> Ponycraft Saga - Book 2: Burning Ocean > by Onyx Glitch > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess Luna stared at her remaining guards, “I’ll ask one more time, how many... how many disappeared last night?” “Uh, well out of... out of fifteen, there are only us four left.” The guard answered. Another guard spoke up; this one more scared then the others. “How could this happen where did they go, how could twelve guards just up and disappear overnight?” “Calm down” Luna said. “Calm down calm down! Don’t tell me to calm down!” The guard immediate lowered his head, “I’m sorry Princess... it’s just one of the missing guards is my little brother.” “That’s quite alright; we’ll find him and the others.” Luna turned around as the only remaining night guard appeared, “well Midnight Shine, what is left?” “It’s not good princess. All the supplies are gone, save for a few things to eat and drink, but even that’s limited.” Midnight Shine reached into her bag and pulled out a small block then placed it on the ground, “well those things and this.” Luna looked at the item suddenly realizing what it was and rushed inside Twilight’s shack returning with the broken record. “I think we can use this to find out what is on this record.” She placed the record on the record player. “Princess I highly doubt that broken thing will play...” the guard was interrupted by a loud cracking a scratching sound, then, The sound of running and heavy breathing filled the air. The running appeared to stop and there was a long silence. Finally the silence was broken by the sound of somepony going through a bag and pulling out something. Several clicking sounds were made followed by the sound of fire, probably a torch; either way it seemed as though it was trying to create a source of light or warmth. The entity broke into a fit of coughing and was breathing heavily more than likely still exhausted from running. The next sound after the coughing fit sounded as if it was taking a few steps or even simply moving through some rough terrain, it made a sigh or grunting as if it were straining to sit-down. The sound of sifting through its bag and pages turning followed. The sound of the pages turning went on for a while eventually stopping when a subtle, but recognizable sound occurred, the light source had been blown out; the entity gasped and frantically began to fumbled with an object which began to click the entity must have been trying to create a new light source. Frantic footsteps filled the air, but not that of the main entity. The clicking sound stopped, but the sound of fire did not come, instead a harsh screech filled the records sound followed by silence and the record skipping. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twilight’s eyes jolted open as she broke into a fit of coughs, spewing out more water with each cough. “Huh, where... where am I?” Twilight looked around trying to get her bearings with no success. “Spike... girls... anypony!?” Twilight coughed again, “where am I... this place sure doesn’t look like Equestria.” Twilight turned around, “...and that sure doesn’t look like Ponyville.” She took a step forward and was welcomed by an intense pain in her hoof. She screamed as she looked down to see her front right hoof was swollen. Twilight began to limp towards the strange looking village. “Hello, is anypony here? My name is Twilight Sparkle, can somepony help me I think my hoof is broken... anypony?” The entire village was dark, only visible thanks to the setting sun’s glow. It wasn’t until she entered, what was probably once the village’s town square, that she noticed the buildings were falling to pieces. Doors had been busted down, windows broken, huge chunks of houses missing, and cobwebs filled the corners of almost every house. No matter how many times Twilight searched the homes she found no sign of life. “What the hay happened here?” Twilight hobbled over to a well; before she could get something to drink her eyes caught the sight of a single light coming from what appeared to be a church and broke into a limp gallop to the building. Twilight opened the church’s door, “Hello, anypony here I need help... I’m hurt pretty bad.” The church was empty and compared to the rest of the village, in decent shape. After searching and finding nopony she found herself on the other side of the church in front of a chest, above the chest covering the window was a sign with something hastily written that read: HES ALWAYS WATCHING He’s always watching... I wonder what that means, Twilight thought to herself. “Um hello... if anypony is here and doesn’t want me to open this chest, say something.” Twilight looked around waiting for a response, when nopony answered she shrugged her shoulders and returned to the chest. Twilight opened the chest and found that it contained a bag, a journal (empty), a very shiny yellow apple, and a folded up note. Twilight unfolded the note: Eat Sleep Remember > Day 34 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 34 //----------------------------- I’m not actually sure how long it’s been since my last entry in fact this isn’t even my original journal. Just yesterday I woke up not knowing where I was, then after exploring this village (empty) I discovered the church (also empty). Inside the church I found a chest containing a few useful materials such as: a new blank journal lucky me I can document me going insane again... fun times, some ink still not sure how to get ink in this world, a glowing yellow apple with a note attached to it which read: EAT SLEEP REMEMBER. I did exactly what the note said; it’s not like I didn’t have choice, if there was a chance for me to remember what happened, I needed to take it. So I ate the apple which tasted like the most amazing thing I have ever eaten in my life and when I woke up my hoof was healed completely and I remembered everything... well except how I ended up waking up in the middle of nowhere coughing up water and having slight memory loss, but I suppose that’s not important. I did however remember how me and my friend got stranded in this land after our cruise ship sank, I remembered how we slowly caved into depression and completely one by one lost it, I remember our friendship dying. The chest also had a bag which contained: two bottles of water no more swamp water for me, three loafs of bread I'm never touching zompony flesh again, an iron pickaxe (mediocre in condition), five torches, and a stone sword (excellent in condition). There was a hastily scribbled sign above the chest that read: HES ALWAYS WATCHING As soon as I read the sign I felt very unsettled and it felt like something was behind me (there was nothing there, I checked, but still). Side note: The bag had three apples stitched onto it... Applejack’s cutie mark. She’s still out there, she may still be alive. > Day 35 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 35 //----------------------------- I don’t know what possessed me to, but I decided to go into the forest, the other way was nothing but ocean and I'm not really sure if the ocean is as messed up as this land. I know I said our friendship ended, but I still want to find them... maybe there is still something to salvage. My best bet is to start with Applejack. If i remember correctly, other than myself, she stayed sane the longest and the bag had her cutie mark stitched into it, so the possibility of her still being alive is higher. So I'll just keep trying to find her first, staring with the forest. I doubt she decided to leave this place by swimming... I’m not even sure where she’d be able to swim to, its not like we would know which way to go. Anyways the night is drawing close, but I’m still continuing on; I can’t stop to sleep. I feel like I’m being followed, but when I turn around nothing is there. The only reason I’m even stoppin, is to write this entry. How the hay do earth ponies and pegasi manage to do anything without a horn. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ //----------------------------- // Day 35 (Night) //----------------------------- Nighttime in this forest is making it very difficult to write anything; I lit one of my five torches to take a breather and write this entry I’m still doing good on hunger, that apple filled me up pretty good. As for water, I drank half of one of my bottles I should really start conserving it better. I think I see a light in the far distance I’m going to go check it out. I was right, after walking some distance I came to a cliff that overlooked the ocean and more forest. Placed right on the edge was a torch, not only that, but there was another weird sign like the one in the church. This one was a drawing of a pair of eyes overlaying a black background, below the eyes was written: THEY BURN It’s probably better if I show you; here’s a rough sketch, the first one was from the church the second one is the one I just found. HES ALWAYS WATCHING THEY BURN The eyes on the second sign where coloured white; but I don’t have white ink. Also I used up a lot of ink to colour the second one. Side note: When I read the sign it seemed to get darker, I know it’s already nighttime, but this nighttime seems unusually darker. > Day 36? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 36? //----------------------------- At least it should be. Nighttime should have ended two hours ago, but it’s still dark out. Heck I can’t even make out a sun or moon or even stars... HOW IS IT NOT PITCH BLACK IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING PRODUCING LIGHT! Right now I’m going souly based on my internal clock; it’s not really doing me much justice right now though. It’s saying I should be sleeping right now, but I assume that’s because I haven’t slept since the church. I haven’t seen a single monster or even animal since entering this forest. The only thing possibly a threat is whatever is following me and the fact that I haven't seen it yet could mean it’s just a pig stalking me... if that’s true I am going to enjoy hacking it to bits. It's not that I would enjoy killing something; it’s just extremely frustrating being followed by something that I either can’t see or is just in my head. I’m going to close my eyes for a second and pray to Celestia whatever is following me doesn’t kill me in my sleep. Still just to be safe I’m going to block off the area around me before sleeping and hopefully when I wake up I'll see the beautiful... cube sun... I hate this world so much! > Day 37? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 37? //----------------------------- How? How is it still nighttime I know I got a full night’s sleep I’m all rested up, but it’s still dark out. Oh speaking of which if you couldn’t tell, I’m obviously still alive... of course you could tell I’m writing in you right now. So anyways, me still being alive proves my theory about there being nothing in this forest; no monsters, no animals, no anything. I don’t know why I’m complaining it’s not like that’s a bad thing; I just wish those hoofsteps or footsteps or whatever steps would go away with the monsters... HINT HINT WINK WINK! Oh great now I’m yelling at my journal. I’m sorry journal, how has your day been going so far? BECAUSE MINE IS GOING BUCKING DARK! Oh forget it, if memory serves me well, this land is as messed up as my friends became. I’ll write if anything interesting happens. After walking around for probably hours could be minutes, my internal clock is now officially messed up I almost came to the conclusion that I was walking in circles, but then I came to a new kind of forest. The trees were much taller than the ones from the previous forest they looked like pine trees. There was also much more breathing room. Anyways I walked several minutes in the new forest, when I suddenly saw a light in the distance. When I got to it, it was exactly what I expected, another sign. The sign read: HE MAKES YOU DO THINGS Underneath that it had a picture of a couple of houses on fire HE MAKES YOU DO THINGS Side note: Much like when I read the previous signs something strange happened, when I read this one the world around me became foggy (great now its dark and foggy not to mention is getting louder and no matter how many times I look over my shoulder I still see nothing there) > Day 38? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 38? //----------------------------- Today... or possibly night I don’t know anymore I’m going to assume each of these entries are during the day. I spent the day walking through the pine forest which is actually rather quite pleasant seems how the trees aren’t cramped together. I also periodically checked over my shoulder (still nothing). To be honest I know there won’t be anything there, but I can’t stop checking. I finally reached the end of the forest... sort of. The forest opened up into a desert which not surprisingly was surrounded by you guessed it... more trees. The desert was actually quite small and had a tiny oasis in the center with a small... shed I guess. Anyway I filled up my bottles with water from the oasis and entered the shed... I was mortified by what I found. Dozens of animal carcasses littered the shed namely chickens, all were pinned to the walls . I know it’s a sick thing to wonder, but I was actually curious how the shed’s owner managed to kill the animals just enough so their bodies didn’t disappear. After returning inside from puking I took a look around the shed it wasn’t much to look at though, a small gorified building with very limited funiture no furniture i dont think i cant count a chest and table as furniture, there was however, another sign. It read: HE BRINGS HOPELESSNESS AND DEATH HE BRINGS HOPELESSNESS AND DEATH As soon as I read the sign it grew extremely cold. I was able to see my own breath. There was also a chest that was filled to the brim with various meats. I tried my hardest not to vomit again no such luck. Buried in the meat was a green book called “Book of Lore Volume 1: The Surface”. I took the book and ran out as fast as I could not because I was going to puke, but because I could see my breath... and I could see something else’s breath, something that wasn’t there. Side note: I think it’s obvious that every time I read one of these strange signs the world around me changes, I know I shouldn’t read anymore, but I can’t help it I feel compelled to read them. I’m going to head to what I think might be west of the shed... I don’t know it just feels right. > Day 39? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 39? //----------------------------- I made it out of the desert into the other forest its much like the one I started in I seriously hope I didn’t just walk in a huge circle. I think I’m going to find a place to sleep tonight probably a cave. Ever since I left the shed I’ve been traveling through a dark foggy forest freezing my hooves off so I’m going to place down all of my torches and close up the entrance, I’m not about to die as a frozen Twilight popsicle. Found tiny cave, but decided it was way to small. So I mined it a bit to make it larger. I found it accidently, but when I was mining I hit an entire wall of gravel which collapsed opening the small cave up even more. It also revealed another sign this one surrounded by three of the most miraculous diamonds I have ever seen. I attempted to mine them but my iron pickaxe, but that did absolutely nothing but wear down the pickaxe itself, so I stopped before I lost my pick. This sign was stranger than the others it read: HE MAKES YOU FORGET Below it were five crudely drawn pony heads (faceless) and in between two of them was a question mark. HE MAKES YOU FORGET It’s strange but after I read it, it felt as if something was missing large chunks of my life gone. Not the memories themselves, but something within them... missing As far as I can tell nothing strange has happened to the world. I’m going to go to sleep and hope I don’t freeze to death. Side note: I took a look at that Book of Lore I got from the shed it contains a bunch of information about the many thing that can be found in this world... like an encyclopedia, this could actually be useful. > Day 40? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 40? //----------------------------- Well I just woke up so I’m still alive and the fact that I enjoyed the piece of bread I had for breakfast means I’m not a zompony not like there are any zomponies to turn me into one. Anyway I was in for quite the surprise when I broke down my cave’s entrance barricade. Let’s make a small checklist, shall we? 1) The sound of something moving around outside, but nothing there... check. √ 2) Nighttime during what is supposed to be daytime... check. √ 3) Thick fog making it close to impossible to see anything about fifteen maybe twenty blocks ahead of me (with the exception of torches)... check. √ 4) Freezing cold weather, not a single snowflake in sight... check. √ 5) Torrential downpour of rain... new, but... check. √ Just what I needed. It’s going to be a long dark day and if this paranoia doesn’t kill me, pneumonia certainly will. Also, I was planning on bring my torches, but all of them were gone when I woke up so no go... I am actually surprised I didn’t freeze to death I'm guessing the torches must have been taken moment before I woke up. > Day 41? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 41? //----------------------------- I managed to avoid much of the rain by ducking under each tree... although that didn’t seem to help when the rain decided to start coming in sideways... this world must seriously hate me or something. Eventually I came to an area in the forest that looked as if it had been clear-cut. In the center of the clear-cut was a long table surrounded by makeshift chairs each with a jack ‘o’ lantern sitting on them (the faces looked unnaturally happy almost as if they were forced to smile...) Wait no Twilight that’s silly, of course they were forced to smile, they’re jack ‘o’ lanterns. In front of the furthest chair sat a single cake with a sign posted on the chair’s back rest It read: OUR INSANITY MAKES HIM SMILE Underneath that it had a smile drawn OUR INSANITY MAKES HIM SMILE It was written and drawn in what appeared to be blood, but again I only have black ink... I wonder if there are different coloured inks in this world ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This part was written later after finding safety The cake exploded throwing confetti everywhere inside the cake remains there was a note. The note read: Congratulations you win! Now... (I turned the paper over and my heart nearly stopped) RUN! Suddenly my head began pounding and I could hear whispering, then screams I looked around and saw the jack 'o' lantern's faces had changed; some had become frowns whilst others appeared to become angered. Suddenly before me multiple shadows started materializing... monster upon monster began to form from the shadows and turn towards me. I couldn’t move; I was frozen with fear by the sheer number of creepers, skelecolts, and zomponies. I know I had a sword, but there was no way a stone sword could hold up against all of them. It wasn’t until one of the skelecolts fired an arrow at me. It hit me in the shoulder and I screamed as i finally began to run. And did I run; I ran as fast as I could only fueled by fear and adrenaline. I don’t know how long I ran, but I came upon an enormous tree easily three times taller than my library back home. If it wasn’t for the monsters chasing me and the need to get out of the freezing rain I would have stood there starring at it for hours. With luck I found an entrance in one of the roots and made my way through it reaching a dead end with another sign as I approached it the whispering grew louder and more rapid. The sign read: NOT EVEN NOTCH CAN SAVE US! NOT EVEN NOTCH CAN SAVE US! Who the hay is Notch!? When I read it the tree began to shake and then (where the sign had been) the wall opened up. After I entered, the wall closed behind me. I remember my vision going hazy after I ripped the arrow out of my shoulder and then i blacked out. > Day 42? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 42? //----------------------------- Today started out interesting; I woke up, ate another one of my loafs of bread, had some water, then began exploring the tree’s interior which wasn’t giving me much choices; either upstairs or downstairs. I chose to make my way upstairs first. I decided that maybe if I got to the top of the tree I’d be able to see over the fog for signs of life. My hopeful endeavors were shortly stopped by a thick blanket of smoke crawling down the staircase, I went up a little bit more and saw that the tree was slowly burning (lightning must have struck the tree sometime last night). I made my way back down to the main entrance and banged on the wall I came in from (all efforts were useless). I ran for the staircase that spiraled down and glanced up. Several monsters had begun to enter the newly created entrance and made their way down to me. The end of the staircase thankfully ended at a door that appeared to be made of iron there was a lever next to it (the only way I could find to open it). After I entered the door I broke the lever, but before I could grab it the door slammed shut in my face no way I’m getting back that way. After I decided I was safe I continued my decent, the deeper I got the colder the air seemed to become. The lack of lighting didn’t brighten my mood either. Eventually I came to a massive corridor which opened into an even larger room. The entire lining of the walls were carved out into a moat snaking around the room and filled with lava which still didn’t warm the air, although the paranoia and the fog seemed to be nonexistent down here. Yes there was fog upstairs, in the tree. At the other side of the room was a massive rectangular structure made of a deep purple and black stone, in the center of the structure was some sort of... portal? (I decided to check the Book of Lore) Obsidian Formed from water and lava. Very hard block that is useful in making fortifications and Nether portals. Nether portal? After long considerations I’ve decide I have nothing to lose. I'm going to enter the portal. > Day 42 (New World) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 42 (New World) //----------------------------- I just woke up, I remember after I entered the portal everything went blurry and then black, when I came to I was stunned the place I had been warped to was enormous... like a completely new world. The entire place was covered in a red stone much of it is set on fire. As soon as I began to wonder where I was my bag began to glow red. I opened it and inside found a new book. The Book of Lore had changed, it was no longer a green book looking as if it had just been printed, but had changed into a red book with pages that looked over hundreds of years old ripped and burnt, yet seeming so strong and resilient. “Book of Lore Volume 2: The Nether”. I guess that seems kind of obvious now, considering that the portal was called a Nether Portal. Netherrack Main Nether material that burns forever. Great for fireplaces. I decided that a few blocks could be a useful substitute for torches seem how... well, seems how I don’t have any anymore; I just need to find a way to light it. The netherrack was extremely easy to break and I think I may have gotten a bit carried away, my pickaxe is almost broken. (I’m going to keep it stored in case of emergency use only) In retrospect I guess I could have used my hoof to break it, but from what I’ve seen some blocks disappear if you don’t use a pickaxe. Side note: Everything is back to normal... well as normal as things can get here. 1) Paranoia for no reason... gone. 2) Rain... gone. 3) Fog... gone. 4) Constant darkness... gone. 5) And it’s no longer freezing cold anymore. Instead now; 1) My paranoia is justified because now there are monsters everywhere. 2) The air is so heavy it’s hard to breathe. 3) The smoke is burning my eyes. 4) It’s now constantly bright. 5) And it’s scorching hot. I miss the other place now. I also regret drinking one of my bottles of water. > Day 43 (Light) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 43 (Light) //----------------------------- Ever since I entered this place my sense of time has left me... not to say I had much of a sense of time before entering here. What I mean is, is that out there I just couldn’t tell day from night because it was always night, but in here I’m not sure if it’s been a minute or an hour. So with that in mind, every time something of interest happens I will dub it as a new day... that seems logical right journal? This place... the Nether, is definitely an interesting and peculiar place though. After looking around the area I woke up at I determined this place isn’t as scary as I first assumed it would be heck caves in the surface world are scarier. The monsters here... the ones I’ve seen so far (hideous pig creatures with their flesh rotting and falling off, they walk on their hind feet and carry golden swords) haven’t attacked me yet. In fact one of the pig things walked right up to me and stared at me for the longest time the small was awful, just as bad as the shed. And I was very confused of what to do. It finally left and I continued exploring. I came across some kind of chandelier of light, I had seen them before them from the entrance, but they were too high up; however, this one was closer to the ground. My original intention was to use the glowing stone as a better source of light then the netherrack, unfortunately all I got when I broke one was some yellow dust. I checked the Lore: Glowstone Dust Obtained when mining a block of Glowstone After looking up that I searched for Glowstone Glowstone Found on the roof of the Nether. Drops four Glowstone Dust. Used in Aether Portals. Aether Portal, so there’s another world? So far that’s three I know of; the main world or as the lore was called The Surface, The Nether, and apparently this Aether place. How many worlds are there? As I mined more of the Glowstone, I learned that the pig things weren’t the only inhabitants. Out of nowhere a giant ball of fire exploded in front of me causing me to fall off the small block tower I was standing on. I turned around to see a giant ghost... yeah a ghost! It floated down through the ceiling; at first its face looked so sad I even saw tears then its face contorted. Its eyes and mouth opened revealing another enormous rock being set on fire, it released a high-pitched scream (much like that of a newborn foal) then it launched the molten rock directly at me. I quickly grabbed as much Glowstone Dust as I could and ran for my life. When I reached safety I searched the Lore for ghost and found nothing... I did however find something called a Ghast Tear and a Ghast (which is what the ghost is really called apparently). Ghast Tear Dropped from ghasts. Used in brewing potions, they will turn an Awkward Potion into a Potion of Regeneration, or a bottle of water into a Mundane Potion. Ghast Giant jellyfish like mobs that produce and launch fireballs at targets. Highly dangerous, avoid if possible. Exception to this is only when obtaining their tears or gunpowder for potions. Two things came to mind; 1) I hate this place 2) I love this place (I need a Ghast Tear) > Day 44 (Tortured Souls) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 44 (Tortured Souls) //----------------------------- I don’t know where I was going, but I know that it was somehow important. Eventually my directionless travels brought me to a large mountain, at first I thought the voices were back in my head. As I got closer to the mountain I realized I was wrong; the mountain was screaming. It was made of some kind of sand-like material; I got closer and I could make out hundreds of twisted faces all screaming in more agony then the last. Dozens of pig creatures walked on top of it. Soul Sand The unfortunate souls of those he takes all crushed together into a nice, neat, and compacted cube. Slows anything on it. Nice!? Neat!? I was flooded with emotions; sadness, pity, rage... then fear. What if he took my friends? What if he crushed them together and turned them into... one of these cubes of sand? What if I he made these pig creatures walk all over them? Before I left I killed every one of the pig creatures (a couple of them dropped some tiny golden stones) note to self, if you attack one of them, they all come. I decided to walk around the mountain, I know if that was me I wouldn’t want anypony stepping on me. The entire trip around the mountain took a few hours... at least it felt like a few hours, but I was fine by that. I came across several smaller Soul Sand hills. I wanted so badly to kill the pig creatures, but I resisted (my swords almost broken and I may need it in the future). > Day 45 (Red Castle) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 45 (Red Castle) //----------------------------- I finally came across something interesting. It was the ruins of an enormous castle constructed from a deep red brick. Nether Brick Made from Netherrack. It loses its trait of burning forever, in exchange for the impressive resilience to explosive damage. I spent a fair amount of time exploring the castle most of it was destroyed and there were no inhabitants there must have been some kind of war in the Nether, because the damage here looks more forced and not random. I found a large room I assume it was once the throne room. Behind a partially broken chair I found a door that opened up to a balcony which overlooked several other castles, all but one I could see was in ruins that has to be my destination. It looks like it might take a while to get to the other castle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This occurred as soon as I exited the castle //----------------------------- // Day 45 (Living Lava) //----------------------------- On my way to the other castle I came across a group of monsters. I stayed out of sight and skimmed through the lore for the strange monsters. Magma Cube Comes in various sizes and is similar to slimes in its way of surviving death. Unlike slimes Magma Cubes are more hostile and when they attack it burns. As I finished reading the lore I felt a sharp pain in my flank. I turned around to see one of the smaller cubes had snuck up behind me and proceed to jump up and down on my tail lighting it on fire. I quickly reached into my bag and poured the last of my water onto my tail and then began to beat the magma cube with a block of netherrack. As soon as I finished doing that the rest of the cubes noticed my presence and began to make their way towards me, i managed to escape... I'm still tearing up from the pain. > Day 46 (Thirst) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 46 (Thirst) //----------------------------- Idiot! Stupid! Stupid Twilight! Why did you have to use the last of your water to put out that fire? My tail was on fire. I’m sure you would have been perfectly fine without a tail. But it hurt; it hurt so much. No buts! No, you had to use it to put out the fire and now what? You have no water. Smart you're gonna die of dehydration. How does that make you feel, hmm? I'm... I'm sorry journal i wasn't thinking ... I’m so thirsty. > Day 47 (Voices and Hallucinations) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 47 (Voices and Hallucinations) //----------------------------- The voices have returned. At first I thought it was another soul sand hill, but there are none anywhere in sight. They’ve been screaming to... they’re so loud and so constant and I can’t make out what they are saying, it all just sounds like meaningless noise. Something is different about these voices, the closer I’m getting to the giant castle the quieter they seem to get. These voices are bringing back my headaches again. On an added note I think the lack of water is getting to me. Earlier today I had to go through another ruined castle, when I exited it I saw my friends; Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash... well them and there was a fifth silhouette I couldn’t make out, but it seemed so familiar. Anyways they were all playing in a pool, splashing water at each other and having a good time. They kept urging me to come and play with them... and I almost did, but I quickly snapped back to reality when one of my “friends” tried to launch a fireball at me. I had hallucinated that five monsters were my four friends and the fifth entity, and that the lava was water I was actually thinking of drinking it. I need to get to that castle before either my head explodes from these voices THAT WONT SHUT THE HAY UP! or I get myself killed. > Day 49 (Hungry) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 49 (Hunger) //----------------------------- Today after I made my way out of the last small castle before the big one I stopped to eat. It was my last loaf of bread and what I ate of it was barely enough to fill me up... so hungry. Don’t tell journal that I’m asking this, but is it bad that I’m considering taking a bite out of him... is it even safe to eat paper, I can’t remember. Anyways I think he would deserve it after yelling at me for the water incident... so hungry. I can see the big castle it’s now much clearer to see and it’s huge even from my distance... so hungry. I better hope that whatever I find in there helps me somehow; maybe I’ll find some food, maybe a nice daffodil and daisy sandwich... so hungry. > Day 50 (His Fortress) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //----------------------------- // Day 50 (His Fortress) //----------------------------- I finally made it to the big castle fortress... his fortress. The entire thing is massive easily towering over the heights of the other castles. Its walls from what I could see were about eight blocks thick it’s no wonder why this fortress was still standing the other castles were only one block thick. I’ve been standing here staring at the fortress’s wall for a good amount of time trying to see a way in (no success). If only I had my magic I could tele Sorry for stopping mid-sentence journal, but I was interrupted. The entrance’s gate opened up and a bridge began to appear... I believe somepony is expecting me. I’m going to explore the fortress a bit then I’ll get back to you. So after I looked around a little, I’ve decided this place is a maze. I went down one corridor and after hitting a dead end; I turned around going the same direction I came from mind you only to end up in a completely new unexplored corridor. Most of the rooms on each side of the corridors are either locked by iron doors with no way to open them or it’s just a painting of a door... he’s mocking me I bet. One of the doors I came to however was open, and it lead into a massive library I mean it put mine to complete shame. A lot of the books were old, their words fading and in a unreadable dialect, but still it made me envious. I stepped up to one of the bookshelves which was oddly pushed into the wall when suddenly several loud sounds erupted from all around me. As if by reflex I bolted for the library’s door, but stopped when it swung shut in my face I turned around and watched in horror as the floor on the opposite side of the room row by row began to collapse in to the darkness below. Finally my row was left, as it collapsed I tried to hold onto one of the bookshelves (no use the shelf came with me). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I don’t where I am, but I must have been out for quite a while Well I was complaining about the brightness of the Nether, where ever I fell to its dark here. I can see a few torches in the distance I’m going to investigate. When I reached the torches I found multiple cells and cages this must have been the dungeon that I was in; inside of them were other ponies (none that I could identify and every one of them was without a cutie mark. Each one either had their cutie mark burnt off or crudely cut off). I walked closer to one of the cell’s doors a few looked up with blank sad and confused stares then looked back down at the ground (I’m not certain, but I’m pretty sure that their mouths and eyes were sewn shut and they had only reacted to my hoofsteps). I could just barely make out writing on the walls of their cells. WHO AM I WHERE AM I WHAT IS THIS PLACE WHY CANT I REMEMBER THE EYES THEYRE EVERYWHERE All of this was written in either blood or... brown? ... I really hope that isn’t what I think it is. I made my way to a door when one of the captive’s hooves touched my shoulder. I turned to it and saw a light blue colt looking towards me (not really looking, just facing me). Its eyes and mouth were indeed sewn shut and I could make out little glistening streams of tears. I told him not to worry, that I would return to free all of them which I actually intended to do. After leaving the dungeon I found myself in... A KITCHEN!!! SWEET CELESTIA AND DEAR LUNA THANKYOU!!! At first I was immediate to grab the food, but then I slowed down this place has already almost killed me with hallucinations what if... before taking a bite of the food I smelled it and very quickly licked it, it tasted real and like good edible food. I took extreme caution with the water by... well by touching it with journal he didn’t burn up, but he’s really sore at me now though. I spent the next few minutes stuffing my face with water, bread, melons, apples, and more. After stuffing some food into my bag and refilling my bottles with water I pressed on. I soon found myself in a room whose walls were covered in various paintings. I took the time to look at some of them now that I wasn’t on the verge of starving. Suddenly the painting in front of me was hit by a fireball, but it was to small to be a ghast. I turned around and before me was a small creature lit ablaze (its body was made up of a head atop a thick column of smoke, and multiple yellow rods floated around it.) The new creature made a metallic breathing sound as the rods began to furiously spin around it and then it launched another fireball this one landing dangerously close to me. I had no choice the creature was blocking the only exit. I took my stone sword in mouth and charged at it. It launched two more fireballs at me and I dodged the first, but the second hit my hoof, but I continued the charge. When I reached the creature I viciously swung the sword at it several times until it collapsed in a puff of smoke and dropped one of its rods. Blaze Rod Dropped by Blazes, essential for making brewing stands; when grounded down it can be used in making potions. Also used for locating Strongholds. Blaze A truly nasty mob usually found within active Nether fortress. Warning there is never just one. Uh oh I looked up from the lore and true enough several more blazes floated into the room. (My sword is literally hanging by a thread, I wouldn’t stand a chance.) I picked up the blaze rod and ran through them; as I brushed pass them I got burnt on my sides. When I made it out the door, quickly as I could; I blocked it off ensuring they couldn’t follow me out. The door has led me out onto a long walkway floating above an ocean of lava. Across the walkway was another building. I’m going to take a moment before I make my way to it; the voices are getting quieter... this must be my destination. > Epilogue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue Twilight drank one of her bottles of water then placed the empty bottle back in her bag. She stood up sword in mouth and began to make her way across the long bridge. On occasion she would pass two pig creatures standing on either side of her neither moving but both watching her carefully. Twilight began to notice the voices were becoming much quieter almost a muffled whisper. She reached the end of the bridge and stood before a door. The voices were almost inaudible beginning both a whisper and a mash of words speaking to rapidly to decipher. She took a long deep breath then opened the door; the voices stopped immediately and were replaced by clapping. “Congratulations Twilight” spoke a smooth and yet eerie voice. Twilight looked around the room it wasn’t very large and the windows were simple holes punched into the wall covered by red fencing. Each of the corners of the room had pillars of lava flowing through the floor to the sea below. Her gaze brought her to the center of the room. She looked at a familiar figure Herobrine she said to herself. He sat upon a throne made of nether brick and soul sand. “I was afraid you weren’t going to make It.” he spoke again; his mouth not moving. Twilight spoke up, “I came for my friends and to go home.” Herobrine broke into a demonic laugh. “What makes you think I will let you leave... let alone with the corpses of your friends?” Twilight’s heart sank at his words corpses of my friends? “No... y...you liar my friends are alive.” “Oh it’s true, I took great pleasure in killing them... would you like to know how they died? Twilight just stood still staring at him. “The blue one consumed by her never ending paranoia took her own life. The orange one’s guilt ate her alive and so did the spiders she gave herself to. The yellow one... oh did she scream and cry as she begged for mercy. The white one concerned only for her gems, and as she forgot her friends so did they of her. And finally, the pink one, her madness and loss of friends drove her to the depths of the darkest of my forests. Fear, greed, madness these are the great pillars that hold up this wondrous kingdom of mine.” Twilight screamed and charged at Herobrine sword in mouth. The sword connected to Herobrine’s head with a sick crunch; was that... Twilight began to ask when suddenly her sword shattered leaving only the hilt. Herobrine’s emotionless face turned into a grin as he backhoofed Twilight, sending her flying through the air back out on to the bridge. “You know I’m actually glad your obsession with me didn’t get you killed,” Herobrine said as a diamond sword materialized within his telekinetic grip. He has no horn how is that possible? Twilight asked herself. “... I would be ever so saddened if I didn’t get the chance to do it myself.” Twilight rolled out of the way as the sword pierced into the bridge. She quickly opened her bag, but before she could grab anything Herobrine slashed his sword again at her, if it wasn’t already gone the sword would have cut off her horn. Twilight attempted to grab her bag, but was kicked further away from it. “I don’t think so. You’ve lived far to long... you really should have just stayed with your friends, it would have made my day so much easier.” He said as he made his way to Twilight. As Herobrine raised his sword to make an ending blow, an explosion went off behind Twilight launching her past the knocked down Herobrine back into the throne room. Several more explosions sounded off. Ugh Twilight’s vision hazed from the dust kicked up from the explosion she saw several large silhouettes floating away. Huh? Twilight looked around her; the entire structure had become unstable. “Looks like some of my pets don’t understand leave the purple one alive, she’s mine.” He sighed, “No matter, you're still alive... I’ll deal with them later. Now, any last words before I finish what I failed to do last time?” Twilight slowly backed up; she felt something brush against her hoof my bag! She quickly turned around and pulled out her pickaxe. Herobrine broke into laughter. “What do you intend to do with that fragile piece of garbage... stab me again? It looks like a piece of ash would break it.” He lower his sword and motioned with one of his hooves, “fine go on, I’ll humor you... give me your best shot.” Twilight grinned and spoke through the pickaxe “You really should pay attention to your surroundings.” Twilight swung the pickaxe as hard as she could down into the cracking bridge. The pickaxe shattered and larger cracks begun to tendril from where it had struck. “Huh?” before he could react to what was happening, the bridge below him begun to shake violently and crack even more, then it collapsed into the lava below him following shortly behind. Twilight looked over the edge and watched as Herobrine disappeared into the lava screaming. When she was satisfied he was gone she fell on her back and broke into laughter. “It’s over... it’s finally over, he’s gone!” Her laughter slowed down “...wait how am I gonna get back to land without a bridge?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear anypony who finds this page, This is a short timeline of the hell I’ve been through. My friends (Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy) and I have been in the strange world for who knows how long. We got stranded here after our cruise ship sank. We had waited together hoping somepony would come to rescue us. We truly believed it would happen... but there was no help, no rescue. We soon found out this place was dangerous and not just because of the monsters... slowly but surely, one by one my friends started to lose their minds... I left them to try and find safety away from them, but soon found my own mind slipping. I’m not entirely sure what happen after I lost my mind (I remember him (I can’t speak his name, namely out of fear) though... there every night) I woke up near a village with a broken hoof and coughing up water. Nopony was there in the village, but I did find a sign with a possible warning. Soon I found myself wandering an endless forest being followed by something that wasn’t there and finding more warnings signs. He’s always watching They burn He makes you do things He brings hopelessness and death He makes you forget Our insanity is his solace Eventually the signs brought me to a massive tree that housed a portal to another world (The Nether); I entered the portal. After wandering the Nether I came to a giant fortress, his fortress. I found a dungeon with numerous ponies locked up and tortured, I promised one of them (a colt) I would return to free them. I made it to his throne room and killed him by breaking the bridge sending him into the lava. After I killed him I returned to free the prisoners... the dungeon was empty all except for a photo (it was the colt and two older ponies, his parents I presume). I escaped the Nether through the portal I came from but instead of being inside the massive tree, I was teleported into a field. I still have hope somepony is looking for us... for now I will continue my search for my friends and begin other projects. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle Princess Luna lowered the note and looked to her remaining guards. “Well?” Midnight Shine asked. “She was here, but has moved on. According to her note, there is a portal to another world somewhere in this tree.” Another guard spoke up, “so?” Princess Luna glared at the guard then sternly replied, “So we go through it... there may be another clue.” She looked back at the note, “we must find them, and then seal this world off from Equestria.”