A/N: The new chapter is here! I've decided to release it early rather than on the 31st which is none other than the author's birthday. I don't know, I just thought I should do it.

Holy cow, this August has been rather busy for me. I've now seen Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson, Van Halen, Lamb of God and Slipknot all in one week. Now you're probably thinking that I have gone deaf, but no... not as of now. Plus: I caught Billy Corgan's pick which is a proud achievement for me.

I've also seen Motley Crue in concert for their final tour, and I thought they did a really good job. It was not in the same week as the other bands though. Sad to see that they won't tour again, but I'll give those few highlights: Alice Cooper for the last of two opening bands, Shout at the Devil, that Drum Solo(seriously, that is creative riding the roller coaster upside down while playing drums), and Kickstart My Heart. So yeah, a good show on their farewell tour.

Now, I have been feeling a little bit depressed and I ended up concerning a few friends that I know, thinking that I was going to take the easy way out. A few times, I have been thinking of doing it. But now I plan to go and look for some professional help, to get me through this sadness and prevent me from going dead via suicide. It's serious I know, but I'm seeking help so I don't worry any of you.

In other good news to change the subject, I'll be going to Fan Expo again this September in case you didn't know, and you won't believe who I am going to meet for the first time. Tara Strong herself, a childhood voice actress. I will get her to sign a picture of Twilight that I'll be making and hopefully have a picture with her, but I'm saving the story on what happened for the next chapter and I'll tell you all about it in the next chapter, which should be up surprisingly quick before my new semester of college begins.

Wait a moment... Review Response Time!

sonic3461: Thank you. :) This chapter will be quite promising... and this took quite a bit of time for me to think about this and make it, but here it is.

jvs12: Thank you for pointing that out, I fixed it.

billykilly: Thanks. :)

raven 2012: Thank you very much for the review. :)

4theworldman: Yep, so read on... it is quite the thrill.

steve03: Hmmmm, I can assume that the story in the season 5 timeline is before the gala, but I plan to pull some strings in that clever way. I thought Moondancer was a well-developed character.

P.S. To all my guest reviewers, I know you want me to upload another chapter. Heheh, I appreciate the begging, but demanding me isn't going to make the new chapter come any faster. So please calm down a bit. I like reviews, but don't demand a new one immediately.

P.S.S. Season 5 continues this September 12th. Not to mention the third Equestria Girls movie: The Friendship Games comes late September on the 26th for its TV release, possibly airing before or after "Made in Manehattan". There is no theatre showing to my disappointment as I have seen both the first and Rainbow Rocks there, being able to witness them both on the big screen. Oh well, it should be good anyway. Alright, I've dragged this Author's note too long, let's get to it. :)

The sound of the train's whistle roars once again telling all of us that we had arrived and just on time, like every train would be. Of course, there would be delays depending on the track's stability. Still aseated, I keep my eyes on the outside from where I am seated in the train car. I can see all the ponies dressed in western attire whilst we pull into the Appleloosa train station.

Sunset, Sonata, Bon Bon and of course, the infamous Daring Do was with me for the trip and on the train ride here, we did our fellow introductions and would each of us be assigned a role in the group for the quest. We were already riding past the many gorges and canyons, passing by Dodge Junction when I finally got assigned my own role thanks to Sunset. For her, she got the role of keeping enemies at bay should any of whatever lurks in the darklands go after us, Sonata would observe and keep an eye out for anything that resembles that black book that Luna mentioned to us. Bon Bon, would also keep an eye out for both the book and the enemies(though I will admit she keeps telling me to call her Agent Sweetie Drops from there when she's not living her Ponyville life), and Daring Do would move on ahead to find dangerous, risky paths and clues that could help us should we get stuck sometime in the fortress.

You're probably wondering yourself, what kind of a role did I get? Well, my role will be leading the group into the darklands and fortress, snatch the black book when we find it and get out quickly. Not to mention I am also the one carrying the supplies of food snacks should any of us go hungry there. It had been packed carefully and most of the food supplies were snacks that had been bought on the train like the flavored jelly beans, chocolate, licorice, candy corn... you get it, but Pinkie would go absolutely crazy on that if she joined me for the journey but I can assume she's hosting a party or with Cheese Sandwich as of the moment.

The train eventually came to a stop after a few moments. All eyes were turned to the exit, hearing those doors open on both sides of the train car. I got up, taking a bit of a quick stretch before turning past the bench I was sitting on the whole time talking with Sunset and the others. I can sense that the others are right behind me, so I knew that I had already told them not to wander off.

We can hear the conductor sounding off that we had arrived at our destination, in case none of us were really aware of that by the time we have already stepped outside the train car. I continue with my new friends, down off of the platform and now into the main square of Appleloosa.

My eyes look all about the town and how busy it seemed today for the first day of autumn according to Equestria. Many were gathering the food supplies to ready for the winter season, though I suppose that the temperature would only drop a little down here. But over in Canterlot this morning, I could feel that tense chill in the breeze. But yet here, it feels rather warm. Yeah... I'm not going to question how environments north and south engineer that way.

"You!" A fellow voice I thought I recognized, was heard shouting at us from close by. It was probably that southern accent that made me recognize him immediately. None other than Braeburn himself, a relative to Applejack. But his focus wasn't on the group though as those eyes of his were directed right at me. "Aren't ya that human that befriended ma cousin Applejack?"

I nod to him with a smile adorned upon my face. "That is true, all of it is true really. But with all due respect, everypony was talking about me for a few months since my arrival. I guess they are pretty much used to me being in Equestria in the end." I had said to him.

"Well, I'll be..." Braeburn says to me, then grabbing my left hand and giving it a good shake just like Applejack did when I first met her. I suppose that is all part of the Apple family tradition anyway. "Ah'm Braeburn. Ah gotta say, it's a good honor to see a close friend to ma cousin." He pauses for a moment to think. "Ya know, if ya and Applejack come here fer a visit when she's here next time, Ah'll have that honor to introduce ya to the rest of the Apple family here in this town."

Alright seriously, this moment of praise is making me feel like I am a part of royalty. Seriously though, I am no prince but yet being the rarest kind of creature in Equestria to hold a defense for all the regions of Equestria... yeah I can totally see why everypony would giving me praise after redeeming Nightmare Moon, helping in the battle against Lord Tirek and even the attack of the changelings for the second time for her attempt to rule Equestria. Okay, not even planning to think aobut how I was under that spell from their damned queen. Have I not sent her back with her armies, I would have decided to squash her like a bug. She practically is a bug anyway, but just half-equine by the looks of it as well.

"Now whatever are ya doin' here with these friends of yours?" Braeburn asks in curiosity. "Did ya decide to come here fer a visit down here? Hay, there will even be a tour provided of the acres of apple orchards that we share with the townsfolk and buffalo now that there is the treaty with Sheriff Silverstar and Chief Thunderhooves."

"Well we're not exactly here for a visit," Sunset says to him, trotting forward joining next to me. "We plus him are in fact on a journey approximately southwest from here to retrieve an item that Princesses Celestia and Luna has sent us to find."

"Well, if ya'll are looking down southwest, it's all best ya avoid tryin' to go into those mountains with a bit of red colored fog rising out of it. Some ponies wander inside but they never do come back out again. It's a story having been told to me for many years... though I don't see any going in there today," Braeburn said, sounding a bit fearful knowing what might be southwest from the town. "Ya'll are better off going around it if ya want to get to the wonderful views of the gorges."

"That's exactly where we're headed." I said to him. "We're going inside it..."

A cold shiver was brought down his spine as I already knew that if I was going to say Mortem, it would have to be in a hushed tone. I'm not sure what would happen if I spoke it out loud, but all I can really assume is that it is bad luck for anypony in the vicinity of the area would run back into their homes and hide.

"Could ya and yer friends here f- f-" He stutters at first after that getting a chill from even hearing about our journey into there. He clears his throat after a quick moment and finds the words to speak again. "Follow me into a buildin'. We've gotta talk about this."

I show no reluctance and turn around, signalling my new friends to follow me who was already starting to follow Braeburn through the town. Guess I didn't really need to do that then. At this rate while we're following the earth pony, an observation of the town would be decided as my eyes turn to look at the town that wasn't too busy, but the weather itself was yet humid and warm.

Various buildings were there like the general store(it looks like the one I saw in Dodge Junction, so it couldn't have been the same owner there), the saloon where I did get to see somepony getting tossed out for probably being a little too drunk on apple cider, the sheriff's office and even Braeburn's farm of good apples could be seen not too far off on the eastern side of town.

Ponies and buffalo were abroad in town after that peace treaty from the last time I saw in the first season between Appleloosa and the tribe of Chief Thunderhooves. For once, I wouldn't be able to see bickering between two different races as most of them have already reunited. But I knew one unicorn in Canterlot was going to be a jerk to anypony who wasn't a unicorn or even in Equestrian blood. But since these buffalo were in Equestria, I can already assume they are of Equestria in the first place by living in this environment suitable for them.

For some time moving along with my bare feet making haste on the dry, somewhat dead grass of what resembles in my world to be almost like a desert. But on my world for this canyon type of stuff, it's like the western part of the United States. I haven't been there but I wish that I did get the chance to. I have not been to any part of Europe sadly, though I would totally go to France, Finland and England.

All of us had followed Braeburn all the way to a nearby household, and originally I thought that was where we were going to be going into but we instead were going straight into an alleyway lit up by Celestia's sun above. At first, it does look a bit suspicious like somepony would be planning to attack me or either one of my friends in the group. But in daylight, it just looks like the side and I didn't see any traps being planned for either of us to my own relief.

Braeburn led us to the middle of the alleyway and then makes a stop, turning around to face both me and the group. On his face, he holds a cross between sounding rather worried and in fear that we were going to do something really dangerous. By the way, what we were doing was dangerous, but all of us would keep a close eye on each other so no harm comes our way. He inhales in a long air of breath silently and exhales it softly for us to hear.

"No offense to any of ya'll. But... are ya'll crazy?!" He just about began to say to us in a hushed tone, but sounding close to sounding like a father had caught his son stealing from the cookie jar. "The second ya'll step in there, ya'll be in danger!"

"Princess Celestia sent us to go in there for a special book. Apparently something went on that night while we were asleep in bed," Sunset spoke out, trotting only a few steps forward past me to talk to Braeburn. "We don't know what went on but I wish we knew how important it was. The letter all of us recieved were of the importance by the color of the ribbon it was wrapped in."

"I got pulled out from going on another adventure for this, but I will see that Equestria is safe by the order of the princess." I could hear Daring Do speak behind me.

"We were all there in the Canterlot throne room when she told us to go to Mortem. Apparently there is a fortress by the mountainside in the interior of the darklands, and it won't be easy to find where the entrance could be," She continues to explain to the earth pony who shudders at even the mention of the darklands' name being mentioned out loud from a hushed tone. "It could be anywhere and I am not even thinking of igniting the magic on my horn even once. To do so would mean certain... you-know-what for us. Any creature of darkness there would be on the hunt for us."

"I don't think it would be a good idea for any of ya'll to go there, too dangerous!" He says, knowing he is firm about doing this.

"Braeburn," I acknowledge to him. Sunset turns her head to look at me. "I know that you are concerned about our safety, but it is for the safety of Equestria. This black book is in need for Princess Luna to have and she tasked the best around to send into there and find that book and then get out without even a casualty. I would die to ensure they make it out alive!"

"We'll all protect each other, but that would be a brave sacrifice should something happen." Bon Bon commented to that with a smile.

I turn my head to look at her and nod with a smile on my face, then turn my head right back to Braeburn. "For your concern, you've probably been told yourself that nopony is to go in there. Even Princess Twilight told me that she wouldn't allow me to go in there, but with us... there is always a way to survive even if a dangerous risk is taken," I allow myself to continue, with Braeburn starting to calm down a little bit. "But I am afraid that the time to head there is now, and if you can find a way to get somepony to bring us to a close enough range of Mortem that would be appreciated."

He sighed once again. "Well, Ah could get ya and yer friends a ride close to the mountainside, but no further from there. Word of warnin' though, once ya'll enter that place there ain't no turnin' back especially with them flesh-eatin' creatures on the watch the deeper down you go," He told all of us, the tone of warning was filling his voice. "While Ah say ya'll be safe by the mountain cliffs, I'd still be careful if any of them creatures patrol the grounds up there for any intruders in their land." He paused briefly, as I considered him to be in deep thought of what these creatures in the shadow would look like. "Ah could see their shadows in my dreams rarely... and those teeth of theirs... they could just 'bout bite off anypony's frontal lobe with a single swipe if they could."

I step forward once and curiosity grabs onto me. "These creatures... even if they were in the shadows, did you have any idea of what they might have looked like?" I had the courage to ask him.

"It was only the sharp teeth of theirs and the shape that Ah saw... it was the shape that they weren't no ordinary creature from Equestria..." He shivered a bit at even thinking of these strange but yet dangerous creatures. "They seemed to have four legs like spiders and large claws that cut across like scissors, and from their glowing eyes, each of them were red and staring from afar..."

Sonata trotted forward a few steps when hearing the story. "We'll try our best to avoid those creatures and not even plan on running into them in the first place." She said to us, stopping beside me when she was speaking briefly to him.

"I'm pretty much noted now on these creatures that patrol on the mountainsides. Should they come looking for us, we'll find a place to hide," I said to him now with the new information that was presented to me. "They find us, I'll attack them if I have to, just in order for them to get to the fortress safely."

"Ya'll must be crazy to do somethin' like this..." Braeburn lowers his head and mutters to himself quietly, but by how close I was it was obvious I could hear that out of him. There were a few moments of silence and then his head rose, his eyes observing me and the rest of my friends for a few more split seconds. "Alright fine. Ah can only assume that ya'll have to do what's necessary to save all of Equestria by the order of the princess. Sheriff Silverstar might wonder where ya'll of us are headed off to, but don't worry... Should he come gallopin' to us with concern as to why Ah'm takin' ya'll there, Ah'll explain everythin' to him."

All of us were in relief, after having convinced Braeburn there. As much as the Sheriff was in charge of the town's safety, Braeburn himself probably held onto the regulation of the town's safety as well alongside Silverstar. I don't blame him for that though, as I am pretty sure everypony else in Equestria shows care for others.

"Now c'mon, if ya'll want to get to... 'that place', ya just gotta follow me," Braeburn tells us all. At first by this kind of talk it would make me suspicious with at least one rising eyebrow. "Ah'm goin' to get ya'll a wagon and some ponies here strong enough to take ya'll there."

After all that, we follow Braeburn... once again, out of the alleyway. But again, nopony looked at us rather suspiciously. I can pretty much assume by the looks of their faces that we just seemed like your usual travelling pack exploring different towns or cities in parts of Equestria and beyond, unaware of any of us headed into the forbidden Mortem which the only one I've spoken about it to out loud was in front of us.

The western-like society was still calm, but there would be the bustling in the moments to pass when we saw buffalo coming our way, talking among with the other ponies they've befriended ever since Twilight and the rest of my friends came here back around the first season. Few ponies I saw were sharing with the buffalo. Well after all, you've got to share and you've got to care.

For some time, we ended up following with Braeburn with all of us in complete silence minus the ambience of everypony in town just talking away about how their day is going today and before. Braeburn doesn't say anything to us as he moves ahead, directing us to the Apple family farm division of Appleloosa.

All of us stop at the front entrance into the farm. Braeburn turns to look at us, none of us knowing what to say next. "Alright, ya'll wait here. Ah'm gettin' the wagon." We heard him as he goes ahead past us onto the farm grounds and eventually out of sight after those few seconds have passed.

All of us began to wait there on the spot under Celestia's sun while Braeburn was looking for the wagon. Daring Do writes away in a little notebook, possibly detailing the hints for probably another book in the development. It wouldn't exactly be true if her enemy Ahuizotl was there, but it's less likely we'll run into him in the darklands. Both Bon Bon and Sonata are on their flanks, sitting on the dry land and being patient for the earth pony to get back, whilst Sonata gets out a light snack from our bag of snacks on the journey should any of us go hungry. Sunset? Though I share this same trait for the quest, she's keeping an eye out to ensure we're alright.

"Sunset," I can hear Sonata calling out to Sunset, turning her eyes upon the earth pony that used to be the siren she was, but not anymore thanks to me. In her hoof, she holds a wrapped bar of chocolate that was given to them for the thankful bits they had. "Would you like one?"

Sunset nodded in that kind acceptance, a smile adorned upon her face. "Why not?" She says.

Sonata tossed the bar to her. Her magic ignited and she was able to catch the wrapped bar when the aura of her magic had covered up the entire of sweet chocolatey goodness. With that magic around it, she unwraps the wrapper about the sweet, tossing the thin paper into the nearby trash bin for the town's janitors to probably clean up. I look rather amused to see that magic from here is like opening candy back on Earth; except you're using magic to perk it open.

A thought came to me and I decided to speak out. "My friends?" All of their ears perked up straight and they turn with all eyes in the group observing me. I let out a sigh, and began to talk to them about this importance of a thought. "I know that all of you might be nervous to go into dangerous territory, but you must go through with it. Even Braeburn said it, once we go in there, no turning back. The second we give up, Princess Luna will be pretty annoyed if we don't go through this... but I know she wouldn't be mad at us."

"It's funny because..." Bon Bon raised a hoof to get my attention. "I did come up with some stuff if we fail like her not speaking or acknowledging you for weeks on end."

I shook my head with a smile. "If she did that, I wouldn't be standing in Equestria today. She trusts me, and even I know that she holds a temper. You don't want to blow her fuse though, that's the thing Bon Bon." I responded to her. "But even Princess Celestia will agree and be on Luna's side. So the best thing we can do is just get it done and be ready to leave as soon as we've got the book."

"There is no time to waste then," I hear Sunset Shimmer trot up beside me. "I'm with Brayden and what he says, but again with him, he should be able to guide us into the fortress safely. As long as we get it done, we'll be okay and no problems should arise from there."

Sonata's left front hoof rose up into the air and I pointed at her, as in silently telling her if she had a question. "If we survive this, can we all head back to Ponyville and celebrate with one of Pinkie's parties after giving the book to Princess Luna?" She asked with a joyful smile upon her face.

I was glad to see that her time with Pinkie had improved her after her time as a Dazzling. But now that I think about Adagio and Aria, I hope they are improving as well with my friends from the mirror world teaching them the right and good way. I'm not in the mirror world, so I don't even know as of yet. When the time comes, both of them will be ready to go through the portal back to Equestria, all clean with good hearts in them.

I nod my head with a bit of a happy laugh from my mouth. "Of course, and I know that according to Pinkie: she'll name it the... the..." I had a bit of a tough time trying to figure out what to call it. "Never mind, she'll call one what she wants to call one."

I can hear wheels being pulled and at least a set of hooves that would be two stallions pulling the wagon out from the distance. Anything else that I wanted to say to the group will have to wait until we were moving to the mountains. From out past the trees were Braeburn and another member of the Apple family pulling what seems to be not a wagon, but more rather a carriage of sorts.

"Where's the wagon?" Sunset asked. The tone of her voice sounded rather confused as to why it wasn't that of what we thought.

"My apologies," Braeburn apologizes and then began to explain the situation as to why it would be a carriage. "The wagon itself can only fit at least a small number of ya'll. The carriage has a little bit more room for ya'll. Any more on the wagon and it's wheel would've fallen apart cause of the weight that would overcome."

I turn my head, taking a look at all of my friends. Bon Bon, Daring, Sonata and Sunset look at each other with still confusion upon their faces. I hold onto the same kind of thought as usually from what I could recall, wagons out here were usually the fastest. I mean, if we are to ride in the carriage and they gallop at their best; there is no doubt that they could accelerate the carriage's speed. But again, the most I've seen is stallion trotting with them behind. But again, the idea of a fast carriage would be rather amusing to be in and witness at the same time.

I just shrug with a look that basically says 'why not?' and their eyes turn back towards the carriage. Each of my friends trot towards the carriage with Sunset, Sonata and Daring entering on the right side. Bon Bon joins up beside me as I head to the left side of the carriage, taking a hold of the carriage door and pulling it open and holding it open for Bon Bon to enter before me.

"Thank you Brayden." I could hear her say as she climbs up into the carriage.

I followed her along and shut the carriage door behind me, pulling a lever to crank down the window a tiny bit to let in some fresh air. With a little bit of air to come in, I took my seat at the leather seat facing the front of the carriage. Sonata is positioned sitting next to me on my left side and Bon Bon on my right.

Sunset and Daring Do were seated on the seat in front of us that would be facing the back of the carriage, just thinking over those last thoughts most likely. It's no doubt that Daring is probably writing down some ideas on how to portray this adventure into a new books of hers to sell throughout all of Equestria. Sunset on the other half, looks ready for what danger awaits inside Mortem. It's not like we are going directly through into it, but you know the details already so whatever.

The carriage began to slowly move at first as it is passing in through town. All of the best that we could do was wait patiently as Braeburn and that other stallion pulled the carriage. With the package of snacks on the floor, I unzip it and reach into the bag. I pull out a small bag with soft bites of licorice encased inside of the packaging. It's best to eat now while I can before arrival at the darkland's borders.

I thought for a moment there. There are black thorned gates there surrounded by many creatures, hostile immediately from what I remember if anypony came near. I think that is NOT where we woul be headed. All of us would be dead on the spot.

The carriage took a few minutes to ride ever so slowly out of town and then came the bumps that felt very light. I take a look right outside of the carriage's left window. We had now gone onto the wild plains outside of town, right on our way to the darklands, opposite of the badlands. Hell, even if I was headed to the Badlands, I wouldn't at all. I would just be waiting to call out Queen Chrysalis if I went there, and she wouldn't dare try to mess with the likes of me in the end.

My friends just sat there quietly on the leather seats, thinking to themselves quietly. Probably there was other personal stuff on their mind, but I'm not even going to bother asking them about it. If they want that private, I will keep it private for them. It's not any of my concern after all. I rip open the bag of soft licorice, taking a few soft chewables out and eating them, feeling the taste of strawberry sensation in my mouth.

Though it was rather bumpy outside of the carriage, all of us seemed rather both relaxed and somewhat ready for the next possible stop at the mountain trail, mostly dated unknowingly from where we are headed rather than the entrance. After all, one does not simply trot into Mortem... okay, that is getting old now. I got to stop pulling that door or I'm going to think both Mortem and that other place from another fantasy world are similar.

While I was busy eating my snack, I can feel everything start to slow down and eventually; I found myself by far entering another one of my flashbacks. But again I should have seen this coming in the first place.

"Brayden, you little douchebag!" I can hear Rebecca's frustrated, yet raging tone screaming directly at me when I didn't expect anything while heading down that hallway.

Sigh... it's another frustrating day with me dealing with my best friend who is angry at me yet again. This time it was over a video game most likely. My friend Alex was accompanying me and walking beside me, his backpack behind and the straps over his shoulder turning and looking at my best friend. By how she looked, there was no doubt he'll go all "Oooooooh!" when he saw a pissed off girl.

But in all due respect, I couldn't just suck it up. I felt so helpless and weak especially when my best friend was mad at me... but it was the worst I could find out that she was changing, but I hadn't told her that until the next month.

"You're in trouble now..." Alex tells me, sounding like he was just about to laugh his ass off on the raging girl approaching me at a rapid rate.

I sighed and silently glare at Alex in way that it wasn't going to help the situation any further. "Shut up Alex." I said to him, gritting my teeth as I did. He would ignore that as per usual, which I find common about it. He is another childhood friend of mine, and we've had a few fights before but we were bros and always would be until the end.

Rebecca shoves Alex away to my surprise and though surprisingly strong, she has me pinned right straight to one of the lockers among many in the row. Those wild, fierce eyes stare like daggers into my innocent eyes and I had grown afraid while I looked her in the eyes. I had that right to be afraid, because she reminded me very much of a dragon when you're trying to take its gold from them.

I wanted to speak first, but she threw quite a pack of words at me. "Brayden, I can't believe you! How dare you get that game and talk about it before I even got a chance to play it, making me feel left out! You have no idea how much big a fan I am from that game!"

"I'm just as big a fan as y-" I tried to get out more to say.

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!" She screeched at me once again. "The only truth is that only I will get it first and share it among myself!"

Alex opens up his stupid mouth. "Score one for girl games on that, so arrogant they can be." I can hear him on my right with him trying to hide a laugh.

"Screw off you jerk!" She tells him in that rather harsh way. This in turn, makes Alex leave the hallway, but all he did was bring in a teaher that always made the situation worse for me; because for one thing, I get blamed for something I didn't do when I was telling the whole truth this entire time.

The teacher, Ms. Franco comes in a few seconds later with Alex leading him back while me and Rebecca were exchanging the argument over the game. I can't really remember but I'm pretty sure it was something to do with a game we played online for the Xbox. The teacher shakes her head, looking really annoyed at seeing the both of us in this situation.

"What is going on with you two?!" Ms. Franco shouted at us with that angry tone in her strict voice. I had never seen her mad before as she has always been understanding of what I have been going through and has a bit of knowledge of my Autism, so she's always been easy on me if I had a hard time with schoolwork. "First off it seems like a sunny, beautiful and welcoming day; then Alex comes up and tells me there is a fight going on between you and your friend! Why are you two arguing?! Explain yourselves now!"

"I'll tell you what's going on Ms. Franco!" Rebecca releases me from her grip and is now just taking it all out on me to put as to blame with her finger-pointing bullcrap I had to tolerate since she was changing. She still has that furious voice while she shouts. "My friend Brayden here got a video game we both waited months to get... and he gets it first, talking about it on the net!"

"That is no reason why you should yell at him like that though." Ms. Franco said, her strict voice still being there but she doesn't sound as angry. "And lower the volume of your voice."

"Whatever." She spat out at the teacher.

Ms. Franco looked a little disappointed in that anger of hers. "Resistance will not be tolerated in school property." She warned her. "Another action like that will earn you a detention for the afternoon, and this is your only warning."

"Why don't you give Brayden detention?" She complains, pointing at me once again while her eyes were on the teacher. "He deserves it more than I do!"

"You had him pinned there first, so you started it there. You've pretty much just earned it right there with that proof right there before my eyes." Ms. Franco pointed, not going to let my best friend take the bull by the horns and sounding calmer."He didn't even hit you, which would have earned him a suspension, but it's more the opposite where you'll recieve one. I am very disappointed in you Rebecca. You are usually focused, but let's see that happen in detention."

Rebecca turned back to look at me, saying "You're an asshole."

"No..." I said to her, getting a bit brave but the first tear was streaking down my cheek. "You're saying that because you can't accept what I can't do. All you are now is a bitch."

Rebecca was in shock, but she would have said something in return. But my cut-off response to her was me starting to walk fast away from something she started with Alex on my trail behind me, trying to get me to come back, with Ms. Franco all the way calling for me to head right back and see her. But I'm not doing that with Rebecca close by after that little ridicious argument.

"Come back here Brayden!" Alex calls out to me. "Don't you become a pussy now!"

I was miserable that whole day while Alex and Rebecca's other friend Andrea who was also my friend was trying to cheer me up while Rebecca spent her lunch time in detention. As usual in the end, Rebecca would apologize and all would be better after that only for some time until another incident between us or something that happened to me came up.

"Brayden? Equestria to Brayden!"

I could hear that voice snap me out of my thoughts. I shake my head for a moment to get any other thoughts out of my head while I figured out that it was Sonata who had been calling my name to grab my attention. She doesn't look too concerned, but she probably noticed... wait, never mind I had been flashing back to bad moments. I don't want to tell anypony about them, as telling them only pours salt on the wound to make the sting last more.

Sonata giggles at me, seeing how I had a bit of the strawberry licorice bites left inside of the bag. I realized that I wasn't eating anything else during the flashback, so I can assume that my friends took a bit of the bites which I don't even mind. The carriage no longer moves and again, snapping into reality was when I wondered what happened during all those thoughts.

"You looked really dazed out during the trip Brayden," She said to me. An embarrassed small blush appeared on the both of my cheeks. "But it's no matter now, I didn't mean to embarrass you like that."

"Where are we?" I had asked, acknowledging the carriage being idle and there with my other friends looking right at me.

Sunset spoke out before anypony could. "We have arrived right by the mountainside, and as far as Braeburn will take us."

I turn my head to the carriage's right window and get up off the leather seat, taking a peek outside. I can see those grey mountains peeking up over the sky with only the soft sound of thunder in those clouds of red like there would be a volcano in there erupting endlessly. Most of the land looked very dead from there, but the trail was there to enlighten our way.

Mortem.

I place my hand onto the iron handle of the right side door, and push it open, making my way out and my bare feet touching the dead soil below. It just didn't feel quite right, but I'm not going to question that. I leave the carriage door open while I step forward, observing this view of Mortem itself from up close for the first time. This would be my friends' first time as well as they would be with me for the journey.

Sunset was the last to jump out of the carriage and close it shut behind her. I can hear Braeburn shout to us. "This is it, that is as far as I can take ya'll without me bein' scared to death!" He told us, and then speeds off with the empty carriage and the other stallion with me before any of us could even ask him another question. I guess that even the presence of the darklands made him feel uncomfortable, so it does explain a lot.

All of us were left at the terrain curving upwards into the mountains of grey. I can see a bit of black smoke rising from all parts of the borders, probably a tactic used by the creatures to scare off any unwary travellers that were not afraid to go in there. We were in complete silence when we saw the black and red smoke at the top rising out into the skies of Equestria.

"Bon Bon," I acknowledge after many seconds of silence from all of us. "Did you get the rest of the bags from out of the carriage?"

"Of course Brayden, they're behind me. Though they are heavy, so I will loosen the burden a bit by giving a few to Daring, Sonata and Sunset." I can hear her say behind, as I'm not taking my eyes off of the danger that awaits all of us.

I turn around and nod to my friends silently. "Alright, let's make a move on... there's no turning back now." I said to all of them, and proceeding to take the few steps forward onto the curving hill to connect onto the trail from.

I can hear their hooves right behind me, following. Just to make sure, I turn my head around for one or two seconds to see if all of them have not been left behind. To my relief, none of them are back where the carriage dropped us off. I can feel the dead, prickly grass underneath my feet, itching at the bottom of them like I had an itch myself. I don't pay attention to that though as the dirt from the trail close by eventually picks up, now touch rough, but yet still ground that crumble slowly from there.

We made the first turn up onto the right as the trail would be in the left and right turning directions to get to the top of the sides of the border. It shouldn't take too long to get to the pass among the tallest mountains of the border, but still it's best for us to take a light snack while on the way there. For me in regards, I have already eaten a light snack so I wasn't too hungry for any or all.

It seemed like an illusion at first while making our way up the trail, but it looked all too real when making our way up when I look to the skies of Equestria. It was like the sky itself the higher we went, formed its blue colour away and fading into a more darker color like the sky had been turning crimson red, like blood with the clouds above faint with only the bits of white streaks.

From beside me, my ears pick up a trace of hooves approaching. I turn my head and find Sunset Shimmer joined up beside me with the rest of the group still following. All of us are still silent as of those few minutes ago. Still, I don't seem to mind because Sunset is now a trusted friend to me and Twilight, after having helped out with the sirens' attempted attack. Plus with Princess Celestia forgiving her, everything would be better for her.

I finally spoke out without even thinking straight about what to say. "So I can assume after hearing that back in Canterlot, Princess Celestia has forgiven you for your past troubles?" That is all I had said before the conversation had already started.

"Yes," She says to me. "Even with my return to Equestria, I was still unsure about if she would forgive me or not. My fears would tell me she would still hold disappointment at me, but I know deep down she's not cruel to banish one of her subjects just like she did with her sister a thousand years ago."

"She is kind to heart, of course she wouldn't be that way. Unless she ended up asking you if you like bananas..." I responded to her, silently chuckling on the inside after having been reminded of that memory of stumbling onto the memes of Celestia being a troll. The only trolls that exist here in Equestria, I haven't seen but I'd have to read information from Twilight's library in her castle to find out more of their whereabouts.

"Bananas?" Sunset asked, sounding a little bit confused. "Around the time that I was her student, I do not ever recall the Princess ever asking me if I liked that fruit or not. Besides, bananas only exist on the borders of the Zebra Kingdom, and under their currency it's really expensive to get."

"Oh horsefeathers." I stated, sounding a little bit shocked. But hey, at least we have apples here in Equestria... unless that is the only fruit they grow here, wait never mind there are also cherries from Dodge Junction from what I remember. If there are any other fruit farms here that I don't know of, I'm yet to find out about those places. I dunno, pears come from Trottingham, and maybe oranges and tangerines come from Fillydelphia, the temperatures of Equestria are still confusing to me. Oh wait, there are crystal berries as well.

"Not to mention the travelling expenses to catch a cruise ship from Manehattan to get across the oceans there. It's pretty far, even the regular wings of a pegasus can tire them out half-way when they try getting there by their wings." Sunset explains to me, whilst we make another sharp turn on the path upwards.

"I believe Fluttershy ended up telling me that, once when she was showing me the map of Equestria and beyond it," I can already remember the memory of being at Minuette's dental office to have my cavities filled when she was with me, showing me the map for the first time that also by chance, introduced me to Mortem. "Mortem was also there, so I asked her about it and well, after all one does not simply trot into the darklands."

"We are though, as part of our mission in regard to the safety of Equestria's lands and the enchanted lands beyond it." Sunset says, claiming a bit of a fact I forgot we were doing for a moment.

"I don't know about any of you, but I could use a light snack and a drink." I can hear Daring Do from right behind me.

Bon Bon unzips the bag of snacks when I turned around to watch. Her hoof reaches into the bag, taking out two things at once. It was a bottle of fresh apple juice clean from Sweet Apple Acres stationed in Ponyville itself, plus from off the Friendship Express: a small package of flavored jelly beans whether they were raspberry, lime, lemon drop, watermelon, cherry or even the craziest like buttered popcorn, marshmallow and bubble gum. Bon Bon tosses them to Daring, with the adventurous pegasus catching them with her right wing.

Say, now that I think of that... the flavored jelly beans reminds me very much of those movies I have seen when I was back on Earth. Never mind, I'm sure they kind of have a ponified rip-off of those movies here in Equestria, so it's not a problem whatsoever.

We continue our journey up the trail to the top to the open pass, eventually reaching to the top of the short mountain, seeing the peek past into the border. The rocks themselves look dusted and yet, have the smell of ashes on them like this place had a bad case of volcanic activity. If that is the case, we all will have to be careful and have ourselves on watch in case of magma creeping anyway towards us.

We head into the pass, taking a look at all of our corners for the sake of our safety in case these creatures jump us by surprise. One of the cons in defense for the quest is while we're outside of Mortem's hidden fortress, Sunset is not allowed to even activate her magic at least once, I can understand that, but even then the Song of Order isn't with me. Now I believe what others told me, and know of the danger but this is something I wish I brought along just in case.

The grounds of the pass were filled with piles of bones, and sometimes skeletons that were sitll intact after those many years. Most of the clothing on them were now just only shreds as I could see. Some were torn with the brown fabric on them faded a bit. These skeletons I could see were those of adventurers having tried to get in or get out of Mortem upon their own danger. It saddens me to see that they were earth ponies, pegasi or unicorns coming in and very rarely was there the skeleton of a Griffin.

Nothing else could have been there in the dark pass we came through, as nothing else would be expected upon the dead. Had there been anypony's skeleton I knew among the many piles of the skeletal bodies, I would have gladly taken the bones with me to properly bury them. As of now, neither any of us would be able to do anything about them as we had a job to do and you can't save them all.

The exit for the pass were only a few minutes away, which would mark our arrival on the mountainside borders of the darklands itself. The trotting behind me with Sunset by my side, we make a turn past the tall rocks in the simple maze of a pass, and I froze right there after that turn to the exit. All of the others stop and I can hear the silent gasp of Sunset right beside for the sight of the darklands before us.

It was Mortem itself. The land had been encumbered with the dark presence of the death stench, a red mist spewing out from underneath it's rare yet dangerous rocks. Distant eruptions were heard inside as lava was pouring from small volcanic regions inside, swallowing anything that came crossing into the path.

The wind though from how high up we were... sounded just like we were in the midst of a hurricane on Earth, though none of us were flying off of the ground. It sounded terrifying though, like it was the sound of danger itself coming our way, but again the creatures were far off by the looks of when a bit of red smoke was lifting.

Far out in the darklands, I can see a giant tower in the centre of it all. I cannot describe what this looks like, but it looked rather thorned and like any other majestic building built over even the ancient of times, it looked like it would be falling apart, though this doesn't seem to be the case in regards. The creatures through the land though, I could now see from the shadows...

There were dragons, surfing the skies and clawing through each infinite cloud that forms lower in the skies. Many other dangerous creatures were there like enchanted skeletons and zombie ponies walking the lands, probably though who survived the pass but never lived long enough to pass the stench of death after an hour. But the serpents before us, were not like any other Equestrian dragon I've seen from the show, they felt like real dragons. Their roars are distant, but still feel very bone-chilling to any of us that heard it.

"So this is it..." I can hear Bon Bon behind me with the sound of hooves trotting for a few steps. "Mortem, the forbidden badlands. Now I can totally see why Princess Twilight never would have probably allowed you to go here."

"I know." I said to her almost silently. I just didn't know what to say when I turn around which is something I have not done yet. Mortem reminded me very much like we had gone through a gateway to oblivion itself, a hell from what everyone would picture that wasn't exactly like the Tartarus here, where all of the monsters are held for crimes they commit in Equestria.

To my right, I can see the mountain path of the borders in this isolated land in the middle of all Equestria. Though, it would still be covered by the swirl of red and black smoke, moving ahead would reveal more on the sides of the mountain and land below us, and an easier way to avoid the stench of the dead.

"Be cautious now, for not just creatures of evil lie here..." Sunset says, being careful herself as she doesn't want to channel any magic to her horn. "But more solely, a dark presence here is so ever watchful and it will not sleep, should it discover our disturbed presence here."

I nod in agreement, beginning my walk forward with the others behind me, following as I led them back on the path that shouldn't be strayed from by the look of far down below which can be quite a drop if you are not too careful as you don't want to slip by the look of the edges on the path's ends.

One dragon swoops up from the cliff and I stood there, feeling the quick beat of its powerful wings processing wind when it took to the blood red skies. Everypony else in the group was quick to duck and cover, but from what I saw... the dragon hasn't seen us and probably won't return to breath fire right at us to our own relief. Already we got inside and risk of death is right in front of us already, so it's just not easy.

My friends got up off of the ground, following me once again as we're scaling the exterior walls of the mountains, looking for our destination inside. While I am observing all of the lands to my left, more unfolded from the red and black smoke like the fires that blazed forever in that place that was truely a hell-like place but here in Equestria.

More rocky and obsidian-filled landscapes were also uncovered as we continue through on the mountainside path, on the lookout. No enemy has shown themselves on the path, but there are many rock obstacles by the walls to hide in should any of them my size come into play. But in regards to the dragons, they would know we were there so the risk is that we have to be careful not to get too close, not adding that close encounter with the dragon minutes ago.

"You all wait here," Daring says to us. I stopped moving and turn to look at her. "I will scout up ahead and look for anything that looks like the fortress Celestia is sending us to. If there is any trouble, run to me and I'll run with you."

"What if you are caught before us?" I asked her, showing concern for Daring Do's safety.

Daring Do smiles at me, saying only a few words. "Don't worry about me. I'm a fast thinker." Then she turns from me, trotting past us to look ahead.

We all stay there and wait patiently while she is waiting to come back from her search over there. The pass looks far ahead from here now from my point of view, though my friends most likely will share the same view from here just like me. All I can really do is just observe the view for the rest of Mortem from here.

Dragons roar from the distance whilst they fly high in the skies, the winds of the mountain still sounding like a hurricane on the loose, but yet are rather calm winds blowing onto our faces. A few of these dragons are circling around the black thorned tower, as if it was to defend the capital of the darklands. But with the other details that Fluttershy told me, it got me thinking about this Dragon Queen who wrote the black books in the first place.

Was the Dragon Queen the master that these dragons and creatures within these walls were waiting for upon their return? If so, what in the world would she even look like? I couldn't use my imagination to carve an image of her at that rate, but all I can assume really is that it would be like a dragon but three times in size with more powerful fire breathing that could probably burn away gold and diamond. But I cannot really assume what she'd look like until she returns which I hope she won't for the sake of Equestria. That's why me and my friends are looking for this book in the first place.

My ears catch a bit of a dragon's roar approaching close by, and I took the time to watch that dragon coming around while the others are tense and wary about being put in death's way. This dragon with bronze scales, flies over us and overhead, with the roar becoming louder. Usually when there is a dragon roaring, it could be in ways of communication. But hey, I played a lot of role-playing games, so it's not possible for me to understand what they are saying in dragon tongue. I'm not exactly the Dovahkiin you know.

It is best for any one of us to keep an eye out for more dragons coming our way as it seems that those who don't pay attention will probably end up becoming like those travellers, but I will make that sacrifice only if I have to.

I bent down and looked over the cliff-side, seeing what else could be down there among the beasts and undead in evil. Several clawed two-legged creatures walk around which I am once again reminded of these beasts from the Fallout games. What are they called again... Deathclaws? Oh wait, yeah they do except they look ten times more terrifying than I count ever recall the deathclaws in the Fallout games looking that scary. A few are drinking their source of lava from the pits below, unaware that me or my friends are right above them watching them and the rest of the land. I think I could see them scree, but more silently by the distance we were at.

After a bit of minutes have passed, we could hear the echoing sounds of hooves coming from our right during these observation of the clawed creatures. I got back up onto my two feet, taking a few steps away from the cliff side. The rest of my friends that joined more also back up as well. Daring Do was already coming from out of the mist when I turn my head around to see if it was really her and not an illusion.

I was in relief to see that she was alright. "By Celestia herself, I thought you would never come back Daring Do." I had told her, with a face of mine looking ever so glad.

"It's what I do for this role I've been given," She says to me. "I am safe, and I bring to you all some news when I scouted ahead to look."

"What did you find, Daring?" Sunset trots past me, raising a hoof like a hand in conversation on Earth where I used to live.

"I've taken a look when the cliff's path separated to which it looked like it had been broken off, to my disappointment," She began to explain everything that happened when separated from us for those few minutes to where she came back to tell her view of what she had seen. "I look down from the cliff though and I believe I have found a good thing to report to all of you as there was a structure below from the broken path. The path was just in way to be like that in the first place! This structure had an open hole gaping down what looks like a source of water to safely jump into. Shouldn't be too deep anyway."

"You found the fortress down below?" I asked, surprised by Daring's good eyes. "There could be only a strip of death's stench so when you all jump, I recommend holding your breath."

"Good idea. Then there is-" Daring Do tried to get out, but stopped upon seeing Bon Bon looking a bit panicked.

Bon Bon threw one hoof up as if pointing at something on approach, but I already knew what she meant by the time she shouted it. "DRAGON!"

The dragon with bronze scales with coming down towards us at an accelerating rate, screeching out at us. It was right directly towards my friend Sunset because of her horn perhaps, so I grab onto Sunset and we were just about lucky to have jumped out of the way. It's claws scratch the area she had been standing before taking off to circle around for another offensive attack on either me, her or any other of my friends.

I take a look at Sunset, helping her up off the ground as quickly as I can. Once she's back on her four hooves, I turn my head over to the rest of my friends, sounding very worried like death was coming for us. "We've been spotted! We need to get into the fortress now!" I commanded to them.

All of my friends start to follow where Daring Do last went. I start to pick up from my walking and now accelerating into sprint mode with Sunset galloping right beside me during the dragon's chase to kill either one of us or to be most preferred by this foul beast: all of us at once most likely.

"I didn't see this coming!" Sunset is shouting while I sprint forward with the group in front of us. "That dragon is the same one that passed over us, he must have seen us then was planning out its surprise attack!"

While I am speaking in return, I can heard exhaling and inhaling deeply. "I surely did not see it coming either! These dragons seem more smarter than the wild dragons we know that travel Equestria!" I had shouted to her in return.

The dragon nearly swoops at us again, but misses and flies off forward before making another circle. That's when I took a good look at its belly. It was starting to glow very orange... and I knew what this would mean for us if we don't escape on time. The dragon would unleash its hellfire upon all of us to kill. I begin sprinting faster, minus how I am starting to get a bit of cramps from the running process.

Close by, the broken path was there and I watch my friends jumping one by one into the square hole as I could see whilst peeking to ensure they got in safely. I turn my head to the dragon, almost completing its cycle to unleash its weapon at us. After Daring Do, Sunset had dived in after and I left unaware of them there because of my focus on the dragon.

The beast completed its cycle and now was aimed towards me, ready to kill me. It sucks big time that I don't have the Song of Order with me for this, but again I am left defenseless. I turn to see my friends have already gone in. I can hear it about to release the fire and flames, but I sprint and jump down towards the open hole.

I can hear the dragon roaring with the flames rising past the cliffside I jumped off, but I then see myself going through a square hole in the passage to the hidden fortress. I can feel myself falling downward and into darkness. I look up for a few split moments, and I see no flames crawling towards me.

During my fall, I could see myself getting those brief flashbacks once again. This time, they were of me falling off of the cliff after having both of my hands shot at by the terrible biker clan leader, Khaln. It looked like I would be falling forever, and I felt myself falling infinitely towards the lake as the last moments I have ever had on Earth before I was saved. But again, the water was coming and I knew what was happening in reality.

KERSPLASH! I have landed in safe calm waters. I am holding my breath under the water when I open my eyes and look up. I struggle under the waters to pull myself up from sinking to the cavern water's floor. I slowly accelerate upward as I struggle not to unleash my breath and run out of the oxygen I need. I can see Sunset swimming upward as well from a distance.

I break through past the liquid's surface and I starting in and out to catch my breath after all that had just happened moments back. I can hear some hooves grabbing onto me. I can hear Sunset behind me, gasping for air as Bon Bon reached out to give her a hoof. Sonata has a hold of me and eventually lets go of my hand when I am out of water. In those silent moments, I can only hear the sound of my breathing and everypony else's breathing while I lie down on the fortress' stone brick floor connected to the cavern waters in the same room.

"Are you alright Brayden?" Sonata had asked me, still panting a bit. "You didn't come down just immediately."

"Yeah," I said, my breath panting just like everypony else was. "I wasn't sure if the dragon was going to unleash the flames at me just yet. But I jumped down... and here I am..."

"You worried all of us, almost putting yourself in death's grasp like that," Bon Bon says, shaking the rest of the water off of her after having jumped on in through the hole and into the waters of the fortress. "Next time we're on an adventure like this, we're making sure you go ahead first before us."

My panting was slowly stopping when I spoke up. "And risk any of you getting killed? That's not happening on my watch, as I let you all go because I'm protecting all of you."

"He's right," Sunset said, shaking the water off of her coat and out of her mane in the process. "Twilight talked to me about him when I returned to Equestria. He'll never put us in harm's way and would do anything to make sure that nopony hurts us."

"I know that too well," Bon Bon returned. Then realization struck her. "Oh wait, I Agent Sweetie Drops know that."

Sunset channels magic to her horn, bringing light into the room from her own horn. It'll have to do for now to get through the fortress now that we are in its interior. Light emits onto the walls, and in stone that is where we could see pictures of events that have happened in the ancient times of Equestria and before it began.

I get up slowly off of the ground, walking forward and taking a look at all of the images on the left side wall, carven with stone figures painted in a black tone to represent and display the events more easily. Dragons were there among them, circling around a fire in the earliest of times to the oncoming attacks from other species as strong as them. A few dragons breath fire at them, and the other species attacking these lizards look very... pony like. Prehistoric times before Equus came to be?

"Interesting..." I can hear Daring Do comment as she observes the wall of pictures. "These could not have been created by any other, but more solely to preserve a history inside here away from Equestria's eyes. I don't think this is even dated, but all I can predict really is the beginning of all things, way before any of us or our bloodlines came to be."

On the right wall, they continued the story showing such events like the rule of what seem to look like wise old dragonlords to watch over the land with all of their strength and might, protecting those below from their paradise. I'm unclear as to where ponies go when they kick the bucket, but I can assume its the heavens really. Many other images are there detailing their legacy over time, showing that this was probably Mortem many ages ago before the land ended up dead. There seems to be more, but they are cut off, leaving the rest uncertain.

"Let us not get too distracted," I can hear Sunset tell us. I can hear her hooves trotting and my attention is brought to her when she is trotting towards the stone doorarch. "The book could be anywhere in this place."

I follow right behind her as I switch my role over to her for the time-being as I don't have any magical essences inside me. The only time I've ever been able to use them is when I have the Song of Order in my possession. Out from that room, there is a flight of steps to head downward under the ground. The fortress walls are brown on the inside for the hallway color and it was a relief to see something different than dull grey.

Everypony else was right behind me, following behind Sunset when we are making our way down the steps of darkness. From the walls, I can see a bit of plant life growing such as the moss you normally see in forests by rivers or even the roots of old trees that look as old as any other Equestria tree that I might have seen, so just like the rainbow apple trees Granny Smith told me about, these were one of the more rare, but forgotten by the dusts of time placed over the fortress. Though to argue, I'd be lucky if I see a Rainbow Apple seed in here, that... I will give to Granny Smith herself when I get back to Ponyville. But you never know really.

Down the tunnel what seems like endless stairs, I can see a bit of light at the bottom and I knew that we might have found something to keep lit. All of us are probably doing our best not to lose our footing because if everything goes dark, all of us would trip and it seriously would be a bad start downward from there. We all got to be careful when it comes to stairs... but seriously with these many stairs, King Sombra himself would be proud.

Yes, I know... the dark unicorn himself himself was blasted apart. But where he could be... probably he's obsessing over stairs and crystals as per usual as I only recall him saying a few other lines that weren't crystals or any of that stuff.

The light became clear to all of us by the time we were close to the bottom. Light emitted onto the last of the stairs, and Sunset channels off her magic, taking out the spell she had been using for the time in darkness, though I know we can use it again afterwards. After stepping onto the straight path to the other room, I take a look about to observe the area before us.

This environment before us... it's very much like a cavern itself. Water driplets would be falling from the ceiling pacted with rocks and possibly iron to stabilize it. The path began to feel like rocks once again, having that smooth feeling upon them. We are on one side of the abyss that led straight into the darkness before us should we fall, showing the other part of the fortress across from it. All seems dark over there, but luckily we have Sunset to lit up the fortress halls just barely.

We continue on our way to the left far side of the connecting cave, looking about for a bridge to cross over the darkness and forward to the fortress' dark passages. There were two small pillars there broken off as of what used to be the stairs supposedly, but it isn't accessible for any of us to jump from. None of us would make it, but again Daring Do has wings on her. I don't think she would enjoy the idea of having to carry us over one by one.

"Now what do we do?" Bon Bon said, proving a point to any of us. "There is no way to cross over the abyss." All of us excluding Daring wish we all had wings, and as much as I want some myself... I am not even sure it is possible for me to achieve such stuff by my own genes inside of me.

Daring flaps her wings, observing about the middle of the abyss to the wall below for any clues. "I'll take a look." She had told us, while searching.

All of us were waiting patiently, but my ears finally picked up a bit of a frequency in the darkness below. But again, it sounds very flowing like there could be a source of water down there. By all means, this would only be an escape route for us should something happen after we get a hold of the book, just in case.

"I can see nothing that would lead us to believe that we can repair or even let alone find the bridge," Daring said to us, flying back to us and landing on all four hooves. Her wings have closed up. "There is nothing there along the walls into the shadows, but it would be a good chance for any of us to get some rest here while we can. Once we're rested, we can figure out more."

Sonata who still held onto the bags, places one down and reaching into them. She takes out a few sleeping bags that were presumingly from Pinkie just in case of a sleeping bag emergency. To my own surprise, there was even one that could fit me in human size. The air itself wasn't too cold and surprisingly due to the temperatures Mortem had, this place had a warm temperature so I didn't complain.

"I'll keep an eye out for danger," Sunset said to me while I was getting my sleeping bag from Sonata. "I'll also keep study on the abyss, because... well, when I used to be Princess Celestia's student, I studied hard and well long before... yeah, she's forgiven me though so that does not matter. You never know what I could find though in the clues hidden deeper than I thought..."

"Alright, wake us if you found something." I said to her.

She nodded to me, understanding what she had to do now. She takes a seat by the rocks close to the abyss, observing the broken bridge by its ripped off stone bodies that connect. No pathway was there, really.

I turn away from my friend and place my head right onto the pillow, feeling only a bit tired and wet, but slipping into the sleeping bag... it feels like it could warm up the part of my body that were trying to dry up from after landing in cavern water back there. After all, it's crazy having escape a fire-breathing dragon bound for our blood on us.

I take my time in my sheets to get comfortable, and after struggling to get some shut-eye, I did eventually close my eyes to get some sleep with the sound of the caverns and a few of my friends' snores growing faint and then eventually going gone, bringing me into a state of deep well-earned sleep.

"AHA!"

That voice of sudden surprise definitely stirred me awake from a good peaceful slumber, and I slowly opened my eyes, with the bags under my eyes as an effect of awakening. My head rose up from the pillow behind me and take a look to see what happened all so fast since I had gone to sleep.

Sunset was still sitting there, but a smile is upon her face. A book is in front of her as she was writing down some stuff which from where I was, I couldn't really see what was in that empty book she had upon those stones. I stir from under the sleeping bag, sliding my body out of it as slow as I could. I don't want to startle Sunset if she is busy writing down something.

I got up onto my two feet and walk over to her, slowly and trying not to accidentally wake up any of my other friends sound asleep on the floor of stone and iron. Putting one foot over Bon Bon's sleeping bag and the other after that, I make my quiet steps forward towards the amber coated unicorn, still unaware that I was right behind her. But yet again, I do not really need to give her too much of a surprise.

Sunset turns her head around and sees me there in silence, by the light of the cavern walls and the glowstones on our side of the cave, lit up for a mood-like setting, though still a bit dim in the process. She smiles at me, that face of hers looking glad to see I am awake presumingly. "It is well to see you are awake, my friend." She told me, turning her head back to the book in front of her after those few moments.

"I heard you make a sound as if you had solved the meaning of life," I told to her. "Did something happen?"

She nods her head at me while her eyes are still focused on the red-covered book's writings, scribbled into their with rough wording. "Well, I believe I know a way how to get across this abyss. I don't have a spell for us to get any wings of any kind... but through this book stored in from the Canterlot library, it has very little information about Mortem," She was beginning to explain to me, sounding a bit like Twilight. "In this book in handy, this riddle has finally revealed itself to me after only a few hours had passed. The solution was hidden itself by the name of Mortem inside. It turns out that certain letters in the name are correspond to the power of how it can be used with Equestrian magic, plus the aligned accordance of dark geometry accompanied with it..."

"We could walk over invisible steps..." I said to her in the silence, my words echoing off of the silent cavern walls.

"Exactly," She said to me. "If I use my magic, I could connect it with the dark geometry and make the path visible enough for all of us to get across the silent abyss."

I take one step back. "Can you cast a spell upon it?" I had asked her.

She nods her head and her horn channels up with magic. That aura on her horn lit up the wood where the ropes would hold the bridge together, and I can hear the magic powering up on all four of them. The two close to us, and the other two on the other side. The auras created lines swirling down the wood and then across the darkness, creating straight lines and connecting to the others close by us.

The magic itself was forming a bridge of some kind, and this probably would be temporary so the best to do would be to wake up the rest of my friends while she was working out the rest of the bridge. I turn away from the sight and turn to the closest pony, Daring Do. Placing my hoof upon her shoulder as she slept, I gently shook her to stir her awake.

"Daring Do, get up." I said to her, my volume at a rate of not being too loud.

She lets out a weak groan, opening her eyes and looking right at me. "Can't you see I was in the middle of a good dream?" She said, sounding a little bit annoyed that I might have interrupted her sleep. Probably just a dream of her on adventures and facing her nemesis Ahuizotl in a lone rocky fortress.

"Sunset has found a way across the abyss," I told her, turning my head for a second to the finishing bridge. "Wake the others as this bridge probably won't last long by the standing magic."

Daring snapped awake with a yawn, slipping herself out of her sleeping bag, getting back up on all four hooves. While she is waking Bon Bon and Sonata, I made my way back to Sunset, joining her once again, just finished the last parts of the dark geometry to use for the bridge's holding, in ways that it would stay there for all of them to cross. But again, Daring Do's got wings so she could fly across and wait for us.

"The bridge is secure, now we just have to cross it," Sunset says, putting the book she had been using away. "The magic is temporary so it is best to cross right away while we can."

"That's what I thinking, Sunset. You are one smart unicorn." I thought to myself with a smile emerging upon my mouth.

Sonata and Bon Bon had woken up and they still looked a bit tired from all of that sleep they had been going through. But nevertheless, I had to explain to them about the timing this bridge was having and that we needed to cross it immediately. They reluctantly understood the entire thing at what both me and Sunset were coming at. We were ready just about... immediately surprisingly.

Sunset was the first to start crossing over the invisible steps lit and covered by her magic in accordance. I came next afterwards, following right behind her with Bon Bon behind me and behind her, Sonata. I kept on telling myself not to look down while I cross. I almost end up doing so in the middle of the bridge at one point, for my own curiosity over my fear... but I never ended up doing it and that I shouldn't be afraid. I'm pretty sure that Bon Bon being an Earth Pony herself was trying to keep herself calm as well in the vertigo I know that we both possibly had at this very moment.

By the time I felt the smooth stone tiles beneath my bare feet, I was already off of the bridge. With Sunset standing there at the very gates into the other side of the dark fortress halls. Sonata and Bon Bon were off after I had stepped off and we were all in relief. Daring Do on the other hoof, though I have hands... flew over to join up with us.

We were all ready for what awaits us in there...

Taking our first steps into the dark fortress halls and already having turned left into the silencing howl, Sunset's horn channels light from there, allowing us to see what is coming up down the abandoned hallways. There were more of those stone walls telling stories, and many rooms with open arched doors unveiling mountains of shining golden bits, ingots and even all of the sorts among various gems like sapphire, ruby and emerald. It would be any other treasure hunter's dream come true, but that is not what we are here for.

"By the name of Celestia herself," I can hear Sonata behind me, sounding surprised yet amazed but how much treasure was in this massive hall. She trots past me, gathering a few bits from a pile and holding onto them and then letting them fall back into the pile. "This here is a stash among anypony, whoever hid this here was keeping it sealed off for a reason after all."

"This treasure must have been smelted by the greatest of the dragons here in Mortem," Sunset says to her. "They must have kept it hidden from the rest of Equestria, as I know the normal Equestrian dragon is also very greedy and especially territorial when it comes to these kinds of things."

I can hear my own breathing and theirs in the silence, echoing off of the stone bricks of the fortress interior. Any word we spoke would echo lightly, but not too heavily at the same exact time. But again, we were now beyond the outside of Mortem's death world, so it would be best to continue on and not question this further.

Daring Do placed a hoof upon her chin, examining the room full of treasures filled with a grab of desire. "This is... this must be the treasure room." She said, her eyes studying and covering a bit to avoid a light's glare to her own eyes.

I took a look at the walls, seeing the carved detail once again about this hall we all were peeking into. Few carvings were of dancing dragons by the stoked fire in the room which suggested to me that the hall was once for celebration, but as more of the images appeared before my eyes, I could see the events of what used to be before being filled up with gold. The most obscured were of dragons detailed to be eating one of their kind, but more solely ripping them apart, and then the top featuring what looks like a dragon guarding the hall safely while the circle of six dragons were standing there in ceremonial position with a figure in the center...

That figure though... it looks very human to me... wait... what? No...

This image before me, was that of possibly the first dragon-blood human placed into the history of these darklands and it all came to me that this might be the Dragon Queen that Princess Luna was telling me from whom the black books were written by. That hall behind us filled with treasure was her royal birth-place, celebrated among non-Equestrian dragons for that dragon on the left getting torn apart had a symbol of Twilight's cutie mark there to prove of its Equestrian blood.

I finally knew what this wicked stone hall was, and I turn my head around facing the rest of my friends. I struggle in finding those words to come out when taking a few steps forward, my friends looking rather a little curious, yet concerned as to why I look rather shocked by this realization. "This, my friends is no ordinary treasure hall... this is the hall of dread where the Dragon Queen herself had to have been born here."

"You can't be serious," I can hear Daring Do say to me. I turn my head to look at her while she spoke. "Not once would this look like anything relating to the Dragon Queen herself. It feels more like this is a treasure hall."

I shook my head in a disagreement. "The walls of cavern stone had made its prophecies and this is one of those places that harbored the birth of the evil queen," I began to explain to them in a tone of disbelief. "I do not know too much on history and the tomes involved with them, but I can believe that this was way before Equestria was even formed, even far back from that as we could possibly know... it's confusing really."

"If it is, it probably doesn't have any hostile things in that hall to worry about, wouldn't it?" Sonata asked me, raising her hoof in an innocent question.

"I gathered only a bit of information about the hall of dread in here for what Twilight last told me. There is a sleeping Guardian sent in here and sealed up to protect the treasure it guards, probably unaware of what is happening even today in the outside. We cannot risk stirring it awake... as to do so would mean certain death for any or all of us in an instant." I was explaining to them.

I turn my head to look past the riches of bits and gems lying there upon heaps of themselves. "From what I've seen on these walls, I can suspect that this Guardian is like a dragon, but probably more stronger," I continued with the rest of my friends listening to me. "But I think I can figure something out from here... if we move quietly and see if the book rests in that hall, we snatch it quickly and leave quietly without anything in here taking notice."

"I must agree with you for that is a good plan, and there is no time left to waste on staying here, we need to move at once." I can hear Sunset say to the group.

All of them nodded in understanding, putting a smile upon my own face to see that they'll be brave for me and for the sake of Equestria. I turn towards the mountains of gold and other worths, stepping quietly onto the gold bits and beginning to climb up onto the huge mount of it.

Everypony behind me is following, but making sure that their hooves don't make as much noise as into stirring the dragon awake. Any loud noises like the loud dinging of the bits thrown to the solid stone ground is enough to catch the Guardian's attention. Even shouting would awaken it into its own fury, it's breath coming at us like a furnace straight out of oblivion itself.

I turn around, helping both Sonata and Sunset up onto the mount of treasures, and turn around taking a look around the giant round hall before us.

The whole room had been covered with bits and treasure, shining brightly yet weakly but Sunset's own magic being channeled to her horn. It's not enough to make us blind, but if it was the sun... it's a different story. Had the power of Celestia's sun been in here, all of us would end up not seeing anything anymore. Not a single sight of the Guardian was anywhere in the vicinity of this hall.

I take a few steps, trying to get myself a good glimpse of the first floor below the second where we were located. Light not illuminated from Sunset's horn could be shining in the main centre of the hall, covering an item in there probably. Nevertheless, there should be a way down from there.

I found myself start to slip down onto my back, letting the golden bit slide down with me which had caught me a bit off-guard. I can hear gasps as they saw me sliding down towards the edge. I take a hold onto the railing above within hands and arms reach, grabbing it and not moving at all while the golden bits were flowing down towards the first floor, making soft dings with the others while down there. I believe that even some gems made it down there as well, carved to look very elegant and somewhat divine.

My friends make their way down to get to me while I'm trying my best not to lose my grip and fall down, and I'm sure even then if I fall... the impact would be enough to awaken the Guardian and become hostile to us as the intruders of the fortress immediately should any loud noise be made by the rest of us all.

My hand feels like it would slip off from the railing at first, but I can feel a hoof touch my hand and grab onto my right hand, not hanging downward like my left. I know... I am right-handed, but it's not too big of a deal for me. I am being lifted back up by Daring, her hoof on mine and past under the railing... but I manage to get back up onto my feet, safe and sound. Now, a reminder to myself to ensure that I keep a close eye on my footing in situations like these.

I had turned my head to Daring Do and give a nod, to have her make sure that I was okay after all of that. A smile emerged upon her face, and I turn to look at everypony else. Their faces were relieved to see that I was okay.

My eyes take notice of stairs on the eastern end of the second floor, close to where we began. I tread carefully across the golden bits, making absolute sure that I do not slip. I can hear the bits fiddling a bit by the sound of my friends' hooves following right behind me on my trail, afraid to lose me on the way. They shouldn't worry though, as I am close enough to them.

My bare feet would transition from feeling the bits underneath, to just feeling that rough uncarven stone bricks, still having not been finished by the architects that had made this fortress. The walls consisted of the same thing, and they look rather lifeless and dull from where they stand, showing no images of dragons or deadly creatures upon them, but nevertheless we were pressing on.

That somewhat foul smell in the air though... it almost was resembling the scent of a dragon that I would always picture myself...

Almost at the bottom of the steps, I could hear Daring Do trot forward a little bit, stopping me where I was. She must have detected something. From out of her hat, she takes a small bag of golden bits and tosses it to the bottom of the stairs with a soft cling as it hit the bricks at the end of the stairs.

CLICK!

Two iron rusted balls with sharpened spike on each part of them, swung down from the ceiling, revealing the trap most deadly to any intruder who would dare stumble here for whatever's in this fortress for the treasure here and on the first floor of the hall of dread... uh, the name's giving me the shivers.

We continued down to the end of the steps, me picking up the small bag of bits on the rest of the way down from there. My feet make contact with the first floor of the hall and the shining light in the center of it all to my left. A path without bits or gems are before us in the dark, lit by the magic of Sunset's light spell.

I rose a hand, giving the signal to have my friends wait there while I investigated what could be in the light.

Nopony had dared to take any treasure as the dragons were sure to behave just like the wild dragons of Equestria. They would be in fury to see that even a few bits were missing from their stash. I thought that Bon Bon was taking a few at first for herself, but whatever dragon's been sleeping in the hall might have already poisoned the bits as anypony could be corrupt with greed just like history can go back on Earth.

I began taking the steps forward towards the bright light in the room, the rest stay behind unaware of what awaits in the middle of it all. The closer my steps took me towards the light, the more I could see something in there before my own eyes... it turns out to look like a pedestal made of obsidian and stone compiled together which would seem impossible as I know obsidian is one of the hardest to mine, but here it seems to dragons... it is possible after all.

The shape of the object on top of the pedestal is hidden by the light's shadows, but I thought I recognized the detail put into it... those old papers compiled together under a cover all dusted by the years passing before us. By the time that I had stepped into the light completely, I had already realized what this could be when my gasp was silent...

The Dragon Queen's ninth, and final black book...

"Great Celestia herself..." I could hear Daring Do behind me as I can hear their hooves approaching close to the light but not going anywhere in it like I was this very moment. "The ninth last book... there upon that pedestal?"

There was a bit of a delay leaving all of us in silence until Sunset spoke up. "Yes... that- that is the black book. I should think that it would be..."

"Then what are you waiting for Brayden?" I could hear Sonata say to me, she sounded a little afraid for that moment. "Just take it, and let us leave this horrible place at once."

I take out the small bag of bits, deciding to pull the same trick that one of my favorite heroes back on Earth had done in the movies, checking and ensuring that there would be no trap awaiting myself or all of us.

With that moment passed, I used the soft leather bag of bits wrapped to push the black book over to the edge, allowing my left hand to take it and my right hand letting go of the bag, leaving it on the pedestal while my eyes are perched onto the cover of the black, dusty book before all of us.

"This dangerous, yet important book for Princess Luna to study... it's now in my hands..." I said to myself in a whisper. I won't dare try to open to a page as the words of evil would blind me. I turn and make my way out of the light, back to my friends. I gave the book to Bon Bon and she stores it into the bag enclosed for the book. She places it in and seals it up for now until we got back to Canterlot. "Let us go back home... this seemed almost a little too easy..."

Sunset's face turned a little bit scared which had caught my attention. She seems to be looking past me with those eyes, as if something was there after having come out of the light. I turn around, but I did not expect something like this to happen so quickly.

Uncovering itself under the stacks and small mounts of gold and jewels... I could see the figure before us awakening from its slumber, barring rows of large teeth that could bite anypony's frontal lobe off, or the entire pony body if it could by the gaping maw of the mouth. The wings spread open a bit, taking the gold upon it off of them after hiding in there for years of sleep I suppose. The scales themselves were of the mixed color of platinum and gold, and those beastly reptile eyes stare at all of us.

It was the Guardian itself right before our own eyes.

"Removing the book from its pedestal must have awoken the Guardian!" I said to my friends, my voice now a bit loud having seen this dragon before us being able to be noted as we are its food, and the beast would kill us for sport perhaps.

The Guardian turns its head with those hungry eyes still piercing right at us, with a taste of our blood awaiting him. The head curls back from the body for a few moments and then back straight into our faces, unleashing a grand and mighty roar coming from it in our faces. The volume was too much and I was forced to cover my ears to prevent my ears from being damaged by the power it took to unleash a roar like that. I can sense that my friends are doing the same as well, but with their front hooves.

I didn't understand the roar at all, but from my prediction he was probably saying something threatening. "You dare steal that black book of the pedestal! You must all die!" That is all I assume he could have said.

The roar echoes throughout the hall of dread and into the cold, dark hallways, until it had eventually faded. But I knew it was a bit too much for us to stay... and that it was necessary ot leave, immediately before any of us were killed. "We must leave, now!" I can hear Daring Do yell at us.

She began to gallop away with the rest of my friends galloping. I follow right behind them, my legs sprinting once again to avoid certain death. I can hear the teeth snap from behind me as I knew that I would be the first in its eyes to kill. I must have been lucky that time, the next time I won't be so lucky... and it's one of those things that I should have had the Song of Order with me.

"Hooves coming out of the ground and walls!" I could hear Bon Bon shout when I turn from the Guardian's sight and onto the steps of the stairs on flight to the second floor of the round hall of cursed dread.

A bunch of hooves had burst out from the walls and even some parts of the ground, trying to grab at us. I figured that those were the undead ponies having slept until awakened by the command of the Guardian's roar. Moans would be heard through the cracks they emerged from and those dead eyes staring right through us and clawing their way out to pursue.

I could hear Sunset scream for that moment. In that panic of worry, I turn my head and to my own sight, I could see that one of the hooves had taken ahold of her. I stop sprinting for that moment letting the others gallop ahead, going back to free her. I take my right leg, kicking at the front hoof of this undead having taken her by its grasp, freeing her from that.

"Thanks Brayden!" Sunset says, sounding a bit relieved. We don't waste another second for an undead hoof to take a hold of her again or me. I sent her ahead of me as she gallops and I follow behind, maintaining at the same speed.

The Guardian itself wasn't going to give up on us yet. We had left the flight of stairs, becoming face to face with us again. But I knew by the enflaring of its belly... it was ready to breath fire at us.

Sunset gets behind me, pushing me down for my own safety. The golden bits below are like that cushion for now with Sunset having jump-pushed... so she is on top of me as in protecting me from the flames. I made sure when the Guardian unleashed its hellfire, I pull her off and down to the side, ensuring that I keep her safe.

The flames ended, and I got right back up and Sunset following behind me again to catch up with everypony else who had gone up ahead while I was helping her out. I jump forward a bit and slide through the golden bits and jewels, allowing Sunset to slide under the mounts without having to climb down.

The sound of moans caught our attention on our right while the Guardian in its own fury is roaring away from its failure to kill us all. There were undead at the end of the hall to our right, revealing the hunger to devour any of us or to at least infect us with a single bite of their own teeth, now poisoned after being infected by the stench of death outside of the fortress.

Speaking of the stench though, I can see that red smoke that was the stench seeping in with the rest of the zombie pack. No way we're going to try and join with them or even take in one breath of that stench. I could hear Sunset galloping to my left, catching my attention once again. I make haste, running after her and trying to stay away from those blood-hungry dead that were once ponies of the living.

Twists and turns through the fortress' labyrinth made from what we remember, and I could hear the groaning of the dead behind us as we joined up with the others at the abyss past the entrance we came in through. All of them stood there, not knowing what to do and how to cross back to the other side for safety.

We were trapped between the darkness below and the dead behind us with an angered Guardian of the fortress probably wanting us dead by the forces of darkness.

"What do we do now?!" I can hear Bon Bon say to us, her head turned to watch for the undead from behind. "There's no way out of this! And even if we do cross, we would drown in the cavern waters to try and even find a way out!"

Sunset observed the undead coming out of the shadows at the end of the fortress hallway, now close to feeding on us. She turns her head back to look at the broken bridge, then us after those few split-seconds. "The undead would already kill us by the time I solve the black geometry puzzle again, so there is only one thing to do. We must jump into the abyss."

"Are you crazy Sunset?!" Sonata says, a bit panicked. "We'll be dead if any of us jump down there!"

"Trust me on this! Everything is going to be okay!" I hear Sunset shout again, with that honest in her voice. "I promise!"

With no other time for me to think, I witnessed Sunset just jumping right off of the cliff side and into the darkness with a small distant splash heard below. None of us knew how far the drop would be, but eventually before I could say anything. All of them had made the drop with Daring Do flying right behind them into the dark.

I turn my head and see the undead having slipped out of the fortress halls and reaching for me. I turn my head and I don't think I made a single shout when I leapt into the abyss.

As I fall, I look up and can see the undead standing there immobile until the area turned black itself. I couldn't see a single thing as I descended down, but only the air for the speed I was going was all I could feel while airbourne. It felt like this would go on forever a drop but at the same time I couldn't expect anything.

Reverse driplets of clear cavern waters fly upward past me while I am going down. This is clearly strange sight, though I try to reach out and grab a driplet. The driplet I got ahold of got evaporated quickly into nothing and I am left to find out what could be waiting at the bottom for me while left in the silence.

More driplets in reverse flew up and very few had touched my hands or any other part of me, getting me a bit wet. But by the splash I heard below, I can assume I'll already be wet by the time I saw that reflection of brief light close by below me. And I could tell from there that would be the end of the long fall from darkness.

My body made impact with the flowing waters, still left in darkness. I still had my eyes open, but it doesn't even make a single difference as all I could see was black and only the sounds of the underwater rushing while trying to rise to the surface.

I end up rising and gasping for a breath of air. I swim alongside the current so fast and my breath for oxygen doesn't last that long there on the surface. Why, you could be asking? A rock must have hit my head from the ceiling and I find myself sinking back under the water again.

Memories were flowing into my head once again of the time that I seemed to have died back on Earth with the rushing of the lake water bashing me against those sharp rocks, piercing into me and bleeding me out while the water had filled my lungs. But those quick flashbacks couldn't keep afraid that I would die here in these caverns... but again, it would be a better death than joining the undead forces left behind there from attacking me or my friends.

Here I am, struggling to control my swimming while being twisted and turned by the water and not being sure where the surface would break in these caverns. If I had magic, I would be able to light up the path and see where I am going. My head is hit again by one of the rocks and I go swirling again.

I find myself to be running a bit low on oxygen and I don't know if I can hold my breath anymore for the endurance of it. I can see a white light coming right up, but I still cannot control my swimming until I get a little more closer.

Another rock hit me again in the head, and I stay still there, letting the tide and current flow of the underwater river pull me towards the white light. I still am unaware if this is bringing me to safety or not. Even then, I am alone as my friends are already probably out of this water should be lead to the outdoors again.

My body hit the white light's surface and everything turns to white at first. My eyes close though and in the fading sound, I could hear a distorted voice screaming out my name what seemed to be both fear and worry mixed together. I open my eyes one more time, still seeiing the white light showing the river's blue surface, veiling the sky, though the sunlight of Celestia was seen... at least for those moments.

Then everything turned... to black.