheme pleasantly.

Instantly, he scooped up the violet journal and slid it into his new pocket, feeling its weight press against his rump, before stepping back out into the hall. Once again, he found himself staring at the final door, listening.

Now that the sound had his full attention, he could just barely hear something else alongside it. Something along the lines of soft inhaling between the bursts of clicks.

Cautiously, he approached the door, the sounds growing more and more audible with each passing step until he finally stood just in front of the doorway, quietly breathing.

The room looked to be completely bathed with darkness, with not even the smallest detail being visible from the outside.

Hesitantly, he lifted his hoof and firmly placed it on just beyond the doorway, the shadows of the room overtaking his color, making him seem invisible. With shallow breathes, one slow step after another, he quietly made his way further in, past the doorway, listening as the sounds grow far more noticeable. At this point, he barely couldn't see anything at all. The details of his coat and the rest of the room blurred together into a dark mass of nothing.

The only visible beacon he had was a pair of blue lights, sitting next to one another, both failing to cast any noticeable light.

The more he approaches, the louder the clicking grew, before he finally stopped just short of them.

They subtly shifted up and down in the dark, matching the pace of each breath perfectly.

He could feel a shiver run up his spine before realizing just how crazy this was. As quietly as he could manage, he began backing away, keeping his eyes firmly locked on the shifting blue dots, occasionally glancing back towards the exit. As he just about neared the exit, letting out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding, he felt his hind hoof suddenly catch against something, making it scrape against the floor loudly and causing him to trip, landing back against the floor with a loud thud.

Just then, the darkness of the room quickly evaporated, replaced by a small, wrecked bedroom, its furniture completely destroyed.

The pony quickly turned, spotting a toppled chair sitting between him and a black blob that twisted and contorted in place, until finally shaping itself into a small dog-like creature, before it suddenly letting out an ear-splitting cry.

He quickly covered his ears and screamed, pain bursting through his head. He tried looking at the creature again, only to gasp.

The creature's dark claws were outstretched, it pouncing in his direction before they sliced through his hind leg.

He wailed, clutching it before kicking out at the creature, only to miss.

The creature growled and bit down on his outstretched leg, flailing its claws wildly.

Pain filled the pony's whole body as he screamed, seeing its eyes now glowing a crimson red. Without hesitation, he kicked at it again, managing to knock it off, before quickly trying to climb to his hooves.

Quickly recovering, It suddenly cried out again from behind, the entire building echoing with the sound.

He suddenly collapsed onto his leg, the pain continuing to run up his whole body. With all his strength, he forced himself back to his hooves, leaning against the wall before quickly limping for the stairs. Just as he reached them, he felt a sudden force ram back, knocking the wind out of his lungs and sending him tumbling down to the first floor.

The creature scratched and bit at his body. He tried to hold it back with his arm. The pony barely kept the creature out of reach of his face.

A second later, he managed to climb to his hooves. He grabbed the thing by its claws, swinging it around before throwing it into the dark room.

Its body crashed into whatever was in there, before it quickly began clawing at the desk, ripping it apart and throwing chunks of splintered wood into the hallway.

As quickly as he could, the unnamed pony made a mad dash out of the hall. He glanced back, gasping as he saw the shadow dog pouncing his way. Instantly, he fell to the floor, watching it as it just barely glided over his head.

It crashed against the wall next to the front door with a hard thud, before falling onto its back. It began scratching wildly at the air and squirming, trying desperately to roll over.

Without a moment to lose, the pony climbed back to his hooves and limp over to the desk, grabbing and slipping the shard into his pocket.

The creature cried out again, finally managing to get upright.

The pony could only scream as his body stiffened.

The creature pounced again, outstretching its claws at him.

The pony collapsed against the desk, panting heavily, the creature just missing and landing hard against the register in front of it. It scrambled against it to turn and face him.

The pony quickly turned and crawled out of its range, towards the shelves. He began yanking on one desperately, glacing at the creature.

It finally turned and stared him down, letting out another cry. A moment later, it pounced again.

Finally, he managed to pull the shelf down, it toppling over, landing perfectly on the beast.

It only took a second before letting out another loud cry, before it suddenly begins to tear it apart from underneath, sending wood chunks and splinters into the air.

Before the pony had a chance to move, a large chunk of wood shot out at him, striking him across the head and sending him falling back. The jagged piece of wood hit the ground just as he did, right next to his head. Slowly, he opened his eyes and watched. 

The creature climbed up onto the desk again, bearing its black teeth and hissing at him, before it pounced once again.

The pony cried out, turning and suddenly biting onto the piece of wood. He quickly swung it around himself, it slamming into the creature hard. 

It flew back and hit the wall hard, landing on its back. It squirmed and trashed at the air.

Without a second thought, he moves quickly over to it, plunging the sharpest part of the wood deep into the chest of it.

It screamed loudly, clawing at the wood.

Falling onto his side, the pony watched the creature wraith in pain before letting out one more cry and falling limp.

Breathing heavily, he stared at it, watching it pulsate until stopping completely, now seemingly crumbling into dust on the floor. Softly, as the creature crumbled, a black shard hit the floor and tumbled towards him, stopping just before his eyes, before his vision slowly blurred and faded to black.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A voice echoed through the nameless pony's head as he felt himself drifting through an endless void, one that felt noticeably different from the one before. The voice whispered relentless questions into his ear, without any hint of emotion— 'who are you?', 'Why are you here?', 'what will you do now?'.

Through each question, he remained silent, a feeling familiarity filling his mind, until another voice suddenly cut through the darkness, calling out a familiar word— a name.

"Eight."


- - -


He shot awake, the dark dream that surrounded him dissolving away. Now, he found himself laying on the dusty floor of the shop, panting heavily and looking around. His body felt heavy and he could still feel the pain from that fight he had with that creature— that Shadow Dog. Gradually, he rolled over, using all his strength to push himself up off the floor. If this town was filled with more creatures like that, he knew he couldn't lay around like this. His hind hoof, however, protested, a powerful wave of pain shooting up his body. Looking to it, he recalled that creature had bitten into him. He was surprised, however. There was no blood anywhere. Slowly, he lifted the coat from his leg, trying to find the mark, only to find... Nothing. Not even a scratch, but even than, he could still feel the pain. Stumbling a little, he braced himself against the wall, breathing heavily. Nothing was making sense.

His thoughts were cut short, however, as the front door flew open, wind shooting in soon after, kicking more dust up into the air, until a small blue filly with brown hair, stepped inside, slammed the door closed soon after, before adjusting the blue bow atop her head, and looking directly at him.

"Geez, that was messy." The filly spoke, a noticeably sassy tone in her voice. "Hello there, Eight."

He found himself completely caught off guard by how nonchalant she was, unable to find his words, only managing to take a single step back.

"Whoa, I'd watch where you're stepping, Eight. You did just destroy a Shadow." Lifting a hoof, she stepped a little closer, eyeing the floor.

"Wha—" He tried to speak up again, only to find himself cut off.

"Shadows drop corrupted Void Crystals." Slowly, the filly pointed down to his hooves, where a darkened crystal sat, a large crack in its side. "Anyway,"

Quickly, he turned to the crystal, then back to the filly.

"My name is Teia. It's nice to meet you, Eight." She continued, almost dismissively. "I gotta say... You are really lucky to have survived all of that."

"Will you stop talking!" Eight yelled, holding himself against the wall.

Teia paused and stared, her mouth agape, blindsided by his suddenly outburst.

"What on earth are you going on about?! You aren't explaining anything! Where am I? What are you talking about? Who the hell is Eight!" He couldn't help but raise his voice in frustration, slamming his hoof against the wall with each question.

Teia kept her eyes locked on him for a long moment, trying to collect herself again, before she quickly shook her head, letting out a sigh. "Right... Sorry... I was getting off track."

He quickly pushed himself off the wall, forcing himself to stand up, trying to ignore his pained leg as he glared her.

"Unfortunately, I can't explain much to you... But here's what I can..." Taking a deep breath, Teia continued. "Your name is Eight, you're a Darksider— a very... Complicated thing to try and explain, so instead, I'm going to let you work it out on your own... However, you should know that Darksiders and corrupted Void Crystals don't do well together, so avoid them."

Eight just stared, totally at a lost for words.

"Again, I can't say much, so here." Suddenly, Teia turned her head, grabbing something from under bow before holding it out, revealing large folded up peice of paper. "This will give you all the information you need."

Staring at the paper a moment, he hesitantly approached, limping, before reaching out and taking it.

A moment later, Teia took a step back, staring up at him.

"Grr, why can't you just tell me what's going on!" Eight yelled with a stomp.

Teia's expression quickly shifted from concern to dull annoyance. "I literally can't. I'm not allowed."

"Why not!" His frustration grew by the second. There had to be more than this.

"It'll break the flow of time, you half-eaten potato." She said sharply before sighing. "Look, I'm sorry, I need to go before I say any more." With a quick motion, Teia turned and headed for the door.

"Wait!" Eight shouted, trying to move after her, only for her to quickly open the door and step out, followed by a bright flash of light that burst through it, accompanyed with an echoing, pop, that soon faded away.

By the time Eight had reached the door, she was completely gone, having vanished into thin air. For a moment, he would silently stare out before looking down at the paper. "Eight, huh?" Softly, he'd unfold, opening it up to a map, with a few words scribbled on it, a circle draw around one of the building with the caption 'you are here' written near it. "Not a fan of that name." He looked across the map, quick to find another circle with the words 'go here' written over another building— a small library. "Great. Hopefully, I can get some answers there." Just then, Eight felt a surge of curiosity as he thought back to the dark crystal. Slowly, he turned back towards it, and raised an eyebrow. Feeling defiant, he'd approach it, staring down at it, before he reached down and tried scooping it up into his hoof.

In an instant, wave after large wave of pain shot through his whole body, single handedly making him collapse to the floor, onto his knees.

He almost let out a scream of pain, as the feeling didn't relent, almost completely locking his body in place. Through the pain, he just bearly managed to shift his hoof to the side, letting the crystal fall to the floor with a soft clatter. "Wha... What was..." He paused, panting heavily, his annoyance growing. "Ugh... Never mind..." Slowly, he stood back up before limping for the door, notching as the wind began dying down outside. "Fine, Teia... I'll play your little game." With a sigh, Eight reached into his pocket, pulling out the white crystal, before slowly attaching it to his necklace. With it now dangling around his neck, he could feel something odd emanating out if it— Something resembling power, making him stop a moment, before he was forced to shake his head, and limped his way outside.


- - -


Eight trotted down the street, studying the map closely, bearly paying attention to what was ahead of himself.

On occasion, the wind would pick back up, sending other papers and small bits of debris rolling around, but luckily would calm back down moments later.

Reading the title of the map, he'd finally know the name of the town he'd ended up in... The Town of Silence. Now, he was headed towards a Library at the other end of town, though it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. "Well, that's unusual." Eight found himself whispering, staring out over a large hole that had cut through the entire road, blocking his path. "Ugh, now what?" Slowly, he brought his map back up, looking over this town's maze-like layout, before the sudden sound of running caught his attention. Turning quickly to the right, he found himself looking down an alleyway. "Who's there!" His voice echoed through the entire town as he spoke, before trotting into the alley.

More running echoed in response.

"Wait!" Within an instant, Eight began sprinting down the alley, both his and the stranger's stepping echoing.

It was only a moment when he finally saw the stranger, only for them to disappear down another path.

He could keep up but couldn't close the distance, and soon, Eight found himself slowing, out of breath. "I'm not... Gonna hurt... You..."

The stranger's steps continued to echo as they grew further and further before they were completely gone.

"Ugh, where... Am I now?" Exhausted, Eight reluctantly pulled out his map, looking over it, but through all the twisting and confusing alleys, he couldn't find his location. "Dammit..." Still trying to catch his breath, he could feel himself freeze as a familiar cry rings out through the town, not too far off. "I... I need to get out of here." With what energy he could muster, he began jogged away from the sound, turning through the many paths, as soft rain began gradually coming down over the whole town. "Not now, please, not now." As the rain grew stronger and stronger, he finally saw a building connecting to the alley, a small wooden door leading into the tall, multilevel building. As he approached the door he began trying the nob, the door rattling in response.

It was locked from inside.

"Come on!" Looking around, Eight spotted a fire escape to the left of the door, the ladder on it almost down, seemingly jammed in place. "Hmm." Trotting under it, Eight tried jumping up to it, barely getting it in his hoof before trying to yank it down. It took a few tries before it finally popped and came down to the ground, knocking Eight to the ground. "Ugh... What on earth... Were you thinking, Teia?" Moving to his side, he took a few breaths, only for the sound of that familiar cry to echo out across the town. "Crap!" Quickly, Eight got to his hooves before running to the ladder before climbing onto it, the ladder wobbling a little. Realizing it wasn't going to stay on, he began quickly climbing up, one step at a time.

Suddenly, however, the ladder had given way, and in an instant, Eight had to jump up, barely catching the ledge of the fire escape, as the ladder clattered to the ground, the sound echoing out.

Anything close would've heard it, and so, panicking, Eight clawed his way up onto the fire escape, just as two of those shadow dogs rounded the corner of the alley, their red eyes piercing through the rain. Eight's panic didn't subside, as the creatures quickly leaped up, barely catching the side of the fire escape, only to lose its grip, falling back to the alley.

The two creatures began clawing at the building at random, trying to get up to Eight, meanwhile, he climbed to his hooves, beginning to ascend the ladder to the next floor, towards an open window into the building, before jumping inside, crashing loudly into a bookshelf, and knocking a few books to the floor. After a moment of heavy breathing, Eight jumped to the window before slamming it closed, finally giving him a moment to breathe.

"Finally arrived?" The familiar voice of Teia echoing through the room, before Eight turned, seeing himself now standing in a library, surrounded by bookshelves and tables, with candles sitting on it. Only one, however, was lit. Teia stared at the book floating in front of her, lit up perfectly by her candle. "I'm glad to see you're safe."

"Yeah, barely, thanks to your garbage map!" Eight yelled, stomping his way to Teia.

"Please don't yell... I really wish I could've given you better instructions, but I wasn't allowed to." Teia sighed, the book floating down and laying on the table, a look of regret on her face.

This was enough to make Eight stop in his tracks, seeing how sincere she was. "You weren't... Allowed to?"

With another sigh, Teia finally looked up at Eight. "Regrettably, yeah." Slowly, she slid down, off her chair, the book she had levitating to her side, closing. "I have to follow a specific set of rules for me to even be here to help you..."

Eight just stood and watched, puzzled by the levitating book. "What rules?"

Teia let out a soft chuckle as the book slide into a nearby bookshelf. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you them either. That's one of the rules."

Eight just stared a moment before chuckling a little too. "Then you just broke the rule, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know it's contradictory, dork." For the first time, Teia gave Eight a genuine smile. "But you should know."

Both stood quiet for a few moments before Eight's slight smile faded before he trotted up to Teia. "Look, if this is you helping, it's not helpful."

Teia just watched and frowned.

"I need you to tell me something if you want me to trust you, otherwise... I'm sorry, but you'll just be another obstacle."

Teia just stared as he spoke before looking at her hooves. "Something..."

"If you've been given rules," Eight paused before taking a deep breath. "Then I'm sure there are ways you can bend them."

Teia contemplated his words before she reached her hooves up, tightening her blue bow. "Okay."

Eight was a little caught off guard by how quickly she agreed but let her continue.

"That Crystal you have... It's called a Void Crystal. It has properties that will be useful to you.."

Looking at the Crystal around his neck, Eight examined it as she spoke. "Properties?"

"Magic." Teia blurted out. "It has the unique ability that allows you to channel your inner power to use magic."

Eight looked at her again, but Teia didn't look up.

"For example, that book I had... I was levitating it using the Void Crystal I have hidden in my bow."

Slowly, Eight looked to her blue bow, seeing it tightly tied into the back of her hair.

Teia continued. "I can't show you how to do so, but it isn't hard to work out... Using that power, I bet you can do so much more, like... Grab books off of shelves, lift up heavy objects, or..." Teia found herself pausing, thinking through her words. "Grabbing and protecting yourself and a friend just like you."

Eight stopped, starting at Teia. "A friend... Just like me?"

Quickly, Teia turned in place before moving for a nearby doorway. "That's all I can say..." Just as she reached the doorway, she turned and smiled softly at Eight. "A knight isn't a knight without a sword, a castle, and someone to protect." With those final words, Teia quickly trotted out, the same popping sound from before echoing through the halls.

Eight just stood there, thinking about her words, before he trotted back to the window. "A castle and a friend?" Staring out over the alleyway a building, Eight spotted a large, towering castle-like building in the distance, surrounded by trees. "Well... Now I know my destination."
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Softly, Eight trotted through the Library halls, lost in his head as he stared down at the void Crystal.

"Channel magic." Lifting his gaze, he looking through the nearly pitch-black hallway. "What other kinds of magic?" As he looked around, a thought had popped into his head. Perhaps he could do light magic. Closing his eyes, he found himself trying to focus on the Crystal, trying to tell it to light. There was a noticeable feeling inside his body as he did so, something akin to a slow river running through him, but it seemed there was a snag in the stream, as the crystal continued to do absolutely nothing around his neck aside from sway.

Suddenly, however, the sound of a distant shuffling echoed through the halls, breaking Eight's focus.

Eight had learned his lesson to not make too much noise and swiftly pressed himself against the wall, sliding along it towards the sound. Slowly, he peered through an open doorway, into another large study, like the room before, only this one with its tables broken and shattered.

In the middle of the room sat a group of sleeping Shadow dogs, the area directly around them bathed in pitch black. "So, that's a defense mechanism, I guess?" Eight whispered, before leaning out and sneaking past the doorway. He knew better at this point that approaching was a death sentence, especially without a weapon. As he moved further down the hall, he couldn't help but think back to Teia and what she said.

'A castle, and a friend?' Eight recalled, staying close to the wall before looking between two hallways that breached off from this one. This place was bigger than expected. "First, I need a weapon, if I'm to follow any more info from her." He whispered to himself, deciding to take the right path.

Room after room, hallway after branching hallway, Eight found himself lost deep in the dark Library, only occasionally stepping into a few empty rooms. Each room on this floor looked strikingly similar, aside from a few details, and unfortunately, he had very little luck finding a map, if there was one.

With an annoyed sigh, Eight stepping into another copy of the same study room before beginning to search, pulling out the violet journal he'd almost forgotten he had before pulling it open. "This is a library, so there is sure to be a pencil around here somewhere."

A soft and sudden gasp quickly caught Eight's attention as he turned to the doorway. For a moment he paused, taking a deep breath through his soft breath, before finally gaining some confidence. "H-Hello?" Inching towards the door, he slowly leaned to the side, trying to look out. To his surprise, he found his eyes meeting someone else's for a brief moment. And apparently, they noticed, as they suddenly jumped back, running down the hallway.

"Wait!" Quiet was out as he ran after the other pony, turning into the hallway just as they rounded the corner. "Wait, I'm not gonna hurt you!" He couldn't see much in the dark hallway as he gave chase, trying his best not to trip on the many scattered pages on the floor. The noise they were making wasn't going unnoticed as he saw a few shadow dogs look out from the study rooms. This floor was quickly becoming a death trap when he felt a sudden jolt against his body.

The other pony had apparently stopped and bucked him backward, down a set of stairs he hadn't noticed.

With a groan, Eight looked up the stairs, spotting a fearful young mare with a messy main, shaking in place. Without light, it was hard to make out the color, but he could tell the mare was bruised and had scratched on her. "I wasn't... Gonna hurt you..." were the only words Eight could say through his exhausted breaths.

The mare didn't say anything, a look of fear still on her face.

For a moment, the two stared at each other, before the mare turned in horror, before bolting down the hallway, only for the shadow dogs to rush past after her.

"Oh, crap." Eight muttered as a few took notice of Eight and began jumping at him. Rolling to the side, out of the way, Eight quickly lept down the rest of the stairway, as the creatures slammed headfirst into the wall of the stairway, one of them actually managing to snap its own neck and fade into dust with the force of its jump. As he landed on the first floor, Eight dashed down the halls before quickly sliding into a nearby room, slamming the door closed behind him, only to grab a nearby bookshelf, bringing it down in front of it, the books on it falling to the floor.

It didn't even take a moment before the Shadow Dogs began clawing at the door, tearing chunks away.

Without a second to lose, Eight looked over the rest of the room.

The room was a full-on book-filled library, with towering bookshelves that touched the ceiling. On the other end of the room, however, was a fireplace, built into the wall. Above it was an ornate decorative shield with two swords hanging behind it. Unfortunately, it was out of reach.

Eight panicked, the dogs halfway through the door, and quickly he ran over to the bookcase next to the fireplace before trying to climb up. He pulled off books from the shelf as he climbed, only to find himself slipping and falling back to the ground. "Dammit..." Eight gasped, trying to catch his breath, but he knew he didn't have time.

'I was levitating it using the Void Crystal' Eight thought back suddenly, the fear inside him not dying down. It was either do or die now, and Eight didn't have time to decide. Quickly climbing to his hooves, Eight closed his eyes, still hearing the door break behind him. He tried not to focus on that, instead, forcing all his thoughts on one of the swords. "Please..." Eight whispered, trying to beg the Crystal to listen. Again, that feeling filled his body but still, nothing happened. "Please, I don't want to die here..." Eight tried reasoning with it, then tried pleading, he tried everything before he sighed. "I can't let that mare die, I have to protect myself, but more importantly..." Eight thought back to that mare again, the image of her fearful face burned into his mind. "I want to protect her. Others are more important than me." Taking a deep breath, Eight focused everything on the Crystal, another realization hitting him. Quickly as much energy as he could muster, he suddenly pushed against the feeling in his body. "I said lift!" Eight shouted, the energy inside himself suddenly imploding inside him, the crystal bursting to life with a brilliant glow. He can't reason with a crystal, but sure as hell can tell it what to do. Opening his eyes, Eight ordered the sword up, a magic aura surrounding one of the blades just as one of the shadow dogs burrowed through the door and shelf.

Thinking fast, Eight quickly pivoted in place, the sword-swinging around him, slicing cleanly through the creature. It slowly turned to dark ash in the air as the sword floated to Eight's side, ready for his command. "Let's get this over with."

Suddenly, the door and shelf exploded into chunks of wood as three shadow dogs lept into the room, two landing on the ground, as the other made an attempt to slash at Eight.

With a quick motion, Eight ducked and slid under it in the Air, slashing at its head, before it too turned to ash.

The other creatures didn't even pause as Eight ran closer to them, quickly blocking one's attempted slash before kicking the other in one swift motion. It quickly bounced off the wall, before Eight sent the one he blocked into another wall, and in an instant, slashed his sword back at the other, decapitating it. The other creature growled as it landed before letting out that familiar cry, but this time, Eight was ready, leaping at it before stabbing directly down its throat.

The creature's cry quickly died as it did too, the dark crystal inside it dropping to the floor as the rest turned to dust.

Panting, Eight just stood there, feeling his energy being channeled into the crystal, which held the sword. It all felt natural to him. "Well... That wasn't as hard as I thought." With a look of resolve, he turned to the door, glaring into the hall. "I'll be there soon."

As Eight galloped down the hall and up the stairs, he could hear more of those creatures jumping and clawing at a door, the mare's whimpers echoing along with it. "Hey!" Eight shouted, stepping into the hallway, his sword at the ready, as he finally spotted the door they had been clawing at.

All the creatures quickly turned to face him, before they slowly began approaching. Just then, another moved out of another hallway behind him, suddenly slashing and knocking him forward into the bigger group.

Thinking quickly, Eight flipped back, dragging his sword above him before planting his forehoof down, using his hind hoof to slash at two of the creatures, killing two before curling into the air, rolling onto the ground. Without another moment, he pushed himself to his hooves, levitating his sword to his side as he glared at the two remaining creatures, one getting ready to pounce while the other ground its teeth.

Just then, it let out a powerful cry, which echoed through the halls, stunning Eight for a moment, as the other finally pounced, its jaw open wide. Without a moment to lose, Eight fell to the side, slashing his sword effortlessly through the jaw then the body of the creature, as he hit the door where he could hear that mare's cries, making him pause a moment. Softly, Eight pressed his head against the door, not noticing the creature readying another attack. He found himself whispering into the door. "It's okay. I'm here to protect you. Don't worry." With that, Eight found his resolve again, pushing himself off the wall, and readying himself.

That's when the shadow dog shot out a sudden, powerful burst of red fluid at him, which hit his sword as he blocked.

He only shut his eyes for a moment, but by the time he reopened them, the sword was melted in half at the blade. With a sigh, he dropped it to the ground, preying he could replicate that levitating later before glaring into the creature's eyes.

Both of them were ready to attack each other when the creature began slashing towards Eight, cutting into his arm, before he used his arm to backhand the creature, sending it into a wall.

However, it quickly turned in the air, leaping back at him, before biting into his shoulder.

Struggling, Eight quickly rammed it into the wall, his shoulder burning with pain as the creature dropped. Taking a deep breath, a familiar plan crossed Eight's mind, before he kicking the shadow creature away, it sliding to a stop under a nearby bookshelf.

It growled and hissed, but Eight stood his ground focusing on the Crystal again. Just as the creature was ready to pounce, Eight yanked at the bookshelf with the magic, sending it down on the creature, before he quickly jumped up, slamming his hooves into it, crushing the creature perfectly under the bookshelf. Its dying cries echoed through the halls, only to be replaced by the mare's fearful cries.

With a sigh of exhaustion and relief, Eight stepped down off the broken shelf before moving towards the door, his limp returning to join the pain in his arm. "It's okay..." Softly, Eight pressed himself against the door, reaching for the knob, turning it slowly. "I won't... Hurt you..." As he pushed into the door, a toppled bookshelf sliding to the side he did, he found the mare curled up, crying in the corner of a smaller study.

She didn't say anything or do anything, only cried and crowed, not even facing Eight.

"They're gone..." A surge of exhaustion hit Eight as he moved closer before he sat just behind her, cautiously reaching his hoof out, just as we were on the brink of passing out.

Suddenly, however, the mare turned, hugging Eight and crying against him, not letting him go. She must have been alone for a long time.

Eight couldn't think of anything as he hugged the unknown mare back before gradually drifting unconscious.


- - -


"Who are you?" The soft, female voice echoed around Eight, the black void around him rippling like water.

He could barely stir, his body feeling heavy.

"You're a... Pegasus?" Another male voice had said, one Eight didn't recognize, but something felt familiar about it. "My name... Is..."


- - -


Softly, Eight let out a breath, the void around him fading away. "Lia—?"

"Are you... Awake?" Someone with a soft, gentle voice asked, her voice slightly quivering.

It was enough, however, to pull Eight from his dream. Softly, he opened his eyes, finding himself laying on the wooden floor of the first-floor library, staring into the fireplace, where a soft fire burned through the torn books inside it.

Next to it, however, sat that mare from before— a unicorn with red hair, with pink stripes in it. Her Violet eyes glistened in the light as she sat curled up next to the flame.

"You... You're okay?" Was all Eight could muster as he closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath. His body was sore and aching, so much that he didn't even want to lift his head.

"Y-Yes..." The mare's voice was quivering slightly as she spoke. "Thanks to you."

Again, Eight opened his eyes, seeing her looking at her hooves.

"I'm sorry..." Her voice didn't stop quivering, clearly on the edge of tears. "I was so scared... I wish I didn't... I... I wish I could've helped..."

"Don't be sorry." Eight breathed out. "It's... Okay... I get it. You were frightened, and there's no shame in that."

The words caught the mare's attention as she stared at Eight.

"What matters is that you're okay." Eight looked back at the more, struggling, for the first time, to lift himself.

The mare quickly uncurled and moved to Eight, grabbing him and helping him up. "But you... Don't even know me."

"Doesn't matter." Eight finally managed to sit up, his body screaming in pain at him, but he kept himself up.

The mare remained silent, sitting quietly next to him, not able to respond.

It was Eight who finally broke the silence.

"Speaking of which," turning to the mare, Eight gave his best smile. "Do you have a name?"

The question surprised her before she looked away, clearly thinking, before letting out a sigh. "Violet... I'd like to be called Violet."

With a soft smile, Eight nodded shakily. "It's nice to meet you, Violet. My name is..." He paused, his given name dying on his lips. Did he really want to keep using that name? But, what else would he be called? With a sigh, he spoke. "My name is Eight."

"Oh, uh," Violet seemed to notice his reluctance, nervously pausing a moment. "It's nice to meet you, uh, Eight."

The room fell nearly silent, the fire being the only sound, as the two sat there, Eight trying to catch his breath and work up the strength to move.

Violet was too nervous to say anything. She could barely object to his attempts to move. "You really... Don't have to." She finally whispered. "The... Library was nearly cleared by you... Yesterday." She seemed to wince a little at her words. "You need to rest..."

Eight turned to her, frowning but understanding. He could tell how regretful she felt about not being able to help. The least he could do was listen. "Are you sure?" Still, he couldn't help but worry. "I don't want to put you in danger."

Violet paused, looking to her hooves again. "It's fine..." It was clear she was scared, but she put on a brave face, despite her shaking.

"Besides," The sudden voice of Teia echoed through the hall, startling Violet and making Eight Sigh. "You haven't gotten the thing you need to find here."

"Teia, please, be more gentle." Eight said, pushing himself to Violet, trying to calm her. "It's okay, she's friendly." He whispered to Violet before turning to Teia slightly.

"Oh, sorry." Stepping out of the darkness, Teia cautiously approached them. "Oh wow, you don't look too good."

Eight sighed again, closing his eyes in annoyance. "Now what are you going on about?"

"Oh! Right, gotta stay on topic." Coughing into her hoof, she then quickly adjusted her bow atop her head. "Like I was saying, you can't leave without getting the thing I sent you here to get."

"You didn't mention that to me at all." At this point, Eight was getting used to her lack of instruction, and quickly moved on. "So, what am I supposed to get?"

Teia blinked before lowering her head. "Sorry about that. Instructions are hard to make." Quickly, however, she lifted herself back up. "So, this library holds a very specific set of information that you wouldn't be able to find yourself. Info I, unfortunately, can't give you, as per my rules." Taking a deep breath, Teia turned, moving back towards the doorway, which still sat in absolute ruin after yesterday's fight. "Information related to Darksiders."

Eight's ears perked before he opened his eyes again, only to see Teia had already walked out.

"Darksiders?" Finally, Violet managed to speak, managing to calm herself.

"Something she mentioned before, to me." Eight muttered. He was a Darksider, according to her, and now, he could get answers here.

Violet just stared at Eight, worry in her eyes.

"It's okay. I'll rest here before I do anything." He softly turned and smiled at her, to the best of his ability.

It took a moment but eventually, she smiled lightly back, worry still in her eyes.

Gradually, Eight pushed himself closer to the fire, with Violet's help, feeling the warmth of it.

For a long moment, she sat next to him, clearly distracted, before she stood up. "I-I'll be right back. I know there are some blankets around here."

Eight nodded to her. "Promise to be right back?"

She stood silent for a moment before nodding too. "Promise." With that, she turned, nervously heading to the door, yet she looked determined.

As she exited, Eight noticed something, laying out on the floor next to him. It was the Violet Journal, sitting open on the first blank page. "I guess she must've opened it." Eight whispered.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That's an odd name."

The words echoed around him as Eight dreamed, images of a blue and red-haired Pegasus flashing before him, but they quickly faded.

"Yeah, my parents had... Odd naming schemes" The voice obviously lied, a noticeable amount of nervousness in his voice.


- - -


Slowly, Eight would find himself drifting back out of sleep, opening his eyes to find himself still in the library, close to the warm fire, and a blanket laying over him. "Violet?" He whispered, looking around him until he could feel her head shift on his shoulder.

She was sound asleep.

"Oh." Was all he could muster.

For a few long minutes, Eight just sat there, trying and failing to sleep, but couldn't manage. Instead, he found himself pulling Violet off his shoulder, laying her comfortably on the floor, before once again, trying to get up. His body ached and protested, but he finally found himself standing, albeit a little unsteadily. Limping, he braced himself against the many bookshelves before he reached the doorway. "She's so..." He couldn't help but think about how light Violet was, not to mention how beat up she looked. "Fragile." Eight whispered. With a sense of determination, Eight casually ordered the Crystal to pull the other sword up and off the wall, levitating it to its side. He knew he couldn't let Violet stay here anymore. "Okay... Let's get that information and get her out of here."

It was a struggle, but Eight managed to make his way down the hallway, using the sword as a makeshift cane. At each doorway, he peered in, only to find nearly identical rooms to the one he'd just been in. "God, this place is repetitive."

"Yeah, it is..."

Eight gasped, turning quickly only to see Violet, looking sadly at him, a blanket wrapped snugly around her. "Oh, it's just you..." With a sigh, he collapsed against the wall, calming himself.

Violet remained quiet but quickly moved to Eight's side, helping him back up. It took a few moments for her to speak again. "Are you okay?"


- - -


Now, there they both were, trotting down the hallways, Violet supporting Eight as they moved.

"What were you doing?" Violet spoke as they looked in on another identical room, though, this one more noticeable trashed.

"Looking around, trying to find that thing Teia mentioned." Eight let out a grunt as they moved forward.

"In the dark?" Violet's voice was quite, yet sounded worried, along with her voice quivering with fear. "But you aren't fully recovered yet."

"I don't think we can wait that long." Eight said, looking into another room, this time finding a small room, with a desk against the wall, while every other wall had a bookshelf against it.

Slowly, the two would make their way inside before Violet would softly sit Eight down onto a nearby seat.

Violet let out a soft breath but didn't say anything, only sitting on the floor.

"Look, this place..." Eight leaned against the desk, trying to catch his breath. "It's an obvious death trap, and..." Eight paused again, seeing Violet wipe her eyes, her body shaking slightly. "Are you... Okay?"

"Yes," She looked away, at nothing in particular, seemingly trying to hide her eyes. "But you're not... And I..." She let out a sigh, before resting her head against the nearby bookshelf, going silent.

Eight paused, hearing her unsaid words, but not fully knowing how to respond. Looking to his hooves, he found his gaze drifting to the Void Crystal. "Protecting a friend." Eight whispered, catching Violet's attention. Looking to her, Eight gave her an expression of determination. "You are worth protecting." Softly, he reached his hoof forward before resting it on her head. "If we were put in a situation like that again, I wouldn't change a thing."

Violet stared with a look of sadness on her face.

For a moment, the two remained quiet before Eight finally spoke the words she definitely needed to hear. "Since I'm feeling so weak, I'll stay seated here, but would you mind helping me look through these books and papers?"

She paused, staring, and thinking. "As long as you promise to take it easy... You don't move from that spot."

Eight smiled and nodded, already finding himself getting comfortable. "I won't move."

Softly, she smiled and nodded.

After a moment, It only then occurred to Eight just how dark it was. It would be hard to see in there. Again, his gaze drifted to the Crystal before that determined look reappeared on his face. That familiar feeling filled his body as he focused, before thought at it, ordering the Crystal to light up.

Light burst out from the Crystal, bathing the room in light.

"There we go." Eight found a smile had crossed his face.

Violet just looked awestruck. "Just like a... Unicorn's horn." That was all she whispered, and moments later, Violet began pulling out books from the shelf, sliding a few to Eight while she began reading thoroughly through one after another.


- - -


"This is Liam?" A new voice echoed about Eight's dreams.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, still finding the pitch-black world he was so used to dreaming about. This time, however, he wasn't alone.

In front of him now stood a brown earth pony with chocolate brown hair.

"Who-?" Eight paused, staring into his eyes, a soft pressure building in his head. Eight grunted as the pressure grew before he had to force himself to look away.

The brown pony had a sad look on his face but remained quiet.

"Liam, right?" Eight said. Where did that guess come from?

It didn't matter, however, as the pony nodded at the name.

For some reason, Eight could feel a wave of soft anger begin to form. He couldn't remember why, though. All of the sudden, Eight started yelling at Liam, his voice not managing to be audible, no matter how hard he was yelling.


- - -


Eight shot up from the desk, the room around him still lit up by his Void Crystal's light. For a moment, he paused. Something felt different. "Viol-"

With a quick motion, Violet covered Eight's mouth, her whole body shaking in fear, her eyes wide.

It was only then that Eight could hear something- the skittering and running of many shadow dogs, passing directly by the room's door, and seemingly headed upward. Eight's eyes widened too, staring into Violet's. Why were they coming here? It almost sounded like they were running to somewhere specific, on the upper floors of the building.

Something was drawing those creatures here. And not just those creatures. In the hallway, the sound of something else, something unfamiliar, passed by the door.

It took only a few more minutes for the sound to fade off, the creatures now infesting the upper floors.

Violet collapsed against Eight, fearfully hugging and sobbing into him.

Eight just sat in shock. For the first time, he felt the true sense of fear Violet had been experiencing.

Slowly, Eight managed to shake his fear away before he forced himself to his hooves, running over to the door before gently cracking it opening.

The hallway was empty.

Violet quickly wrapped her hooves around Eight, squeezing and trying to pull him back, her body shaking still. "D-Don't..." Her voice was shaking too.

"But-"

"No, please!" Violet quickly tightened her grip. "I don't want you to risk yourself anymore!"

Eight turned and looked at her, a look of sadness crossing his face. "Violet..." Slowly, he lifted his hoof, placing it atop her head. "If I don't fight, then we might not make it out."

"I don't care!" Violet shook her head, looking down. "I don't want to be alone again!"

Eight's expression didn't change, but that determination reignited. Quickly, he focused on the Crystal, turning out his light and ordering the sword to his side. It was then, Eight noticed something. The thing that felt different was his body. Lifting his hoof away from Violet, he stared at it. He felt, somehow, stronger.

"Please..." Violet whispered.

"You won't ever be alone again." Eight took a deep breath. "Let me protect you, please."

Violet looked up, her eyes filled with tears as she looked back into Eight's. It took a moment for her to realize he wasn't going to back down.

"Trust me." Eight's eyes now showed pure determination.

Violet lowered her gaze, sniffling. "T‐Then..." Her body was shaking still, but slowly, she pulled away. "Then I'm coming too!" She blurted out.


- - -


Far off, in a deep forest, was laying a mare, stirring awake in the grass before finally opening her eyes. "Night Breeze?" Were the only words to escape her lips.


- - -


Slowly, Eight and Violet moved into the hallway from the room they had been in. "Violet," Eight whispered, turning to her. "You really don't need to come. You'll be safer there."

Violet just shook her head, quietly following behind him closely.

Eight let out a sigh before moving down the hallway, his sword at the ready. He didn't like it, but this was the only way she'd let him leave that room.

The two made their way further into the hallway until finally spotting the stairs, now scratched up and cut through from the many shadow creatures that rushed through here.

Violet shrunk back before pressing closer to Eight at the site.

"What on earth has so much influence over these things to call this many?" Eight frowned, steadying himself before starting to move up the stairs quickly and quietly, his sword still hovering weightlessly by his side.

As they moved further and further up, along with the sniffing and scratching of the many shadow dogs, was a new, unfamiliar sound. It sounded like a whistle.

Slowly, Eight peeked through the doorway, seeing up to four of those familiar creatures, but among them, right in the middle, sat a long, eel-like shadow, with curved blade-like object slicked back, like a Mohawk. Looking closer, it looked almost like half its body was melted into the floor.

Suddenly, the creature's gaze snapped to the side, as it stared directly into the stairs before it let out a high pitch, almost modulated-sounding yell. Just then, all the shadow dogs tuned to them.

Violet let out a yelp and quickly jumped back down the stairs.

"Grr, so much for stealth." Eight growled, jumping from the stairs and into the hallway, sword at the ready.

Just then, the Eel-like creature dived into the floor as the shadow dogs readied to pounce. Suddenly, however, it lept back out, it's head-blade extended out, revealing another blade at its tail before it began spinning through the air at him. The other creatures didn't stand a chance as it tore straight through them in its attack at Eight.

Quickly, Eight ducked under the attack, slicing his sword over his head, only for his sword to bounce right off its blades, impaling itself into the wall.

The creature fell out of its attack quickly, diving back into the floor.

"Damnit!" Working quickly, Eight yanked his sword from the wall with the Crystal, before bringing it back to himself.

Just then, the wall right next to him started to blacken with shadows, only for the Eel to fly out, slicing at Eight, cutting his cheek and nose.

He flew back in panic, landing on the floor before slicing at the creature again, only to find it had already retreated to the other wall.

"Eight!" Violet quickly ran up to him, getting down next to him. "Oh my, are you okay?"

"Ugh, I'm fine." Eight brought his hoof to his cheek, only to, once again, find no wound. "But you need to get back. It's not safe."

Before she could respond, the ceiling began darkening, like the wall, followed by the creature falling out, its blade outstretched.

Eight lifted his sword quickly, blocking the strike before knocking it away, it landing on the floor a little ways off.

For a moment, it just flopped around and scrambled in place, trying to move.

"No, you don't!" Quickly, Eight focused on his Crystal before cocking his head to the side, the bookshelf next to the creature quickly coming down on it. With a sigh, Eight pushed himself to his hooves with the help of Violet. "Well, let's hope that-"

"Look out!" Suddenly Violet pushed Eight out of the way just as the creature leaped up from the floor below, slicing through the air and cutting into Violet's arm.

"Violet!" As they both landed, Eight caught her in his hooves.

She just let out a cry, clutching at her arm.

The eel had already dived back into the floor by then.

"Dammit, how do you kill this thing!" Eight paused, blinking, an idea forming in his head. Quickly, he lifted Violet and laid her against the wall before standing, his sword, once again, at the ready. "Come on then!"

As if it understood, the floor in front of him began to darken before the creature lept out, spinning in the air at Eight again.

Bracing himself, he quickly blocked the attack, the creature relentlessly slicing against it, before Eight pushed back, knocking the creature back to the ground. Seeing it flopping around, he ran up to it, lifting his sword before slicing directly through its neck, decapitating it and leaving a deep gash in the floor below, before it soon faded away. For a moment, Eight paused, panting before gasping and turning, running back over to Violet, who still sat, crying and holding her arm. "Violet, are you okay?" Eight said, panic filling his voice.

She just shook her head, holding her cries back.

Eight tried to calm himself, shaking his head. "Let me see it, Violet." Eight brought his hoof to her arm. "I need to know how bad it is."

Violet's entire body was shaking before she opened her eyes, looking at Eight before she looked down, her cries still audible.

As she pulled her hoof away, Eight stopped, staring. "That's not... Possible."

Violet's arm looked unharmed.


- - -


"Where am I?" The mare tiredly trotted into a small clearing in the vast forest that surrounded her. She pushed her hoof against her forehead, trying to think, but all she could remember was the name Night Breeze, her own name, apparently, and a promise. One she didn't remember making. "Promise to protect..." She whispered before she looked up into the night sky. "Protect who?"


- - -


Eight pulled Violet quickly into a nearby room- another large study room on the second floor, as his battle against that shadow eel had clearly drawn the attention of two more shadow dogs, which now prowled around the hallway.

Violet slumped against the wall, trying to keep her cries and whimpers quiet, only until the creatures finally passed.

Eight took a deep breath before letting out a sigh, then slumping back against the wall too. "This doesn't make any sense..." He said, bringing his hoof to his face again, trying to find his cuts, yet still finding nothing.

"Eight..." Violet whispered, clutching her arm again. It's clear that even if there is no visible wound, she could feel the pain like it was there.

He paused, realizing something, before pressing his hoof against his cheek. He could still feel the cuts on his face too. "Is this..."

Violet turned to look at Eight, the expression of confusion mixing with one of pain.

"Is this related to being a Darksider?" He finally said, looking to his hind hoof, remembering how it felt back then, after his first attack.

"What do... Mean?" It's clear Violet was fighting through her pain as she spoke, tears still in her eyes.

Eight didn't answer, only looking to the Crystal again. "But how did I heal, then?"

"Eight?"

Finally, he turned to Violet, looking at her with worry.

She just stared back, clutching her arm.

Softly, he looked back to his Crystal before suddenly slipping it off.

"W-What are you doing?"

"I have a theory about how I healed up so quickly." Slowly, he brought the Crystal to her head, sliding it on so it sits, dangling around her neck.

Violet watched closely before looking down at it. "...Have I seen this crystal be-" Before she could finish her thought, Eight spoke back up.

"Now, focus on it, and I want you to order it to light up."

"What? But they'll-"

"Not if I close the door on my way out." Slowly, he stood up, trotting to his sword before biting onto its handle and lifting it in his mouth.

"What, no!" Violet tried to stand, only to find herself falling back to the floor.

Softly, Eight rested his sword against his side before speaking. "I'm sorry, Violet, but you are in no shape to follow me, right now."

"No, please, don't-" Violet tried to move again before wincing at the pain in her arm again.

"Look, Violet, I understand, but..." Eight didn't want to upset her any more than he had to, but if nothing else was going to work, then being blunt was what he had to be. "You're too weak right now, and if you tagged along right now, you'd get us both killed... This isn't the time, nor the place to try and get stronger." Taking a deep breath, Eight lifted his sword to his back before approaching the doorway.

"B-But..." Violet couldn't find her words, shaking.

"I promise I'll be back for you, once I've got what I needed." He stepped into the doorway, cautiously looking around. "Now do as your told and stay put, okay? And focus on that Crystal." He didn't wait a moment longer, stepping out of the room and into the hallway, closing the door before she could respond.


- - -


Softly, the mare, Night Breeze, sat down against the base of a large tree. "What is... Wrong with me?" She had tried multiple times to think back, to remember, but her mind and memories were a mess. Nothing would come into focus.


- - -


"So, she's a Darksider too?" Eight found himself whispering, a strong sense of guilt washing over him as he slammed the door behind him shut. Looking to his hooves, he saw a small ray of light had begun shining under the door. "Good, she figured it out." Eight couldn't help but smile a little before lifting his gaze. Taking a deep breath, he secured his sword to his back before turning to look down the hall. "No more delays, I'm getting us out of here." Suddenly, he began running down the hall, not even bothering to look in the rooms anymore, now just looking for another set of stairs.

The sound didn't go unnoticed as every shadow creature in the area suddenly came running out of the rooms, and more of those shadow eels peaking out of the walls.

"Get out of my way!" Eight yelled before biting onto his sword's handle, using his weight to extend the sword out and jump up, spin into the air, and slicing at any shadow dogs that came near.

The eels quickly retreated into the walls, dodging his slashes, only to pop back out behind him, two of which began spinning in the air at Eight.

Growling, he turned, bringing his sword up to block just as the creature made contact, spinning its blades relentlessly against his. Just then, a flash of inspiration hit Eight before he jumped up, letting his sword go before planting his hooves against it.

The creature didn't cease its attack, instead now pushing Eight back, with him surfing his sword.

Quickly, he turned, trying to keep steady on his blade as both he and the creature grew closer and closer to a wall, growing in speed. "Come on!" As they finally reached the wall, Eight lept off, grabbing a hold of his sword as he ascended.

The creature, meanwhile, just smashed head-first into the wall, its blade embedding itself in it.

Without a second to lose, Eight twisted in the air, planting his hooves into the ceiling before shooting himself back down, slicing clean through the creature's neck.

The creature struggled to the last moment, slicing Eight's cheek again before it began fading away.

Eight grunted, pressing his hoof to his face, yet still not finding any drops of blood. The area still burned though. "So, no wounds is a... Darksider trait, right?"

The hallway suddenly echoed with the cries of the leftover Shadow dogs as two more shadow eels began swimming through the floor at Eight.

With a soft gasp, he quickly turned and ran down another hallway, resting his sword on his shoulder. "Where are the damn stairs?" He suddenly skidded to a stop, finding a split in the hallway. "Had this always been here?" Quickly turning left, he saw an almost exact copy of the hallway he just exited, but turning leads him directly towards a nearly pitch-black set of stairs. He knew he didn't have much time to think, and so, he quickly bolted down the new hallway, leaping onto the stairs, just as the two shadow eels rounded the corner.

They quickly lept up out of the floor, diving into the walls to the side of the stairs.

Eight's eyes widened as both walls in the stairs turned completely black before he quickly dashed up the stairs.

Both creatures had begun jumping and slicing back and forth between the walls, one managing to slice into Eight back.

He let out a scream before ducking under the creature's attacks. Only after they had entered the walls again, did Eight stand and dash up the stairs, only managing to dodge a few attacks before the creatures got in a few slashes, cutting into his hind hoof and sides. Eight quickly collapsed out of the stairs, onto the third floor, screaming, his sword falling and clattering to the floor next to him. Quickly, he huddled up, prepared to receive more attacks.

The creatures had stopped, now staring at Eight, both seemingly refusing to exit the stairs.

Cautiously, Eight pulling his hooves away, Staring back at the creatures, panting heavily, his entire body hurting. "What the-?"

Suddenly, the room echoed loudly with an ear-piercing scream, causing the creatures to shrink back before diving back into the walls, away from it.

Eight quickly clutched his ears, letting out another scream, but soon after, the sound died down, leaving Eight's body to collapse completely. He found himself struggling to remain conscious, his vision beginning to darken. "N-No..." Eight rolled onto his hooves, using all his strength to lift himself up. "V-Violet... Needs me!" But in an eye blink, everything went black.


- - -


"Are you okay?" Liam said, the dream world around both him and Eight swimming like water.

"I need to..." Even in his dream, Eight could feel his body screaming in pain, as he lay on the ground. "Wake up..."

Liam remained quiet, slowly approaching him. "Do you need help?" Slowly, he knelt down, a sad look in his eyes.

"Not yours." Eight growled, turning the glare up at him. Why was he so angry at him?

Liam paused, looking down. "Are you sure?"


- - -


Eight shot awake, pushing himself off the table he had collapsed onto. With a growl, he began walking down the hallway, his body screaming in pain with every step. "Who... Even are you, Liam?" Slowly, he felt a powerful determination fill his being, as he grew closer and closer to a door at the end of the hall.


- - -


Violet stared down at the blank pages of the violet journal she had found on Eight, tears gently falling down her cheek. She couldn't help but shake and shiver in fear, despite the Crystal around her neck lighting up almost the entire room. "Where..." She sniffled, curling up on the floor. "Where did he get this?" She finally whispered, flipping the page of her lost journal with her horn's magic.

Just then, a loud popping sound echoed through the room.

Violet shot up, quickly running and hiding behind a nearby bookshelf, the crystal going dark around her neck. Her entire body was shaking even more intensely as she pressed herself close to it.

"Eight!" The familiar, young voice of Teia called out. "Please, I know you're here, I need to talk to you!"

Gently, trying to calm herself, Violet slowly peeked around the shelf.

Teia turned, spotting her before giving her the gentlest of smiles. "Oh, hi. You're Violet, right?" Slowly, Teia made her way closer, looking around. "Is Eight here?"

Violet bit her lower lip before looking down, shaking her head. "Um, no..."

Teia took a deep breath before sighing. "He's heading up, isn't he?" A sad but understanding expression crossed her face. "Damnit, once again I can't tell the right time."

Violet tilted her head, sliding down the bookshelf and sitting, still desperately trying to calm herself.

"Nevermind." Teia suddenly turned in place, trotting away.

"W-Wait!" Violet suddenly cried out, reaching for her. "Aren't you going to help him!"

Teia stopped, not even turning to face Violet, before shaking her head softly. "I can't." Another sigh escaped her lips before she finally turned to face her. "This moment is fixed."

Violet finally managed to calm herself enough, focusing enough to light the Void Crystal again. "Fixed?"

A soft smile crossed Teia's lips, an almost encouraging smile. "You two can do it without me."


- - -


Eight stared down at the hole under the door, a pitch-black shadow shooting down like light pouring through a window. Without a word, Eight drew his sword from his back with his mouth, his body screaming at him to rest, but he knew resting wouldn't save Violet from this place. "What are you." Slowly, Eight took a few steps back, bracing himself for whatever may come before charging at the door, quickly pivoting and bucking the door open, snapping it off its hinges.

The door flew and landed hard against the wall at the other of the large, circular room. Desks lined around the walls, papers scattered across each one. However, where the floor would be, was nothing but a black void.

"What in the hell?" Eight found himself whispering, before stepping inside. The void-like floor seemed to splash and shift like water as he stepped further inside.

Suddenly, the room was filled with an echoing scream, reverberating off the walls.

Eight dropping his sword, collapsing to the floor and gripping his ears, only for the sound to suddenly die down.

Just then, the blackness coating the floor began to recede into the center of the room, a creature forming from it. Its cylinder body pulsated as it quickly grew taller and bigger, until it towered over everything, a large, gaping mouth forming at its top. It slowly lowered its mouth, its maw opening to reveal a huge eye inside.

Eight stared in shock, his ears ringing before he began pushing himself to his hooves.

Suddenly, another growl erupted from the creature, multiple strings, and tentacles of black ooze shooting from its sides and into the walls.

Eight quickly covered his ears again, screaming too, but he paled in comparison.

Just then, the tentacles suddenly yanked out and back into the creature, pulling with them the squirming bodies of multiple shadow eels and dogs. But as soon as they could be seen, they all were pulled into the creature's pulsating body.

Eight's eyes widened before he quickly bit down on his sword, jumping out of the way as the creature suddenly charged at him, before turning to see as it charged directly into the wall, passing into it.

In the wake of the creature's attack, the black spot it left on the wall began to pull together at multiple points, only for a pack of shadow dogs to leap back out, giving Eight no time as they began charging him.

"Oh, this is unfair!" Eight cried out, biting down on his sword harder before swinging it at the first dog to pounce at him, its head coming clean off as its claws just outstretched.

It wasn't enough, however, as another quickly circled Eight and lept onto him, biting the back of his neck.

Eight cried out before he quickly slashed at another approach shadow dog, it fading before it could do anything.

Just then, a large black spot began growing on the wall, only for the large worm-like shadow to charge out, its jaws open wide.

Through the pain, Eight lept out of the way, crashing against the floor and knocking shadow dog off his back.

It too, fell to its back, the dog trying desperately to roll over, but only leaving large scratches against the wooden floor.

Eight clutched the back of his neck, it burning with pain before he could barely see the shadow next to him. Between them, he spotted his sword. Through the pain, Eight quickly rolled over, biting down on his sword before jumping back up, stabbing into the shadow dog.


- - -


Violet quickly shoved the door open, running into the hallway, the crystal glowing brightly. "Don't die!" Violet cried out, her body feeling full of energy and power. "Don't you dare die!"


- - -


Eight's body slammed against the floor, his blade flying across the room and impaling itself into the floor, as the creature slid back into another wall, more shadow dogs flying back out in its wake. "I need... To win this..." Eight grunted, forcing himself, with everything he had, back to his hooves. "I need to... Protect her..." He panted before dashing at his sword, grabbing it, and turning, charging at the shadow dogs. Throwing the weight of the sword, Eight jumped up, spinning around with the sword, slicing through each shadow dog.

At that moment, the floor below began blackening, as multiple smaller copies of the shadow worm's mouth shot up, biting at Eight, with most missing.

Eight landed into a roll, sliding to a stop on the pitch-black ground, just as a set of jaws began surrounding him. Quickly, he jumped out, the jaws slamming shut behind him, and, thinking quickly, he slashed at them, causing the creature to cry out in pain. He suddenly hit the floor, barely managing to recover to his hooves as he felt the wind knocked out of him. Eight panted hard, his hooves shaking with exhaustion, the sword bearly being held up in his teeth.


- - -


Violet booked it up the stairs to the 3rd floor, bearly ducking under the attack of a shadow eel as it slashed over her. She shook with fear but didn't stop, tears fall from her cheek. "Please, Eight..."

Just then, the entire building seemed to echo with a loud cry, one of pain.

Violet gasped, tripping and rolling into the 3rd-floor hallway. She panted, her hair falling into her face. "Family..." She muttered, her entire body shaking heavily. "I must... Protect..." But despite that, she forced herself to her hooves, staring through her messy hair into the doorway at the other end, directing at Eight, as he pushed himself to his hooves, his body looking like it was about to give out. "Eight!" Violet screamed.

Eight looked up, his eyes going wide, spotting her.

Just then, a large mouth of teeth shot up from the ground, chopping onto Eight.

Violet gasped, before sprinting into the room.

Eight bearly managed to hold the jaws open, his sword falling and impaling itself back into the floor. "Violet!" He called out, his body slowly being pulled down. "Run! Get out of here!"

Violet let out a cry, before looking around. "I can't..." Gripping her eyes closed, her body was near the point of exhaustion, only being held together by the power emanating from the Crystal. Violet's eyes shot open. "The Crystal..."

Eight was suddenly yanked further down into the throat of the creator.

Violet out another gasp, before her fear slowly turned to rage. "Leave him alone!" Quickly, Violet grabbing the Crystal, snapping it off her neck before chucking it at Eight, it falling down the creature's throat, as did Eight.


- - -


The world around Eight suddenly turned pitch black, as he struggled against the tentacles that pulled him down, only for them all to let go, sending him down against the pitch-black floor. He panted hard, his body fully collapsing, leaving him lying there. "Violet..." He could barely speak, his voice almost a whisper. "Violet... Run..."

"That's right." A familiar voice said, the figure of Liam stepping out from the darkness and kneeling down. "Run, like the cowards you are."

Eight growled, turning his head to stare at him. "Shut up!"

"Don't be mad cause it's true." He smirked, a twisted look of pleasure crossing his face. "All you can be is cry and scream at the world. No matter how badly you want it, you'll never be a hero." Liam stood back up, lifting his gaze. "You can't even protect yourself, so what good can you do for her?"

"I can't... Leave her... Like this..." Eight suddenly gasped, as he could feel a painful pressure surrounds his entire body, making him scream.

"What do you think you are, Eight?" With a wicked smile, Liam turned to Eight again. "Would you like me to tell you?"

Eight couldn't respond, his screams dying down, his body going numb.

The smile didn't leave his face as he knelt back down, whispering into his ear.

Eight's eyes went wide, tears falling from them. "I... I can't be..." Eight shook his head. "I... I'm me! I... I'm not! He couldn't have!"

Just then, Liam looked up, his smile fading as the Void Crystal shimmered, before bursting light out, burning away at the creature that looked like Liam, leaving behind the form of a pony, an eye where its face was.

"I... I will be... More than that!" Eight screamed, rolling onto his back and snatching the crystal out of the air. He quickly forced the Crystal to glow with a brilliant light, his body filling with its energy, and with a quick flick of his wrist, his sword flew through the black walls of the creature's mouth, impaling itself in the eye of the pony-like creature.

The monster cried out, the walls now pulsating rapidly as they began oozing apart and fading away.

With the energy of the Crystal, Eight managed to stand, glaring at the creature's true body as is melted to the floor and faded away into dust.

Violet stared, frozen in place, watching Eight as the monster that encompassed him turned to nothing, leaving the floor cleared, covered in documents and papers. "Eight..." Without a moment to wait, she dashed to Eight, wrapping her hooves around Eight tightly in a hug. "You're okay!"

Eight's glared slowly faded before he let out a sigh, hugging her back. "Thanks to you."

The document on the floor all read different titles, but one stuck out. 'Research on Darksiders'

"I won't let myself be Liam's mistake." Eight whispered, squeezing Violet against him before he found himself reading the report. "When a person or creature passes through the walls of the universe, they must give up something apart of themselves as a price, which will be given its own body, creating a new being we've dubbed 'The Darksider'."
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



"I've been reckless" Eight finally spoke, having rested down against the wall next to the door. "I am reckless..."

Violet had occupied her time by cleaning up the room of all its scattered papers, levitating them into a neat stack with a levitation spell, giving Eight time to rest, but quickly stopped to turn to him, a look of worry on her face. "Eight..."

He didn't look at her, his sad gaze to the report paper between his hooves, titled 'Report on Darksiders'. "But that stops today." He said, his thoughts going back to the cruel words that Creature had whispered into his ear.

"You're Liam's recklessness. Your his accident, and you'll never be any more than that."

He scowled but his face quickly shifted to that of determination. "I may be a mistake... I may be an abandoned part of someone else, but that's not all I will be." Finally, Eight found his resolve, pushing himself to stand up off the floor, standing tall. Softly, he levitated the report up, folding it before slipping it to the deepest end of his pocket.

Violet didn't say anything. Nothing she could've said would've helped, so instead, she approached him, wrapping him in a tight hug, catching him by surprise.

Eight still wasn't used to the feeling, the warmth it brought. It made him pause before he finally melted into it, managed to hug her back.


- - -


A few minutes later, Eight and Violet found themselves trotting cautiously down the stairs into the 2nd-floor hallway, watching for any more shadow creatures, before stopping between the branches in the hallway, their gazes shifting between the splitting pathways. Something felt off.

"Does anything seem... Different to you?" Eight whispered, levitating his sword softly to his side, ready for anything that would occur. He couldn't quite put his hoof on what changed, but he could feel that something about the atmosphere had shifted.

Violet looked between Eight and the hallways before swallowing, cautiously moving slightly into each one, not saying a word as she examined and looking over everything before she finally looked to Eight. "Doesn't it seem... Quieter than before?"

Eight's ears stood up, listening closely, only to be met with nearly nothing but the natural, quiet creaking of the build itself and the soft wind emanating from outside. He began slowly sliding his sword onto his back, looking around again, before finally speaking up. "I think we might be alone."

Violet's eyes went a little wide, her partially cowering stance shifting, for once, standing up straight. "Where did they all go?"

Eight just stood still, trying to come up with an explanation, but found he couldn't think of anything and didn't actually care. "I don't know," With a sigh, he trotted forward, passed Violet, and into the hallway behind her. "But let's not waste this opportunity to get out too."

Violet just stood and watched before nodding, trotting up next to him, admittedly, a little too close, but Eight didn't say anything and just chose to watch her.

He couldn't help himself but find himself softly smiling as they stepped onto the stairs leading further down.

"Huh?" Violet tilted her head, looking up at Eight, one eyebrow raised. "What's got you smiling?"

Eight could make himself stop smiling as they stepped into the first floor and stopped, his smile, instead, grew a little wider as he stared. "Nothing, it's just," He shook his head before bringing his hoof up, placing it on her head softly. "I hadn't noticed how much shorter you are than me."

Violet had frozen in place, not really sure how to process his words. Her head bearly reached above Eight's neck, her horn included. After a moment she shook her head before softly glaring. "Hey! That's rude!"

Eight paused, tilting his head. "Oh, sorry, I'm not trying to insult you or anything," He quickly pulled his hoof away, scratching the back of his head. "I just hadn't noticed before... Didn't really have the opportunity." Eight couldn't help but let out a nervous chuckle as he spoke.

Violet's glare did soften a bit but still wasn't quite gone yet. "Well, I'm not weak, just because I'm short." After a few moments, it was her turn to make a determined expression. "I... I'm tired of not being able to help... I don't want to be... Something to be kept safe." Violet's determined look deepened. "No, I want to help! I want to fight like you, by your side!"

Eight stared at her for a long moment, caught off guard by just how passionate she was, but just then, he really started to understand her.

She'd been living in this town for a long while, hiding and running for her life from creatures far more dangerous than can be described. Anyone would get tired of not fighting back, of cowering in the shadows. And then he shows up, making them look trivial and her look weaker.

Eight's surprise turned to a gentle but understanding smile before he once again patted her on the head. "Okay, deal."

Violet stopping, staring in confusion at him. "Wha-?"

"I'll help you learn to fight these things, from what little I've actually learned, and in turn, you can fight by my side," Eight smiled at her more, pulling his hoof away and trotting further into the hallway. "As an equal."

It took a moment for Violet to fully register what he had said, her expression shifting from hope to hesitation, but finally, after a moment, she softly smiled. Another moment later, she had quickly trotted after him.


- - -


The entrance hall was left in total ruin. Its wooden floor was blanketed by a beautiful red carpet, that now sat torn to shreds by the claw marks of the many creatures that had trampled over it, just on their way inside. Intricate patterns of vines had once been engraved into the wall, but now, all that was left were warnings- that although weak alone, those shadow creatures were not to be messed with, in groups.

Eight couldn't find his words, slowly coming to a stop in the center of the room, where a pole that held an intricately designed clock had once stood, now laying on the ground, the glass that shielded its face shattered and scattered.

"Oh, my goddesses..." Violet whispered, trotting up beside him. "How can something do this much damage?" She looked almost sad as she spoke, moving and kneeling next to what was left of the clock. "I remember coming in this way. I couldn't help but stop and admire the room." A hint of nostalgia oozed from her every word, bringing her hoof down to wipe some of the glass away from it. "I even remember stopping in front of this and watching, waiting for the hands to move, but... They never did." She let out a soft sign. "I can't believe I ran back here after I saw you following me..."

Eight let out a sigh, turning to her before trotting up to that clock as well. "Come on, we should go. Nothing we can do now." Not even waiting, he stood up tall and began making his way towards the exit, leaving Violet no choice but to stand and follow.

The sun softly rose over the far horizon, barely being block by the nearby buildings across the street, one of which, being another shop.

"Finally," Eight took a deep breath, before letting out a relieved sigh. "Some fresh air."

Violet stepped out after him, not being able to stop herself from doing the same. "I had almost forgotten what the sun looked like."

With a smile, Eight collapsed onto the ground, into a wet patch of grass off to the side of the concrete pathway that led to the sidewalk. He could feel himself begin to relax before Violet stepped up next to him, sitting down with a dumb smile on her face.

"Feel good?" She said in a slightly mocking tone, but even she started dragging her hoof through the grass.

"Better than can be described." For the first time, Eight felt like he could actually relax, not feeling the weight of responsibility anymore. It only took one sound to take that away, though.

The familiar popping sound of Teia echoed from behind him.

Eight's smile faded.

"Sorry to interrupt." Teia leaned down over him, into his vision, her hair dangling down just in front of his face. "I need to talk to you."

Eight's joy had quickly been evaporated, replaced with annoyance. "I'm done talking." Without any warning, he sat up, catching Teia by surprise, making her stumble back before he stood up completely.

"Wha-" Teia was left dumbstruck but quickly shook her head, getting her composure back. "But this is important."

"No," He quickly cut her off, turning to face her with a dull expression. "What's important is me and Violet find a way out, now." Sighing, he calmed himself. "I don't care about answers anymore, Teia. If getting answers involves throwing myself into another reckless battle, I'm done looking for them."

"But-" Teia tried, only to be cut off again.

"But nothing." Eight said sharply, reaching into his pocket before pulling out the map of the town and opening it. "That castle is more than 5 miles away, and I could barely make 1 without running into danger." He turned his attention to the streets on the map, managing to spot the name of the road they'd exited onto- Bastion Rd. "From the looks of it, we're closer to the exit than we are to the castle."

"Eight," Violet had spoken up, catching Eight by surprise. There was a sadness in her voice. "We can't leave."

"What?" Eight looked up from the map, towards her.

Violet was still sitting in the grass, staring down at a nearby flower with a sad expression, digging her hoof into the grass around it.

"What?" He questioned, looking between Violet and Teia, a confused expression on his face. "Why?"


- - -


Eight felt his determination fade as all three of them stared down over the edge of the ruined street that was once the exit to the town, into the empty void that had enveloped anything and everything below.

"There isn't any way out of Silence, for you." Teia finally spoke up, shifting her gaze to Eight. "Silence is completely and totally cut off from everything."

Eight was struck nearly silent at the sight, but he soon found his words. "How?" He whispered the annoyance he had suppressed coming back in full force. "How is this even possible." He turned to Violet.

She softly let out a sigh and shrugged. "I don't know, I just woke up here." She began, her gaze slowly shifting upward, staring into the sky. "I woke up here, falling from the sky." Softly, she shook her head, trying to jog her memory. "That was about... 3 months ago."

"You've been here for..." Eight found himself caught on her words. "3 months?"

Violet had survived 3 whole months of running and hiding from those creatures. She gave a soft, sad smile, not turning to meet Eight's eyes. "I had little to no memory, barely a fragment of who I was before I had arrived here."

"The only way to escape Silence sits locked up, in that castle at the center of this place," Teia spoke back up, catching both of their attention. Her voice sounded regretful and worried as she turned and began trotting away from the ledge. "With my powers, I know I can get to it, but unfortunately, I can't take anyone with me... The power I have, that allows me to teleport from place to place, unfortunately, only works for me."

Eight thought about her words for a moment, trying not to let the worry of Violet overtake them, before narrowing his eyes a little, curious. "Teia, what exactly are your powers?"

Teia stopped in place, her ears standing tall in surprise. For a moment, she just stood there before lowering her head and turning it to look over her shoulder. "I'm not sure if I should tell you..."

Eight just raised his eyebrow, before letting out a sigh. "Was that another rule you were given?"

Teia stared at him for a moment, before looking away in thought. "Actually..." Her eyes shifted back and forth from Eight to ground before finally looking back at him. "Now that I think about it, I don't remember being told not to do that."

"Is it something related to time?" Violet suddenly said, trotting past Eight before pointing a hoof at Teia's flank.

Eight just watched, tilting his head before looking where she pointed.

On Teia's flank was the image of a glowing clock. Teia looked a little caught off guard by her suggestion but shook her head. "Oh, uh."

"I mean, your Cutie Mark is a clock, so I just assumed." Violet quickly said, seeing Teia's expression.

"I mean, uh, yes." Teia shook her head again before turning completely to face them. "It has something to do with time, actually..." She suddenly stopped, her voice trailing off, as she fell deep into thought again.

After a moment, Eight trotted up next to Violet, the two of them watching her intently.

A few moments later, she let out a sigh and smiled a little. "I'll make you a deal, Eight." Turning up to meet his stare, she continued. "If you can make it to the castle, on the other side of town, I'll tell you about my powers."

He cocked his head, raising another eyebrow. "Is that a promise?"

After a moment, Teia brought a hoof up and pressed it against a closed eye. "Stick a cupcake in my eye." At Eight's confused look, she giggled a little before letting out a relieved sigh. "And Eight?" For a moment, she paused before standing up tall, putting on a brave face. "I'll try and help out a little more." Thumping a hoof against her chest, she smiled with confidence. "Forget a few of those dumb rules, I'm done standing on the sidelines and not helping."

Eight stared for a long moment, a little shocked, but soon found himself smiling, for once, thankful for Teia.

She simply smiled back before finally relaxing and turning. "That's what I came here to talk to you about," With a sad sigh, she looked back at Eight and Violet before closing her eyes. "So, unfortunately, I'll need to be on my way for now... I promise to tell you of any dangers moving forward." And with that, she tensed up her body, smiling, before suddenly vanishing into a soft flash of light, the loud pop echoing around in the aftermath.

Turning to Eight, Violet let out a sigh, trotting back up the street, into town. "Well, what now?"

Eight quickly followed after, in deep thought before finally speaking. "First things first, let's map out our route to the castle," Gently, he levitated the town map out of his pocket with the Crystal, opening it. "Then you're going to tell me what the hell that 'Cutie Mark' thing is."

Violet tilted her head, genuine confusion crossing her face. "You don't know what a Cutie Mark is?" With a glance, she added. "But you have one."

Eight suddenly stopped, turning to her, before following her gaze, seeing that on his flank, bearly hidden by his coat, the image of a dark droplet with something at its center was displayed.


- - -


The sound of hooves echoed through the alleyway as Eight and Violet trotted forward, their eyes wandering across stray graffiti that lined each wall, as well as rotting garbage.

"So, cutie marks are..." Eight paused, trying to find his words. He'd found himself nearly dumbstruck by the idea of cutie marks. "Cutie marks are a picture that appears on your flank to show what your special talent is- what makes you... Special?"

A soft 'uh-huh' escaped Violet's lips, her mind clearly elsewhere before she turned her attention back to him. "They're seen as a sign of maturity in most parts of Equestria when you finally understand yourself." With a sigh, she added. "It's definitely not, but still, they're something to be celebrated."

"That seems honestly kinda stupid." Eight's words escape his mouth before he could stop himself. He could feel the soft glare from Violet before she let out a sigh again.

"I still find it odd that you don't know about them." Violet softly slowed, lifting the back of Eight's coat, staring at the picture on his flank curiously. "Though, with a cutie mark like that, I can understand being confused. I can't seem to understand what it represents."

"That," Eight was quick to speak up, feeling a slight amount of embarrassment from how often she'd looked at it. "And I have no memories of cutie marks." Softly, Eight kicked his coat back down before continuing to trot. "I'm not sure where that Liam is from, but it's clearly somewhere, where that kind of thing was foreign."

"Yeah, I guess." Quickly, she caught back up, trotting by Eight's side. "Speaking of that, could you explain it to me again? I can't quite grasp that Darksider thing, and you, uh, being one?"

Eight stopped in his tracks, his gaze to the ground before he turned to her. He just stared and thought, before he spoke simply. "I'm a piece- closer to a fragment of someone else, named Liam." With a wave of his hoof, he added. "Something about crossing universes, I don't really know." Eight looked over Violet, still finding no trace of scratches or bruises on her. "You should know, you're a Darksider too."

Violet cocked her head, raising her eyebrow. "How so?"

"You don't bleed." Eight said bluntly, before continuing to trot forward. "You and I both seem to heal physically, extraordinarily fast, but the pain doesn't go away unless we rest and heal using this Crystal."

"So," Violet just stood there, staring as he spoke before she looked to her hoof. It's clear that she'd be wondering about that too. "I'm a fragment of someone else?"

Eight softly turned to her.

"I'm just someone else?" Her voice sounded sad as she spoke those words.

Eight looked down to his hooves, looking for the right words. Was he just Liam? Was he destined to be another Liam? "No." Eight spoke back up, turning his gaze back to Violet. "You used to be someone else."

Violet looked to him, caught off guard by his words.

"I'm not Liam, and I don't want to be." Eight took a deep breath, trying to believe in his words. "I'm Eight, and I'll be whoever the hell I want to be." Again, he found himself pausing. Did he really just want to be called Eight? He hadn't fully realized, but if he so chooses, he could call himself something else.

Violet stared, struck silent. It was clear on her face, she was considering his words. And in but a moment, she had run up and hugged Eight, squeezing the breath nearly out of him. "Thank you." She finally spoke.

"You're... Welcome..." Eight said through squeezed breaths.

A moment later, Violet let him go, before softly giggling. "Sorry."

He took a deep breath, pressing his hoof against his chest. "It's fine." He said, a small raspiness in it. "Now, ahem, let's keep moving. We're bearly 1/3 of the way there." Eight turned to trot, only to stop again, not hearing her follow. Quickly, he turned back again, his eyebrow raised.

Violet stared hard at Eight, something clearly on her mind. "I can be... Anyone I want to be?" She muttered under her breath.

"What of it?" Eight trotted back to her, cocking his head.

Violet stared more, a look of determination on her face before she suddenly smiled. "Hey," she spoke quickly, jumping slightly closer to Eight. "How about being my big brother?"

Eight gasped and stumbled back, his face going completely red. "Wait, what?!" He couldn't quite find his words, the only thing he could manage to get out was "wha- but- brother-?"

"You said I could be anything," She spoke back up, a hint of excitement evident in her voice. "And I want to be your sister! I've always wanted a big brother!"

Eight's mind had gone fully blank at the idea, his words still escaping him. It took a moment before he managed to shake his head, collecting his thoughts. "That's a big ask, Violet."

"Is it?" She said with a head-tilt, genuine curiosity in her eyes.

"Yes!" Eight quickly spoke, steadying himself. "That's... Wow, I don't know." Eight turned and began trotting away, his face completely red. "I'll, uh, think about it?"

Violet's smile had softened, but she seemed to accept that, trotting after him. "That works for me."


- - -


The trot through the alleyways had become noticeably more awkward since the two last spoke, Eight not being able to wrap his mind around Violet's request.

His thoughts were a total mess, still trying to rationalize it all, but he just couldn't keep his mind straight, mixed with partial exhaustion.

"Eight?" Violet suddenly spoke up, a hint of worry in her tone.

That was enough to catch Eight's attention, pulling him out of his thoughts before he stopped and turned to her. "Violet?"

Violet just stood in place, huddled closer to the ground again, a look of fear in her eyes. Her ears stood up tall, listening closely. "Please... Tell me I'm just hearing thing..."

Quickly, Eight lifted his ears, listening too. His eyes grew wide as the familiar sound of growls along with the stampeding paws of far too many Shadow Dogs echoed through the alley. Quickly, Eight turned back around, pulling his sword off his back with the crystal's magic. "How can there be so many of these things?"

Violet quickly pressed herself closer to Eight, looking between the alleyway ahead of them and behind them.

Suddenly, Six shadow dogs rounded the corner behind them, skidding to a stop as they drew close.

Gasping, Eight turned, stepping in front of Violet and bringing his blade in front of himself, getting into a defensive stance. "This... Is not good..."

Violet panted loudly, her eyes wide. "What do we do?" She whispered, her voice quivering.

Just then, a smile seemed to break across each of the faces of the creatures, their growls growing louder, before three of them turned to face one other.

"Wha-?" Eight couldn't even finish speaking before his eyes grew wide.

With the unison of three ear-piercing cries, all three Shadow Dogs pouncing together, their bodies melding to one another, creating a pitch black blob that oozed and pulsated in the air.

Violet collapsed against Eight at the sound, clutching her ears.

Eight just braced himself against the sound, bearly seeing what was going on through a single squinted eye.

Soon after forming, a claw quickly shot out of the blob, planting itself in the cracked concrete below, followed by three more. The blob began shaping itself to that of a tiger, a saber-like head coming out at the front, bearing its four large fangs, however, the claws of the creature never seemed to attach themselves back to the body. They seemed to move as if being telekineticlly controlled.

Eight stared in shock, his eyes wide and his breath shallow.

Without any warning, the creature pounced at Eight, outstretching its claws, floating far away from the body and moving behind Eight. As soon as the Saber bit down onto his sword, its claws had slashed at his back.

Eight screamed, dropping to the ground, his sword falling to his side.

"Eight!" Violet screamed, stumbling back.

The creature didn't wait for a second, winding up a powerful bite, aimed for his neck. Suddenly, it was pushed back, a violet aura around its neck.

Eight stared up before turning to Violet.

She was standing, shaking, her eyes locked on the creature. "Run." She could barely muster, panting loudly. Her magic around her horn began to flicker. "Eight, Run!"

He quickly shook his head, kicking up onto his hoof and scooping his hoof into his Crystal's magic, dashing and grabbing Violet's hoof.

Her magic quickly broke as she turned and sprinted with Eight, panting hard.

As soon as the creature's paws hit the ground, it dashed quickly after them, the three other shadow dogs following behind.

Quickly, Eight turned to a corner with Violet, slashing and destroying a Shadow Dog as it pounced.

However, the Saber quickly jumped the corner, landing in front of them, and sending a claw at him.

It hit his sword as he barely managed to bring it up, before quickly reprising with a quick slash at the creature. His blade bounced off of it, him bearly spotting a darkly colored bone-like armor encompassing most of its body.

Without a second thought, it sent another claw at Eight, slashing at the side of his neck.

He quickly fell back, landing hard onto the ground, screaming loudly.

Violet stumbled down next to him, panting hard as her horn glowed again. She quickly swung her head to the side, a large dumpster rolling out across the alley, slamming into the creature. Violet's magic suddenly popped loudly, fizzling before her head collapsed to the ground, leaving her panting hard.

Groaning, Eight didn't waste his time, rolling onto his hooves and lifting both his sword and Violet into his Crystal's magic before breaking into a sprint, dodging past the Saber, and turning down another alley.

The extra pack of Shadow Dogs quickly sprinted after them.

Panting hard at the strain he was putting on his body, Eight slashed at one with his sword, cutting through it.

Just then, the Saber rounded the corner, quickly catching up, seemingly missing a single claw.

"Come on!" Eight screamed, turning his attention in front of himself. His eyes grew wide as he approached a large hole in the ground, blocking off the entrance to what looked like a factory. Thinking fast, Eight lept up, forcing the Crystal's magic around himself too, using his momentum to floating himself and Violet across.

However, the Saber quickly sent its claw up, slashing his back, knocking him forward.

Eight's consideration broke, the magic around him and Violet breaking.

They both quickly tumbled forward, Eight bearly grabbing onto the ledge, as Violet hit the ground next to his sword.

He gasped, looking back at the creature, seeing it growling and trying to reach its claw, but couldn't get it far enough.

"Eight!" Violet gasped, wrapping her hoof around his, panting hard.

He looked back up at her, grinding his teeth as he pushed himself, Violet pulling with what strength she had left. Quickly, he collapsed to the ground next to her, panting hard. "Violet?"

She continued to pant hard, her head slumped to the ground. "I'm... Okay..."

Rolling onto his side, he watched her, bearly managing to stay conscious, before groaning. "Oooh... I really hate this place..."