The Oubliette Of Arches
A story of psychology and slight madness.
All characters are indeed of my design. The name Smoulderdash is not intended to be in any way related to Rainbow Dash, he is actually named after a video game character from Skylanders. I do not own the show My Little Pony. Any connection to it is purely coincidental.
Characters and Descriptions
Puppet Master (Usually called Hank)- Is slate gray in appearance, with his mane styled in a short bob, with black lines running vertically down its length. His eyes are a soulless black, with neon yellow irises that can actually glow in the dark. His cutie mark is a puppeteer's marionette controller, two pieces of wood crossed over each other with a string on each end. Hank is psycho, and can use magic despite being an earth pony. He achieves this through atom splitting and with aid from his solidified conscience (yes, his conscience is another whole being in his head) which gives him extreme power. This power he rarely uses very wisely, usually just controlling ponies he dislikes and trolling others.
Joyful Noise- A bright sunshine yellow mare with a red oval on each cheek. The front of her mane is like a poofy marshmallow, and the rest a normal free flowing mane. It is pure white in coloring. Her cutie mark is a cherry red single beat note. Joyful Noise is always very happy, upbeat, and willing to do anything that doesn't want to be done. She is Hank's best friend, and the only one who can even halfway understand his insanity. Music references galore!
Cinnamon Bun- A paint earth mare. Her base is like a mixture of hot cocoa and the ripest plum imaginable, with the splotches like that of a browned vanilla cake. She has a splotch over her eyes, front shoulders, and one around her cutie mark. Her hair is super curly and a dark brown, frizzing all over her head. She has a gap in her front teeth, and has a very strong Southern-Jersey drawl. A 100% tomboy. She also has three freckles beneath her eyes. The cutie mark is- you guessed it- a cinnamon bun with lots of opaque icing!
Tommy Mula (Called Tommy, Mula is the last name)- Tommy is a turbo tall lanky mule (the hybrid of a donkey and an earth pony) with the coloring of really pale milk chocolate. Even though he towers over his friends, this skinny lad is actually younger than all of them. A child prodigy, he was sent to college two years early and quickly adapted to that life. His mane and tail are flat and black, and his eyes are large and curious. He is friendly to the point of being annoying. Also, he's Hank's roommate.
Smoulderdash- He is a legit dumb jock, only being there for the sports program. Smoulder is a creamy blue pegasi with abnormally large wings, which makes him the indispensable captain of the college's Hoofball team. His mane is an afro-like dome running partially down his neck, connecting to his lumberjack facial hair. The whole setup is an almond brown. He's a real ladies man, also being a real nincompoop. Smoulder can be a bully at times. His cutie mark consists of a lightning bolt through flames.
Elegant Nightmare- A Discord-like creature with mismatched ears, legs, and wings. But she has dreamy purple chest fluff like a cloud, and a shimmery dusky black base coat. Her mane looks like a bunch of dreadlocks, with bangs flopping over one eye. It has the same coloration as the chest floof. She has a beauty mark behind each eye, and wears eye shadow. Her cutie mark is a foggy mirror. Elegant is obsessed over Nebula to an unhealthy point.
Blanco- He is a pure white unicorn from hoof to nose. Oh yea, he's also blind to the point of seeing nothing, not even shadows. He is a good natured fellow and hard to tick off, but Smoulderdash's stupidity often miffs him. His mane is long with jagged ends, matching his tail. Ironically, his cutie mark is a large eye.
And lastly…..Nebula- A black appaloosa unicorn with an uncanny love of ribbons. His mane and tail are long, free flowing, and glittered with little stars. Nebula has white speckles all down his back, and some on the face. He is sort of feminine, and enjoys creating outfits for his freelance fashion studio. He is prissy, determined, and overly cautious about his mane. Nebula's cutie mark is a large star omitting light. He isn't exactly the biggest fan of Elegant Nightmare, but is willing to stick with her no matter what because friendship ties are the most important thing in his life besides fashion. And ribbons. And maybe glitter.
The setting is a fictional place called Hoofendale College.
Chapter 1
Enter the Oubliette
It was the first day of winter vacation at Hoofendale college. Puppet Master, often referred to as Hank, spread his slate grey body across his lumpy mattress. After a full five months of exhausting stressful work, he was fully prepared to relax and unwind. Reaching up, he dimmed the lights so his optical nerves could chill while he drifted off into space…..
Unfortunately, Tommy had other plans for the evening. Which mainly included a karaoke machine. The perky mule swung open the dorm door and boldly announced his arrival. "Hi there Hank! Lookit what I got!" Without waiting for a response, he plugged the contraption in.
Hank glanced reproachfully at the child genius who had so violently disturbed his tranquility. His glance intensified when he noted what he had brought with him. A karaoke machine. The stuff of nightmares when it came to an overworked hyper hybrid. Especially when the hybrid enjoyed a six hour play list.
"Tommy, please do not-"
But his plea came a moment too late. Tommy had already cranked up the volume to mach 3, and was belting out a particularly annoying guitar solo.
Hank winced in extreme pain as the loud melodies overdrove his sensitive senses. Out of desperation, he let out an agitated sigh and folded a pillow over his head. After a little while he could somewhat drown out most of Tommy's caterwauling. There was no way the whole dorm area couldn't hear him. Of course, most of the ponies here would join in..
Hank's eyes snapped open. Huh, he must've dozed off. A glance at the clock proved that it was one in the morning. And Tommy was still at his musical shenanigans. This was getting incredibly ridiculous on his part. Eyes narrowing and ears folding, Puppet Master channeled some energy to blow out one of the machine's speakers. A cry of dismay rose up from the other side of the room.
"Hey! What's going on here? It was working fine a moment ago.." A suspicious glance from the hybrid proved his theory. "Hank! That wasn't very nice. I was in the middle of My Heart Will Go On!"
Hank sniffed slightly. "I'm not very nice. You of all ponies should know that by now."
"Can you bring it back?"
"I'd prefer it if you fell asleep instead like a normal being." Hank grumbled.
Tommy rolled his eyes with a smile and clambered onto the upper bunk. "My singing was nothing compared to your snoring Hank!'
"Twas not you insufferable creature." The grey stallion bared his sharp teeth slightly up at the bunk above him.
Tommy cackled and turned off the lights completely.
Hank blinked in satisfaction and rolled over, pondering the day's events. Now that he thought about it, most of his 'comrades' had been rather irksome lately. He flicked his tail as an idea stuck out to him like a jolly rancher in a plate of broccoli. Why not set up an experiment? It would regain the rightful terror of him that he deserved, and teach them a lesson at the same time! It was so simple! But first a place to set it up. Hank smirked a truly awful smirk before sliding out of bed and silently trotting to the dorm's restroom. This would be fun….
"I suppose you all are wondering why I gathered you here." Puppet Master's yellow gaze surveyed the mixed group crammed into his dorm room before him. He stood in front of the bathroom door, back facing it. His eyes rested on a brightly colored earth pony slightly longer than the others, but quickly moved on. Smoulderdash, an impatient Pegasus, stamped a hoof.
"Are you gonna tell us or stand there and glare?"
"I was just getting to that part." Hank replied coolly. "You all are aware that my agitation levels have reached above average lately?"
"What does that mean." Smoulder huffed.
"It means ya ticked him off." Scoffed Cinnamon Bun, a paint earth pony with a thick southern drawl. "Yah'd know that if ya weren't so dumb." She clapped the jock upside the head. Smoulder, ego injured, deflated slightly. The crowd shifted in anticipation. Hank rolled his eyes.
"Everypony, not just a certain jock, have ruffled my fur recently."
Joyful Noise giggled slightly, unaware that Hank's ears swiveled to capture the lovely sound. "Oh don't be silly Hank. We haven't touched a hair on you hide!" She turned a vibrant sunshine head to look at her friends. "Right?"
Smoulderdash shrugged uneasily. Tommy fidgeted. Cinnamon Bun glanced around in a shifty manner. Blanco, being very much blind, sat staring at a wall with a confused smile. Nebula brushed his mane. Elegant Nightmare flicked her tail, bored.
"See? They didn't do anything." Joy bounced happily in place. "We should all just hug and feel better."
It suddenly occurred to Hank that she could probably feel the tension emitting from him.
"I would rather die than hug him." Smoulder growled.
"Puppet Master, hon, did you call us here to give a lecture or show us something." The black appaloosa shook his glittery mane luxuriously. Elegant Nightmare practically drooled.
Hank nodded. "Yes, follow me." He turned and clicked open the door.
The equines sauntered in, expecting a funky new shower head or another oddity. Instead, there was a large pulsing wormhole in the floor where the shower used to be.
"Aw Hank! We talked about this. No more portals in the bathroom!" Tommy whined.
"But this isn't just your everyday bathroom portal my friend. It leads to your wildest dreams….your deepest wishes." Hank traced a hoof along the edge and a string of mini lightning followed it.
"Well! I thought you were pretty ticked at us, but we're being rewarded instead of punished?" Tommy tilted a quizzical head.
"Correct. I'm attempting reverse psychology."
"I dunno what those words mean, but that's good enough for me. Models and tons of trophies, here I come!" Smoulderdash soared into the air and swiftly dove into the luminous cavern. It popped and sparkled, but otherwise remained the same. Cinnamon Bun shrugged and stepped in after him.
"He'll get himself hurt without me."
Tommy wiggled his rump indecisively, eyeballing the hole up. "You're positive this leads to a land of imagination?"
Hank placed a fore hoof over his heart, faking offense. "Would I make it otherwise Tommy? Every creation of mine is creative in its own way."
Pleased with that answer, the hybrid let out an ear shattering holler and belly flopped into the chasm. Nebula followed suit, with Elegant Nightmare slithering along behind. Blanco stuck one hoof in, lost his balance, and tumbled the rest of the way. Hank was suddenly aware of another pony's presence beside him. He turned to see a thoughtful faced Joyful Noise. "There's not really wishes down there, correct?"
"That is true. It was just a ruse to trap them down there willingly." Hank admitted remorselessly. He gave her a sideways glance. "This wormhole was not designed with you in mind."
Joyful Noise shook out her nonexistent wings. Puppet Master somewhat stared as her glossy pelt rippled in rhythm. Joy was part Pegasus- on her father's side and because of this she often had pegasi like tendencies. Shaking out her 'wings', preening her shoulders, and puffing out chest fluff was deeply ingrained into her system. At least she could jump three times the distance and height that an average pony could. And that Pegasus soft, silky, feathery downy coat. It looked so warm and inviting…
Hank shook his head slightly to break his mini trance.
"So..um.." She shifted a bit. "Can I go in it anyway?"
He wasn't surprised at her request. She could easily master any demented puzzle or labyrinth he could throw at her. It was all in the correct attitude, apparently.
"Oh why not. It'll be an easy one for you, just saying."
Joy gathered her legs beneath her and gave a mighty leap, ducking from the ceiling fixtures. "You got it! I'll be back in fifteen minutes if the others don't hold me up!"
As she disappeared with a zap, Hank smiled and turned his attention to a full two weeks of him time. Maybe when Joy came back they could play Scrabble. Or possibly watch some soap operas. With new ideas swimming in his mind, he closed the bathroom door gently behind him and locked it from the inside with a little help from his dark magic. What to do first, What to do first?
Which way am I falling? Tommy's thoughts swirled in a cacophony of questions, but they boiled down to one. How could I possibly find out? Cautiously, he cracked open an eye. The vortex around him morphed into a colorful whorl, so bright it burned his retinas to the core. With a small cry, he clenched them shut and curled into a ball, waiting.
And waiting…
Falling…..
Until a smooth surface touched his pelt. Shivering slightly Tommy slowly rose to his feet. His long knees knocked together as he gawked at his surroundings. All around him in a seemingly endless room were pure white marble arches. Some were tall and wide, others were short and thin, and even some were completely upside down. The only source of light illuminated from a tiled glass ceiling, behind the glass being gold with flecks of some sort of glowing energy. Tommy frowned, spinning in place. The ceiling was so far up! But wait, over there! A single hole, where the wormhole still pulsed. Not even thinking about his friends' locations, he made a mad gallop towards that last bit of hope.
Another set of hooves rang out nearby, and he looked to see Cinnamon Bun hufing and puffing up a particularly tall arch above him. A quick glance below showed Nebula right behind. The darker pony seemed to prefer lower arches, not wanting to break a sweat.
Finally! There, directly under the opening rose a large marble platform. Tommy stepped off his arch and promptly tripped over Blanco. "Ouch! Who did that?!" The white pony jumped up defensively, useless eyes narrowed in the wrong direction.
Picking himself up, Tommy held in a chuckle. "Sorry bud, you blend right in with this place!"
"I'm not sure where exactly I am." The blind pony frowned. "Are we sharing the same wish?"
"Ah think nawt." Cinnamon Bun wheezed in her Jersey drawl, head bobbing as she fought for breath.
"Then what happened." Nebula inquired, prancing over to them.
"Hank tricked us sillies!" Joyful Noise beamed, hopping happily along the underside of a nearby arch above them.
"Uh Joy, you're upside down." Nebula pointed out.
Joy smiled at him. "How do you know if you're right side up?"
Cinnamon Bun shuddered. "Ah don't like this place one bit. If ah see Hank again, ah'll give 'em the ol' one two!" She waved a furious hoof at the air.
Tommy relapsed into a curious silence. He stood there tail flicking, brows furrowed. He looked so uncharacteristically serious it was almost comical. "Guys, I figured out where we are." He walked the complete outline of the platform then returned to the center, all eyes on him. Well, almost all of them.
"We are inside an….an..an…"
"A what Tommy." Elegant Nightmare hauled herself onto the platform and stepped on Blanco causing both to yelp.
"As I was saying, we are trapped in the bowels of an Oubliette." Tommy's eyes widened in shock at the blank stares of response. "Don't you see it? We're trapped in a prison!"
"A pit-like prison with only one opening at the top to be exact." Joy called, a few arches away than before. She was currently walking along the side of an arch like a balancing beam. "Gravity is pretty funky down here-Incoming!"
A large pile of feathers came crashing out of nowhere, and Tommy only had seconds to leap aside. With a mighty THUMP it lay still. There sat Smoulderdash, looking very much like a disheveled bird. A very grumpy, disheveled bird.
"What happened to ya?" Cinnamon Bun was the first to speak up.
"This rotten place, that's what! I can't tell if I'm up or down!" He snapped, standing and ruffling his feathers indignantly. "It's fine when I'm down here, but once I'm in the air it gets all screwy." Smoulder stamped a hind hoof impatiently.
To prove his point, the large-winged Pegasus jumped off the edge and swooped upward. At first, his wing beats moved smoothly and true. However, as he slowly rose upward, his pace hit a complete standstill. Smoulder strained and beat his wings faster, harder. His head thrashed up and down, legs churning. All to no avail. His wings scooped nothing but empty space. With a final effort, his wings pleadingly reached up in a desperate movement. Sweating profusely, he faltered and smashed to earth with a screech of frustration.
"It's like the air gets heavier or something." His overworked wing muscles protested, and he flinched as he drew them back to his sides. "Now I'm just as useless as you scrubs!"
"Gee thanks." Cinnamon Bun snorted. "Come on Blanco, ah'll show ya 'round this kooky room." She led the blind pony to a very wide arch for safety. "This way."
"What if we're all sharing this really stupid dream?" Elegant Nightmare whispered.
Nebula groaned and held his head. "Stop it!"
Obviously bored with her gravity defying antics, Joy did a perfect back flip from an overhead arch some 30 feet above and landed without a hitch. She watched Cinnamon Bun and Blanco slowly head off to explore for a moment then went to sit by Tommy. "Don't feel too bad. At least it's a fun prison!"
The mule's long ears pricked. "You're right! This must be especially hard on Blanco, being unable to see and all. Not very safe here."
Smoulderdash stalked over, already agitated beyond control. And he had zero patience for an overly optimistic pony. He and her shared a negative history, and he was always willing to start a fight. Well, a one sided fight.
"What're you over here for Queen Cringe. Don't you have somepony else's ear to yammer off?"
Joy was taken aback by his unprovoked verbal attack. She deflated slightly, ears drooping. But equally quickly she perked back up. "I won't miss you as much as the others Smoulder. Tommy, I hope you get out soon!" With a final flick of her tail, she vanished over the edge of the platform to reappear many yards away on a distant arch.
"Huh. Wonder what that meant." Tommy mused, head craning to track her movement.
"Who cares? I'm glad she left. It would suck being stuck down here with her constant hollering and…" He shuddered, "her singing. For HOURS."
Nebula lay sprawled out on an arch, a fore hoof idly swinging. "It means Tommy, we're going to be here awhile." He sighed dramatically, choosing to ignore the Pegasus' outburst.
Elegant Nightmare laughed. "I have the magic to get us back lickitty-split." She raised a paw and snapped. Nothing. She snapped again, face dropping in slight fear. For the first time in awhile, Elegant Nightmare started to panic. "Come on, come on." She hissed, snapping repeatedly. "No no no! I thought Hank couldn't control my magic!"
"Ouch. He must've gone all out to prevent us from coming back." Nebula rolled his eyes.
With a dejected whimper, the mismatched creature wrapped herself around the dark appaloosa unicorn.
"Leggo! I can't breathe…"
Shortly, Cinnamon Bun returned with Blanco in tow.
"We scouted the whole area. No signs of food or water." The blind unicorn reported.
Cinnamon swished her tail, gaze rolling over a mind broken Tommy, a wing-sore Smoulderdash, skipping a suffocating Nebula, and resting onto the empty arches of beyond. With a concerned frown, the paint mare asked a chilling question.
"Where's Joy?"