As I sat there in the Mindscape, something… shifted. I couldn’t tell what it was quite yet, but I knew something was off.
Then the Mindscape faded. Like I was no longer connected to the land of Equestria.
Opening my eyes I looked around and noted the thick fog surrounding me and immediately stood, reaching up and touching the hilt of the Sword of Aeons with my fingertips.
I took a cautious step forward and as soon as my foot came down, the low-lying fog cleared, revealing damp grass beneath my feet.
Taking another step, the surrounding fog pushed back a little.
The more steps I took, the more the fog pushed back, revealing more of my empty surroundings.
Soon, the fog reached a radius of roughly three metres and revealed a sign.
The sign was most reminiscent to that of a town sign, but it was more gussied up then most I remember. As I walked closer to the sign the words came into view, but even then they were still faded.
The words said thus: Welcome to Silent Hill.
I frowned at the name.
‘So familiar, but not at the same time’

As I glared at the offending words, I almost missed the town coming into view behind it.
“It’s not everyday we get visitors here...,” a voice said behind me.
Without turning, I answered, “I don’t imagine it’s the easiest place to find,” my unnaturally deep voice resonating around us.
“Oh,” he said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t say it’s that hard. We get people all the time, except they’re not visitors. Name’s Howard Blackwood, mailman. You?”

“Jack,” I answered, not wanting to give any more than absolutely necessary to the inhabitants of this… realm.
He stared and hummed in thought. “You remind me a lot of that Pendleton boy, always silent, only giving his name…” He looked up with old, tired eyes. “Always running from something.”

“Tell me, old man,” I asked, “Where exactly are we, beyond the obvious?”

“I can’t go saying that, otherwise that’ll spoil the events to come.” He said with what I assumed to be a smile. I finally turned to confront the old man, but he was not there any-longer.
With a chuckle, I thought aloud, “Chesty would find this place agreeable, I’m sure,” and headed closer to the town itself.
The town was what you would find in a normal, suburban town, which only made it seem all the more unorthodox. Trees growing from sidewalk gardens, main streets stretched down ways, but something about the little town seemed… off, even by my standards. Every house was boarded up, the restaurants were closed and the metal gates were welded shut, and on top of that, not a single soul could be found.
The more I moved through the town, the more tense I grew, along with the general feeling of wrongness.
I pulled the Sword of Aeons from its place and continued, keeping an eye and ear out for anything that changed.
The feeling wasn’t just seeming either, it was the air, slowly growing thicker, heavier almost.
I knew I didn’t belong, but it seemed as if my very presence was a subject of a sort of hatred from the nature of the area itself.
As the feelings grew stronger, so did my grip on my weapon.
It wasn’t out of fear though.
Having come from the Void itself, there was little to nothing, in any world, that scared me.
No, my grip grew tighter, from the feeling of company. Unwelcome company.
A piercing screech filled the air as I turned around at the sound. Some...thing was lying on the ground, twitching violently, like it had been struck. Not naive enough to approach, I thrust my unarmed hand in its general direction, sending a translucent, glowing blade to strike it.
A small roar came from the beast as it picked itself up off the ground and began rushing towards me.
Unmoving from where I stood, I swung my blade, releasing an arc of energy that bisected the abomination. A small spurt of its blood got onto my robes before I heard a distinct hissing sound. Looking down at the blood spurt, my eyes narrowed in annoyance.
Its blood was acid. Pure acid that burned through most anything and everything, stopping only when it reached the armour beneath, forged within the Void itself. The creature was by far one of the most bizarre things I’ve seen in since before Albion’s beginning. I could only guess what its purpose was…

Moving over to the being, I thrust my blade into it, letting the power of the Void reach, and ultimately, destroy, it. I wasn’t entirely certain at the time, but as I channeled the power, it almost seemed as if the tiniest details, such as the bark on the trees, of the world grew hazy for less than half a second. As I began walking away from the beast, a soothing, aetherial voice called to me.
“Lost one, so small and frail, what are you doing in my domain?”

“Frail?” I asked, looking around in a brief attempt to find the speaker, stopping soon after as I realised it was not from a physical being. “I am almost insulted you would make such a… bold, accusation.”

“Oh, please, take it not insultingly, but rather befitting… considering where you are…”

“It would help if I knew where I was to begin with, above ‘Beyond the Void’.”

“Why, Silent Hill of course. Have you not heard of disappearances in the fog? Or strange sightings of inhuman like creatures?”

“I’ve made inhuman creatures, and brought balverines, trolls and Hollow-Men to the realm where I reside. Disappearances in the fog are not beyond explanation.”

“Ah, that may be true, but have you not considered the fact of...hmmm… What’s this now?” I felt something brush past me. “A weapon… A weapon of Madness… The Vorpal Blade… The Great Knife… and The Sword of Aeons… Draks, the circle of Draks is almost complete…”

“‘Weapon of Madness’? That is what you call it?”

“It’s what all the Gods call them. Only a select few are allowed to even so much as peek at one… Father! Come here at once!” The air suddenly shifted more drastically than before.
As the voice faded, there came a grating sound. One of something metal and heavy being dragged lazily.
Looking into the fog I saw nothing and soon turned rapidly, checking all directions.
The sound stopped too suddenly, and I turned once more to find ‘Father’ standing in front of me.
Looking at… him, I suppose, I wasn’t intimidated. he had an impressive helmet, but was generally lanky compared to some other beings I had seen.
But I didn’t let my guard lower.
I watched, waiting for him to make the first move. He looked down at me, then my weapon, and pointed at himself. I was… confused by the action to say the least. A warped chuckle echoed through the town and he pointed his blade at me. He held up his hand and signaled at me.
In response, I channeled Will into my body, enough to create a clear, red aura that curled like flames, before sinking slightly into a slightly more aggressive stance.
I could tell, despite his appearance, he was not one to take lightly. The metal head came rushing forward, still dragging the blade on the ground before lifting it over his head and smashing down where I stood mere moments ago as I used my Will to shift behind him. I heard him groan in confusion before shifting his grip and swinging horizontally, only to have his blade stopped by my own.
His blade, on closer inspection, was chipped and somewhat jagged. It looked like it had seen better days if the stains were anything to go by.
‘By the gods, he’s strong,’ I thought as our locked blades reached a stalemate.
He suddenly reached out grabbing my robes and tossed me to the side. I landed on my feet, but I saw him once again charge at me.
Gathering my Will, I thrust my open hand forward, sending an orb of energy towards him, only for him to block it with his blade.
The attack made him stumble, but ultimately did not achieve the purpose the spell was for.
“I think you arrogant that something like that could harm me, let alone touch me,” He said with a warped voice. The blade he carried was something I haven’t seen before, and looked similar to that of an old KABAR knife, just supersized. What I’m trying to figure out is how he can lift it with ease… It has to be more than brute strength alone…

“You assume it was directly harmful to begin with?” I asked, letting Will cause my voice to amplify and echo from all around.
“Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups,” I said, before I used the same technique I did earlier and shifted where I was, only instead of appearing behind him, I appeared directly in front and slammed my blade into his again, further throwing his guard, before holding the flat of my blade parallel to the ground and thrusting forward. His hand shot out of its idle position and a bright red light emanated from it. He drew some kind of circle with it and pulled out a spear, probably 15 feet long.
“Arrogant and insolent. My, you have much to learn…”

As he swept me away with his pole-arm, sparks flew as it made contact with my armour. Rolling on the ground I stood quickly and channeled will to levitate so my boots were roughly level to where I believed his eyes would be beneath his helmet. Thrusting his spear at me, he let the shaft slide through his hand, increasing its reach enough to catch me in the chest, sending me further away.
Steadying myself, I landed again.
“One does not live as long as I and not grow accustomed to dominance in battle,” I said calmly. “I imagine you are not unfamiliar with this state of mind?”

“Aye. I am well aware of the power struggle for one to get the upper hand against another. Are you also aware of the eventual outcome of two equal powers?”

“Should an unstoppable force meet an immovable object, the force simply passes through and the object loses mass, but neither’s status of power changes.” If he could, he gave me all the signs of a blank look. “No you idiot, we both die. Should a force equal to another force clash together, said forces cancel each other out, and if two people with the same strength and power clash together, pfft! GONE! DEAD! You don’t exist, I don’t exist!”

As he finished his monologue, I broke into a low chuckle, building into a full laugh, before abruptly stopping to shout, “FOOL! I am more than just another being of power! I will be reborn, should this body fail, and when the time comes, it shall be recreated! I am Jack of Blades! Second of the Court, slayer of gods and demons, alike, and Master of the Void!”

As the last echo of my own monologue died out he started again. “And I am Pyramid Head, Fear given form, and Terror incarnate! I am the bane of sinners, the master pain, those who would be punished COWER at my mention alone! I am wielder of not one, but FOUR weapons of madness, and I! AM! THE KING OF SILENT HILL!”

At that, we rushed each other, him attempting an overhead swing, and myself going for a rising thrust.
As we made contact, the entire area surrounding us blurred and his blade slid down the gap running through mine.
When the hilts met, there was a… pulse, that resonated beyond either of us could comprehend, before we were blasted away from each other, and both losing our hold on our weapons.

The Crawler moved, as there were no specific motions applicable to it’s locomotion, towards the other god in the room. “What is the meaning of this Alessa?! I made it quite clear I wanted NO outside influences or interference!”

Alessa only lied on her bed, watching as their blades interlocked. “Crawler, look at this. Did they just--”

To say the Crawler’s eyes widened at the sight would be inaccurate, but he did express his thoughts as he made an effort to keep her from avoiding his question. “While that could not possibly bode anything but ill toward us, I want to know why you deliberately ignored me in my desire to keep MY selected away from the other Wielders.”

Alessa had heard him. She was prepared to give him a lecture, but what just happened in front of her… It just couldn’t bring her argument forth. “...No that’s not possible. No. It’s just not.”

The Crawler barely glanced down at the image, before answering her unspoken question. “Did it not occur to you that there may have been a reason why I specifically told YOU not to interfere?” Gesturing with an appendage, it continued, “They’re much too alike to be placed into a hostile scenario without… incidents.”

Alessa continued to stare as a hot blush formed on her face. “Gyaaa! THEIR SWORDS ARE PERVERTS!”

“That makes no sense.”

“Crawler, I have a question for you. The Madness weapons have… a sort of spirit in them, and it is defined by the way the sword is shaped. So, what would you say the gender of the spirit in Jack’s sword is?”

“The Blades of Madness’ spirits are both and neither, simultaneously. They have spirits, yes, but were crafted as entrapments to them at the same time. The shape is merely coincidental to your perception.”

“Well… take into consideration that the spirits could be either or. Well, in this case Pyramid Head’s sword is the male in the relationship…”

The Crawler looked for a moment before turning to her and sighing. “Any perversion you see there is of your own devising. The Sword of Aeons you see there is not the original forged by the Queen of Blades. It is… more… stronger… The words fail me.”

“They pulsed Crawler. The Great Knife and The Sword of Aeons… pulsed.”

“You forget that Jack channels power from the Void itself. When it’s energy met the… terror energy of Silent Hill, they acted in a manner--”

“Stop denying the truth Crawler… The blades have… coupled…”

“You are truly perverted, Alessa. The blades have no minds. Just get Jack out of there, before he causes Silent Hill to collapse into itself,” the Crawler said before leaving.
“...Okay...but my argument still stands…”

As my vision cleared, I slowly grew aware of my surroundings.
I was still in Silent Hill, but something was different.
Pushing myself to my hands and knees, there was a clatter beneath me and I realised what it was.
I wasn’t Jack anymore.
I was, but I wasn’t.
I had lost my own identity long ago, so all that remained was Jack, but now that was... separate.
Getting my feet beneath me, I picked up the mask, fully acknowledging that it was all I had left to call an identity.
Looking up from the mask, I saw another person. A normal man wearing a t-shirt, blue jeans, and had a big, scruffy beard. He put on his glasses and looked at me.
“Jack?”

As he said it, I looked at my hands and realised, unlike him, I was still dressed as Jack, but with the hood up, my face was hidden.
“No,” I answered, holding the mask so he could see it’s face. “This is Jack. I’m… ”

I stopped as I didn’t know how to actually continue that sentence, before letting out a woeful chuckle.
“I don’t even remember who I was. I guess I’m nobody.”

“Nah, everyone always knows their name, you just gotta find it. Here, do this. Close your eyes, and count to ten. If you can’t remember by the time you get to ten, try again.”

Looking down I did as he suggested, only to be met with disappointment. I tried another four times, and with nothing to show for it, I looked back up at him and said, “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I have nothing left. Nothing besides Jack.”

He hummed in thought and placed a hand on my head. The ring on his finger glowed a soothing red before he stepped away. “Okay, now try.”

I did, and was yet again met with no results. I shook my head.
“I became Jack, and lost who I was. That’s all there is.”

His ring glowed in a pattern, and he looked down at it. “Oh? Is that what it is? Damn it.”

I looked up, my frown hidden. “Since I can’t give my name, can I at least know yours?”

“Scott Visk, at yer service.” He said with an over pronounced bow. “...And this is The Butcher, the Bogeyman, and Pyramid Head!” He said as he pointed behind him-- Oh shit when did they get there?!
Behind him stood the one I faced in its literal form and what appeared to be… variants.
I opened my mouth to speak and ask questions, but was cut off as a whistling permeated the air and steadily grew louder.
We both reached the same conclusion at the same time and looked up as our weapons plummeted towards us. As I jumped out of the way, Pyramid Head on his side quickly ran up and caught the blade mid air before it hit him. The Butcher and the Bogeyman both gave a thumbs up.
I was surprised, when ‘my’ weapon stopped before it hit the ground and simply hovered, mere inches from my face.
“Hey… what happened when the weapons got locked together anyway?” Visk asked as he rode on Pyramid Head’s shoulder.
I looked at him, grabbing my blade as I did, and asked, “You mean you don’t know?”

“Well… No I don’t. To be honest, I felt the blade… Shiver?” He looked down at Pyramid Head. “Is that the right word?” Pyramid Head only shrugged, as did the other two.
I smirked and looked at the mask I was still holding. “A mystery we will take to our graves then,” before reaching up and placing it on my face again.
As the energies within the mask returned to me, I said, “I had best be leaving. I think I’ve meddled in your affairs long enough,” before turning to leave only to stop after about five paces and turning back.
“I don’t suppose you can show me the way to go home?
He stared at me for some time thinking. “Hmm, Let’s try… this.” he said before snapping his fingers, creating a warp hole. He peeked his head and immediately brought it back. “NOPE, NOT THAT ONE!” He tried again, and stuck his head inside and looked around. “You’re the one who the Changelings worship right?”

I quickly nodded.
“Then this one is yours! And before you ask what was in the other one… Just don’t. I’ll give you this though: Titanic. Spiders.”

My eye twitched behind my mask, and headed through the portal, muttering, “Spiders. Always spiders. Never giant centipedes or any other insect. Always bloody spiders.”

The moment I fully cleared the portal, my body shifted And I felt myself returning to the Mindscape.
Snapping out of my meditative position, I thought, ‘That was a unique experience.’

Author's Notes:

This chapter was a crossover with SCP Pinkamena's LoHAV fic, A Thousand Tortured Souls Scream My Name.
I won't be supplying links right now.
It's five am and I need sleep.