Off course
Chapter 19: Chapter 16: Going Back
Previous Chapter Next ChapterIt didn't take long as I super charged the warp drive with my magic. The estimated time was supposed to be a few days but I shaved it down to an hour. When we finally came to the end I got up to the controls and watched as we finally exited from the slipspace, only to get whipped forward into the desk. I gave a groan as I pushed myself back up and rubbed my head, Damn I have to get used to that. I thought.
"Hey Evo, that the planet we came from?" Bones asked as I recovered.
"Yes, yes it is." I answered as I looked out the windows at the large green and blue sphere before looking to Rage. "Where do you want us to land?" I asked.
"Why don't we simply take the ODST's way down I'm sure it will make Luna jelly," Rage said with a smirk.
"Well you guys and Elisa can do that I need to make sure the ship gets there okay. AI's can only do so much sometimes." I said.
"Hey I take offense to that." Delma said.
"Any ideas on where she is?" Rage asked which I turned to another screen and scanned the ship, and the other heat signature was coming from the left hanger bay.
"Hmmm if my scans are correct then she is in the left hanger bay. No idea why she's there though." I said, but mumbled the last part, as I scratched my chin. I stared at the screen for a second more before turning around and looking at the two walking away.
"Alright then. C'mon Bones and please try not to piss her off then you already have," Rage said as he walked away and Bone followed while rolling his eyes. I rolled my eyes as well as I turned around and started the process for the drop pods.
"Delma lets get those pods ready for them, you know how to do it?" I asked.
"You bet Boss!" she said as she hopped, causing me to sigh. I really need to fix her clothe module. I thought.
POV Elisa
After I was threatened by Bones I teleported to my room and cried as I punched the wall to my room. The only problem was that every dent I seemed to put in the wall would be fixed a moment later. Now I usually don't cry at all, but what Bones did seemed to have stirred something in me that I haven't felt in a long time, fear. It felt the same as when you learn something new all over again because you forgot it, but it will eventually come back to you and you will know what it was. It also seemed to have rose a few memories that I had suppressed awhile ago, ones of my sister and family. I still wonder if they know where I went to, but I knew my sister would try and come after me; she always does. But with that fear came sorrow, longing to see my family once more and say that I was alright and that I was doing fine.
I stopped crying and went and looked around my room for my old violin that I had bought a thousand and some years ago. I found it in one of the compartments in the closet and headed to one of the hangers. When I got there I looked out in the warp before summoning a violin. What most people don't know is that before coming to Equestria I was very talented in the musical arts. I could play a violin, piano, guitar, cello, harmonica, and trumpet. I don't really have time to practice anymore, what with all the idiots trying to kill me. Anyways I brought the violin up to my neck, closed my eyes and got ready to play a song that would convey the way I felt. When I finished I opened my eyes and looked out the hanger and saw that we had reached Ash's world, and I looked at it as I heard foot falls enter the room.
"That was beautiful Elisa. Since when do you play violin?" Rage asked.
When I heard the sound of Rages voice I turned around and faced him, as well as Bones. I let my arms fall limp to my sides, still clutching the violin. "It's something I usually don't let people know, but I've known how to for the last thousand years or so." I said as I looked out the hanger at the planet below us. "It's been a while since I've seen Equis full of life."
"Well we're certainly glad to have you back," Rage said.
"You certainly have talent with that," Bones said as he gestured to my violin. I was so confused as the statement after statement was given to me, but I soon collected myself.
"Hey you should play for the others once we're on the ground I'm sure they'll love it we haven't a violin play since...," Rage began before he stopped and looked at the ground with a saddened expression. I understood the expression that Rage had, one to see someone you care about back and well. But I know for a fact that can't happen, I've tried. And because of that attempt I had the run in with Death and got true powers of death and not the ones from Bleach.
"Hey can someone please explain to me how we're getting down to the planet Rage mentioned something about ODST's," Bones said trying to break the ice.
"Who Evo he's on the bridge," Bones said.
"Why is he still there?" I paused as a thought came to me. "I guess he has to park the ship. Oh well," she said as she shrugged. "follow me I'll show you to the drop area." I then walked past Bones and Rage began to follow while Bones stayed in place for a bit.
"Hey don't leave me in the dark what's an ODST?!" Bones shouted as he caught up with us.
"It's an acronym for Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, ODST for short." I said as we continued walking.
"Kay but that doesn't explain how we're getting to the surface," Bones said as he folded his arms.
"Oh you'll find out." I said with a mischievous smirk on my face. After saying that the three of us walked to our destination in silence and the only thing that could be heard was the sound of our foot falls on the metal floor. When we finally arrived we entered another highly technological room with panels and computers on one side and drop pods on the other. I gave the room a one glance and walked over to the pods with the two behind me.
"So what now?" I asked as I looked around the room.
"You get in the pods." I heard Evan say on the intercoms, and after he said that three pod doors opened up. I watched as the two guys walked over to the pods and sat down in them, and I heard a hum as they were brought online.
"Now what?" Bones asked.
"You strap yourself in and get prepared. Elisa has seen the game and gone over the protocols for this, so listen to her and you'll make it out intact." Evo said.
"Please follow my orders. The last person who didn't got himself killed because he didn't follow orders." I said as I went and got into her pod. "Now it's time to gitty up." I said as the doors started to close with a hiss. Suddenly the door to my pod moved backwards and spun around and I saw we were hanging over nothing with the planet down below us and before me I saw both Rage and Bones face's appear on a screen.
"Hey Bones you nervous?" Rage asked with a grin.
"Not sure what I should be nervous about since I'm still confused," Bones said.
"You still haven't figured it out Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Bones surly you can figure that out now," Rage said. Bones looked around and judging on the look on his face he managed to figure it out before he looked at us.
"Dropping from orbit above a planet...Well certainly one way down I'll say that," Bones said calmly. I started to look around and change the settings for my pod to give me manual control and give me control over the other pods should anything go wrong.
"You're freaking out on the inside aren't you?" I said
"Not really if anything I'm curious as to see what happens if I fall from this height," Bones said calmly, again.
"If you say so buttercup. Now use use the sticks at the end of your armrest to angle you pod once I give the order." she said as she looked into me before looking to Rage. "Rage, since this is your area I need you to tell me where to go."
"Alright our destination is in what many call the undiscovered west. It's past the forest and on a beautiful plain of grassland, close to the ocean. Not much in the way of construction but if my guess is correct, we may have plenty of turbulence so watch it," Rage said.
"Okay, that's nice to know. Evo you hear that?" I asked.
"Yes I did. Moving the ship over the area as we speak."Evan said before being quite for about a minute later. "We're in position, you're free to go at anytime." he said before the communication line was disconnected.
"Alright boys. You ready?" I asked as I was ready to go, and excited to go as well.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Bones said.
"How'd it go again...Oh yeah we are green and really mean," Rage said.
"Yea, we are. Now lets go." I said before we were launched towards the planet below. I watched as we got closer and closer to the planet, and I felt a slight turbulence as we started to passed through the stratosphere and into several layers of clouds before finally going through the last layer of clouds where I felt another bought of turbulence, this one fairly stronger than the last. I managed to get it back under control as I saw the giant castle of Ash's home. I turned on the com link and spoke over it.
"You guys alright?" I asked.
"Yeah that was a mistake," Rage said while covering his mouth in an attempt to not be sick.
"I'm good. Bones?" Rage asked as he looked to his left a little, meaning he was looking at Bones's screen.
"Same," Bones said.
"Good. We should be at the castle in about a minute, and hold on tight before we hit the ground." I warned them.
"Got me I just hope we reach the ground soon...ugh this was a bad idea," Rage said.
"Well I can't figure out what's causing it. Bones are you alright?" I asked as I looked at the screen that had Bones on it, only to see him unconscious.
"Hey Bones now's not the the time for a nap," Rage said as he looked at Bones's screen as well, but he remained out cold. "Damn what now?" he said as he looked to me.
"I'll have to try and take control of the flaps of the pod. If not we just go get him where ever he lands." I said as I started to work on getting control of his pod. I was only able to control the flaps for a second but I managed to aim him to the castle. I tried to use my magic as well but for some reason it wouldn't work, so I gave that up and just went with it."Shit! I wasn't enough but he should land somewhere in the castle gardens. Let's make this easier and aim there as well."
"Alright" Rage said, and then all that was left was to brace for the landing. Because it's going to be a bitch. I watched as we sped to the ground and almost at the last second I flipped the thrusters on all the pods to point to the ground and go full blast. It slowed us down some, but when we hit the ground I went straight down and into my seat even more than I was. I shook my head to get rid of the dizziness and to gain my senses. I noticed that my attire wasn't good for the situation we were in, so I snapped my fingers and I was wearing what I had on when I attacked the Zebras. When I noticed my surroundings I saw that everything was destroyed and the glass was intact but had cracks everywhere, so it was hard to see out of.
I reared my right leg back to my chest and pressed my back into the seat, and watching where my wings were I kicked the pod door with all my might. The result was it flying off where it was and in bedding itself in the wall next to a set of large wooden doors. I slowly climbed out of the pod just as the door on Rages pod opened up and I watched as he crawled out on his stomach. He looked like he would throw up at any second. Just as he stopped crawling, I heard the large set of doors behind me open up. I looked over my right shoulder and saw the main six, Celestia, Luna, and surprisingly Nightmare Moon running over to us.
I ignored them and held my hand out for Rage and he grabbed it and I hoisted him up onto his feet before leaning him against his pod. A few seconds later the door on Bones's pod flow and hit the ground a few feet from the pod. I watched as he climbed out of the thing and looked at all of us before got to his feet... paws? Anyways he got up and leaned on the pod for support.
"Well that was fun we gonna do that again?" he asked and I looked at him as if he was crazy; because usually people who go through shit like that, don't want to do it again.
"The buck happened to you Bones?" Rainbow asked as she seemed to gesture to his messed up body.
"And what happened to the clothes I slaved over?" I heard Rarity say. I walked over to Rage's pod and sat down on the ground and conjured a box of cigarettes before getting one out and lighting it.
"Some really bad shit happened and I nearly died." I said as I took a drag from the thing before continuing. "If it wasn't for Bones here I may have died. Again." I finished as I let out a large puff of smoke.
"It's quite a surprise to see you here Elisa," Celestia said causing me to huff at her in frustration.
"Somepony care to fill me in?" Nightmare asked.
"And how come you all got to come down in O.D.S.T. pods?" Luna asked with a jealous pouty look which I found adorable.
"Elisa here is an old acquaintance of ours from a three years ago and also the pods were my idea but not a very good one also when do you smoke?" Rage asked as he gestured to the cigarette.
"Eh I think since a hundred and three years ago. Don't tell Faust I do this, she'd kick my ass for it." I said.
"You know those are gonna kill ya right," Bones said.
"Well now that is out of the way why you here Elisa?" Celestia asked.
"I'm here to help Rage and Bones with a pest problem. But I didn't come alone." I said.
"Is Evo here as well?" Twilight asked.
"Yea he is. Who do you think is piloting that frigate?" I asked as I pointed to the aforementioned frigate that looming a few miles away from the city.
"Strange I feel like I've seen that ship before but where." Celestia said as she lifts a finger to her chin.
"Same here." Twilight said.
"Well I don't know where you'd think you would have seen it before. It's not even from my universe." I said as I took another drag.
"Also you lot should know yourselves from Elisa's world are on board after a little 'mishap' with the zebra's," Rage said with air quotes.
"Oh gosh are they okay?" Fluttershy asked while she hid behind her mane.
"Little? That's a damn understatement." I said with a huff. Those damn bastards are, and pardon my french, fucking assholes. Actually they could be described as nothing more than
"Regardless the king won't be causing anymore problems," Bones said as he flicked a picture at me. The picture showed the bastard of a king in the throne room impaled by various weapons. To me he looked like a pin cushion, and I could see the words 'Stay Away' written in blood below him.
"Whoa and I thought I was brutal," Rage said looking at photo.
"Also snagged these for you as well. It was how he survived your attack." Bones said as he reached into one of his pockets and pulled out the rings and tossed them to me letting them hit the ground with a clatter. I got up and grabbed them and held them in my hand.
"Finally!" I said as I absorbed the magic from within the rings. Now you may not know this but the magic in them, is actually mine. I had made these rings long ago to allow non-unicorn individuals the ability to utilize the magic around them. But it was never fully passed by Celestia and Luna because they said that there would be severe consequences for this. I understood why they didn't allow me to make more and give it to the populace of the world as it would allow everyone the ability to use magic, which meant if criminals got the hands, claws, paws, or talons on them would mean big trouble. I guess they were right seeing how that asshat got a hold of them, though I'm surprised it took that long because I had those locked away in a temple a thousand and seventy-two years ago.
I finished taking in the magic from the rings and gave a sigh, "Ahh that feels good to have that back."
"I'm not going to even bother asking," Bones said.
"Hey Elisa what's up with your eye was it always like that?" Rainbow asked, causing me to look over at her.
"No. It wasn't." I said slight glare.
"Easy Elisa, she doesn't know," Rage said.
"Know what?" Twilight asked.
*sigh* "You all remember the amulet Ash snagged from that Lich?" Rage asked causing most to nod. "Well it's kinda found a new home," Rage said while gesturing to me and my eye.
"And the fucker doesn't know when to shut up either." I said as I sat back down criss-cross and looked at everyone as I rubbed the left side of my head and had my left eye closed.
"I'm sorry to hear that. If you need anything please don't hesitate to ask." Celestia said.
"Indeed now let us fix your attire Bones." Rarity said.
"No need. Where I'm headed now will most likely mess it up again." Bones said.
"Your leaving already, what about training?" Rainbow asked
"I'm afraid it's going to be canceled for today, because this is important." he said.
"What is it and where are you heading?" Nightmare asked.
"I just remembered where I left my Death Weapon and as for where it is, it's in the most dark and twisted place imaginable. The inferno itself." Bones said causing a few to stare at him in shock.
"The inferno, as in the prison of the damned?" Luna asked.
"Yep," Bones said as he snapped his fingers and suddenly the ground opened up. I could see a massive hole in the ground and I felt a rush of hot air flowed upward, along with the smell of sulfur.
"I may not have a say in this but I highly suggest before any of you say that you want to come along, don't. Hell is too dangerous for you guys." Elisa said as she pointed to the main six.
"Too dangerous my flank," Rainbow said.
"Don't give me that crap I saw how spooked you six were and we weren't even in the first circle," Bones said. 'They've been in hell before?!' I yelled in my mind. I have to say they surprise me a lot, but that will change when we enter and the killing starts.
"Oh yeah I say bring it on," Rainbow said.
Bones gave a sigh before he spoke. "Fine not like I could stop you lot anyway but keep in mind you do as I say without question and what you see down there is on your heads got it?" he asked, receiving nods from everyone. 'God damn it. I didn't want them to come along.' I thought in defeat. I watched as Bones walked over to the hole before jumping in, and this was followed by the main six as well. I gave a sigh as I got up and walked over to the hole and looked in. I couldn't even see the bottom so I guess it was extremely long.
I looked over to the others and shot to fingers to them, "Allons-y." I said as I took a step forward and fell into the hole. As I fell I seemed to have caught up to the others and I just positioned myself to where I looked like I was reclining. Eventually we seemed to have exited the hole, and I looked around and saw a vast landscape of fire, ash, and dried up magma. I continued to fall until I fell into a burning pit.
I gave a groan as I woke up and took in my surroundings. I saw that we were on a cliff that overlooked a dark and dirty river, while thousands of souls fell like comets in random places. I saw that Bones noticed us waking up, so I got up and dusted myself off. "Welcome to hell." he said as I walked over to him and looked over the valley below.
"To be honest I thought there'd be more fire." I said as I snapped my fingers, causing my wings to disappear.
"Oh there's fire alright but we're still not even in the first circle we have to take Charon's boat to get there." Bones said as he pointed. I followed where he was pointing to and saw a large wooden craft, the size of an ocean liner, sitting beside the shore and on the bow of the ship was a wooden figure of a man with a bright orb in his grasp to light the way.
"Bones what's happening to you?" Applejack asked. I watched as Bones's form changed from his duster, shirt, and pants to a full set of armor with a war torn cloak. I saw shadows come from the gaps and wrap around him before going into the hood of the cloak, making it impossible to see his face.
"You look badass man." I said as I looked him up and down and she rubbed my chin. I was being honest because I really did like the look of his armor, and wished I had a set. But to be honest, I'm not one for that stuff because I prefer agility and speed over strength and armor.
"It's what I really look like the wolf you all normally see is nothing but a disguise so don't terrify others but that didn't turn out so well did it." he said with a sigh, "Let's not waste time Charon will be leaving soon." With that we walked down a twisting path into the valley before arriving at the ship where there was thousands of souls boarding.
"THROUGH ME THE WAY TO THE CITY OF WOE THROUGH ME THE WAY TO EVERLASTING PAIN NOW SHALL I FERRY YOU INTO THE FIRE THE COLD AND THE EVERLASTING DARKNESS ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE!" Charon said in a massive voice causing Fluttershy to squeak and hide behind Bones in fright and was shaking like a leaf.
"Jeez if you're this scared why even bother coming. Besides he's not going to hurt you." Bones said before he led the us over to Charon's ship when a couple of silver coins appeared in his hand.
"What are the coins for Bones?" Luna asked.
"Payment for passage across the river Archeron the dead get a free ride these days but since we are not dead we must pay one drakul for each life," Bones said as he led us inside and dropped the coins in a statue, which was holding a bowl by the entrance.
"How long should this ride be?" I asked.
"If we're lucky not to long," I said as I led the group onto the deck and stood in the row between to groups of souls.
"I can see their sins each one that earned a place here," Rage said as he scanned over the crowd of the miserable looking souls. I watched the group and saw that Celestia had reached out and placed a hand on one of the souls, before her eye's turned white. I was about to grab her but Bones grabbed her first and pulled her away from the soul, causing her to try and shake off the dizziness. I then heard a deep groan come from the bow of the ship.
"YOU WHO ARE LIVING BEGONE FROM THOSE WHO ARE TO BE DAMNED!" Charon said in his thundering voice as he looked at us over his shoulder.
"Forgive us Charon we merely wish for passage into the inferno," I said as I let go of Celestia.
"SO THE HAND OF THE REAPER RETURNS...TO WHAT DOES A SOUL LIKE YOU SEEK IN THE FIRES THIS TIME!?" Charon asked.'God just put some sugar on top and give it to him.' I thought with a internal huff. I mean it's just say his title and not him. I mean I'm not jealous, it's just I don't like
"My reason's are my own all that must concern you is you guiding your ship through this gloom old one," I said causing Charon to turn his sights back on the water.
"So, what do we do while we wait to get to our destination? I hope I can take a nap." I asked, but nearly lost my footing as the ship lurched forward before coming to a halt.
"Ain't no rest for the wicked," Bones said right before he led us off of Charon. I really should have seen that coming you know? I mean we are in a place that is considered the afterlife. Anyways I'm getting off topic.
"Damn." I said as I rubbed my right eye.
"You okay?" Rage asked.
"Yea, just tired." I answered.
"Well when this trip is going to leave you dead tired before we even reach the halfway mark," Bones said as we got off Charon. He led us over to what appeared to be a massive stone and iron gate, before we walked through and into a strange and foggy forest. The forest in question had an ominous look and the branches looked like arms that reached out for anyone that comes by.
"Where are we?" Celestia asked.
"This is the first circle of the inferno Limbo here are those that did not sin yet did not have the required faith this is the realm where virtues pagans and unbaptized babes reside I suggest none of you stray far also touch nothing," he said.
"Babies?" Rage asked in shock.
"If it comforts you they do not suffer and are freed from this place much sooner then any soul here. Probably spend a day here or a week at the most before they are returned to the world above. Contractors may be cruel once a deal is made, but they still have some heart in them just not a lot." Bones explained as we continued to walk. I didn't respond because I didn't have anything to say about the topic, and I really didn't like talking about young ones dying. One with that much of a future, just squashed out. It saddens me honestly.
We continued our journey into a forest, which was eerie and as silent as a grave. The trek was long and I couldn't help but get the feeling we we're being watched. I mean I'm really paranoid, and it's to the point that I plan for things that will never happen. Anyways I then heard what sounded like crying, however I tried to not pay too much attention to it. I saw Fluttershy walking towards what looked like a human baby lying on the ground, and I remembered Bones telling us not to touch anything. She was about to touch the child causing Bones to run over to her but before he reached her, she had already placed a hand on the child causing it to spin around and scream at her. The baby had a pair of scythe blades for arms. It was about the most ugliest thing I had seen in my life, and I've seen some messed up shit too. Fluttershy screamed in shock as the thing leapt at her, but Bones pushed her to the side and took the blade. It entered his chest and he looked at it before he grabbed the creature and tossed it into the forest. I withdrew my pistols and looked around, and in the distance I could hear more screams. Then I saw them. An entire horde of the scythe babies. After that he grabbed Fluttershy and pushed her towards us.
"Run!" Bones shouted. He didn't have to tell me twice as I held the back of the group with Bones as we all ran. I dared to look behind me and saw that there was an eve larger horde of them than there was before, causing some color to drain from my face. I also so them using scythes for their legs,causing them to run even faster. I had to give it to them, they do think on their feet, or blades..... eh forget it.
"In there!" Bones shouted. I saw him point ahead of us and when I looked in the direction he was indicating I saw a large tower, hehe, towering over the trees.
We ran faster for tower, none of us even daring to look back; well not again at least. When we got close enough I noticed the tower's doors were wide open but the only problem was that there was a giant gap in the ground ahead of us. I watched as the group jumped the gap, pegasi flying, unicorns and alicorns teleporting, earthponies jumping. Since I got rid of my wings earlier I had to jump as well, and when I landed on the other side I somersaulted and got back up and turned around and aimed my pistols at the horde as it closed in on us. I saw that Rarity seemed to have tripped on something and there wasn't enough distance for her to get a running start. 'It would have been nice for her to have the ability to teleport in the show.' I thought before I realized something. 'Why the hell couldn't I have been sent to a regular Equestria as a regular human and not a displaced.' I thought to myself before I regained my composure. It seemed the Bones noticed Rarity and made a tendril out of shadow appear out of his hand. He launched it at Rarity and grabbed her before he yanked her over, and once she was inside he slammed the door closed, sealing off the creatures.
"What...happened...to don't touch anything?" Bones asked as he growled.
"I'm...sorry," Fluttershy whimpered causing him to let out a tired groan.
"The hell were those things!?" I yelled as I aimed at the door with the gun in my left hand and had the right one aimed upwards.
"Sentinels designed to blend into whatever environment we're in while in the inferno they take care of any trouble makers that just jump out of random portals that lead to different circles in hell just wish they didn't look so creepy in this place," Bones said.
"I remember something like that back on Earth some bozo Templar opened up a hell gate causing demons to crawl out like crazy fortunately we were able to stop it and the bastard got tossed in along side him," Rage said.
"Well whats the plan? Cause I doubt we can sit here forever." I said, still being vigilant. Suddenly the sounds of whispering echoed around us.
"More sentinels?" Luna asked.
"No," Bones said before he us all down the hallway. We soon came to another door and entered. When we got inside we were met with a bright light but once it dimmed I saw a large circular room, filled with dozens of ghostly souls; whom had stopped conversing with each other and rather stared at us.
"Who are all these souls?" Chrysalis asked.
"The great rulers and philosophers of the golden age."
"I recognize some faces here from Ash's memories Hectare, Electra, Caesar probably the most famous emperor of the Roman Empire and King Lateness." Rage said.
"Also Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. Some of the greatest minds all together in one room." Bones said and I didn't know if I should be worried or in awe.
"Well Ash sure did get around," I said. I mean I knew that he had a long existence but for him to know all these intellectual men, it was astounding. Suddenly every shade stopped and stared at us, a mixture of different emotions adorning each one's face.
"Guess they remember him also," Dream Catcher said.
"You all know Ash Blade?" We looked at the source of the voice and saw it was Julius Caesar.
"Julius Caesar. I take it you know Ash Blade?" Bones asked.
"Indeed it was he was a hero in the races loved by many and almost unbeatable when ever he had an accident the first thing he asked about were the horses condition and it surprised me when I found out he was still alive if you ask you will find out almost everyone in this room knows him," Caesar said as he gestured around the room.
"As interesting as that would be we must be on our way ," Bones said before we continued our way trough a pair of doors on the opposite end of the room.
"Yea we have a weapon to find." I said behind us. Bones led us up a set of stairs, that seemed to spiral around the tower. We continued until we made it to the top and I saw a stone walkway that led to a large circular like area with a massive gap in the ground and a spiked wheel on edge of the gap. There were two storied stone walls that looked like the walls of a court room, where spectators could watch went around the area and they were full of damned souls. Finally at the back was a large monstrosity, one of which was a combination of tentacles and a man with a tall headpiece attached to his head that looked like a crown. The creature then grabbed a soul from the shelf and brought the soul close to it's face and sniffed it, before he called out it's sin and dropped them on the spiked wheel. I looked on as it pressed a button sending the soul plummeting into the dark abyss below.
"Bones what is this?" I whispered.
"And what is that thing?" Rarity asked in horror.
"That is Minos. In life he was a king of Greece before he was boiled alive in his own bath. Now he is known as the Judge of the Damned, sending souls to their circles for they sins they committed in life. He is blind but be careful, he has the nose of a hell hound. Best let me talk to him, otherwise this won't be pleasant." Bones said.
"Well good luck. Hopefully he doesn't smell the sins on me." I said as I looked at disgusting thing sitting ahead of us. I mean I know where this is going and I'm not liking it. At. All.
I watched the scene unfold as Bones walked across the walkway us following behind.'Still wish they would have stayed behind.' I grumbled in my head. I was in front of them and when we reached the end of the walkway I raised a arm to the side to stop them from advancing. This was something that Bones would need to do, but if he needed help then Rage and I would be glad to help him. I don't know which one drew his attention, either the sound of Bones's armor clanking or his smell but it seemed to grab Minos attention because he stopped reaching for a soul and turned towards Bones.
"Who comes into my house of pain?" Minos asked.
"One who seeks passage into the lower circles Minos," Bones said. Minos then brought his face close to his and gave me a sniff.
"The Hand of The Reaper. I remember your stench the smell of your sins clings to you sins of heresy, wrath, violence and...hmm... treachery Minos hissed with his forked tongue.
"Watch yourself Minos," Bones growled as thunder and lightning shook the sky from his words. But Minos turned his head towards the us and sniffed the air.
"Fourteen... no thirteen living souls one is dead and overdue, and also reeks of sin. And another smells of wrath and bloodlust-," Minos said, and I saw that the statement hit something as I saw Bones tighten his fists with each word that came from Minos.
"Silence Minos or I shall rip your tongue from your throat we are here to descend and then leave this wretched place now stand aside before I decide to force my way past!" Bones interrupted with a yell.
"YOU DARE GIVE ORDERS THE JUDGE OF THE DAMNED!" Minos roared before he tried to hit Bones with a fist but he managed to roll to the side and avoid the attack. 'Welp shit's hit the fan again.' I thought as I summoned shi on my back. 'Ready for battle?' I asked as I withdrew my Beretta's from their holsters again.
"You bet." she said, and I heard the screams once again as well as a power boost.
"Bones." I said causing Bones to look back at me. "Is it okay to fight or is it a bad idea?"
"Do your worst," he said, and that was all the conformation I needed. So Rage and charged into the fray. As soon as Rage and I landed we were assaulted by small pointy tentacles that sprung from the ground. They came at us multiple times and they seemed very easy to dodge. After a few seconds the tentacles stopped coming form they ground, and I watched as Minos started to come to the ground.
"Get on the wall!" Bones yelled. At his command I all jumped up and clung to the walls where the souls stood and as soon as we did, I saw Minos scream causing a torrent of air to wash over the area where we all stood before. As we jumped down I aimed my guns at Minos left eye socket, or at least where his left eye should be and unleashed both clips into it. He immanently pulled back and cupped his wound as blood burst from it. The thing was, I wasn't using ordinary rounds, no no no, I was using hollow point rounds. With the depression at the front of the bullet, it will leave all the damage inside my target. Because a hollow point round is designed to expand on impact to almost three times its size. Meaning if you get hit with this you're going down, and your not getting up.
When I landed I saw that Rage and Bones weren't letting up as they were cutting and slicing at the bottom of Minos as he was clutching the wound I caused in pain. Eventually he stopped and came back and tried to blow us away with another scream but we jumped up again. When he was at full mast he summoned four hunchback humans. They looked to be starving and had a demented look in their eye sockets.
They charged at us, but I felt a increase in power from Bones and saw that he had pulled three of them to him, before jumping into the air and came back down and smashed them. After that he continued to attack them, and I would have loved to continue to watch but I felt movement behind me and I brought my pistols into an 'x' motion just as a sword came down and connected with my pistols. I knocked back the thing and aimed at it before letting off six shoots, three from both gun. The rounds connected with it's chest and head, blowing them to pieces. When I turned back around I saw that Bones and Rage had just finished killing the other three creatures.
"I am well acquainted with your treachery!" Minos yelled as even more spiky tentacles shot from the ground, but this time they were faster and harder to dodge. One of them got lucky and erupted from the stone just as I was trying to dodge one, and I didn't have time to fully dodge this one as well. It cut my shirt upwards, from the bottom to the top in the front. I landed and stood there in shock as I looked down at the outfit that my sister had made for me. I felt tears well up in my eyes before falling down my face.This was the last thing she hand made me before I got her killed. I looked at the shirt before looking back up at Minos. I didn't care if my chest was exposed, this asshole just fucked up big time. I holstered my guns and drew Shi from my back, and held her in front of me.
"Do it." she said and I was happy to oblige.I held her out in front of me and held her with my right hand and laid my left hand right where the guard touched the blade.
"Scream, Shi no sakebi." I said in an even voice, which portrayed no emotion, as I ran my palm down the blade. Just like I did before the blade changed from a katana to a scythe that had black flames along the sharp edge of the blades. I held shi in my right hand and snapped my left, causing my shirt to disappear and be replaced by bandages. I had enough shit, if the universe whats me to go all out I'll go all out. "Now remember this doesn't leave here okay?" I asked the two boys as they continued to dodge the tentacles.
"What do you mean?" Bones yelled as he was nearly impaled by one of the things.
"This." I said as I held a palm over my right eye. "Releasing restrictions, level five." I said as part of my powers were released. I watched as as some of the tentacles shot from the ground and headed towards me, but when they got close they instantly evaporated. This seemed to cause Minos to scream in pain once again. He reared back and brought his left arm down to try and squash us, which I found stupid seeing how he couldn't see us. After that he smashed his arm on the right side of the arena and drug it to the other side.
"You slaughtered hundreds!" he roared as he brought his arm up to smash again. I won't lie, I have but it is more in the hundred thousands. They deserved it as they crossed my morals, though I did get yelled at by Tia and Lulu for what I did. But I still say it was what they deserved. After he did that; he continued to smash the arena; form the left side to the right and so on. After a minute of us dodging his attacks he tried to hit us with his open palm, which was a large mistake.
I twirled Shi around as I jumped up and dug the blade into his hand. When I did that he reared back and brought his arm high into the air, and when it was at it's arc I dislodged Shi from his arm and embedded it in his forearm. Doing this caused dark blood to spew forth from the wound, to which I didn't really care. This thin crossed the line and he. Will. Pay.
"Virtue means nothing to you." Minos said as he brought his arm to his left side and then flung it open, causing me to be sent flying. But since I had the powers of a soul reaper I used my magic and stopped mid air, sideways. I then jumped back at him and swung Shi across his face, cutting it even more. He let out screams of pain as I continued to slash at his hands, destroying them more. But he then moved his hands away and reared back, which I knew he was about to scream again. So ceased using magic below my feet, causing me to fall. I saw that Bones and Rage had just finished trying to cut at the bottom, and I guess that didn't work but the damage was building up.
"Your weapon will never be returned to you!" he yelled as he summoned more minions, but this time it was four of those sentinels that we ran from before and two big brutes. The sentinels and one of the brute went for Bones and Rage while the other brute went for me, and I gave a grin as I charged the beast. We clashed our blades together a few times but I had managed to get hits on him when he let his guard down. But after I blocked a few more of his attacks I grew bored.
"You bore me." I simply said as I faced my palm to him, "Cero." and he had no time to dodge as he was caught in my destructive beam. When it died, there was nothing left of the brute. I gave a sigh, as I had overestimated it, before turning my attention back to the guys. I saw that they had just finished killing the creatures that went to them and I decided to regroup with them. "We need to end this." I said just as Minos brought his arm down once more, crashing into the ground where we once stood. "Any ideas?!" I shouted.
"I got one Rage when I say you take out an arm," Bones said before he ran up to Minos. "You know Minos, I was expecting more then this pitiful display. It appears you got old and lazy you slug," he said causing Minos to raise both his arms and slam them down on where Bones was at. "Rage now!" Bones shouted. I watched Rage put his blades together to form one massive burning blade, which was almost as long as Minos's forearm.
"Here it comes say hello to my Battle Buster!" Rage shouted before he cut through Minos's left arm, almost as if it was butter.
I watched as Minos's head fell to the ground and I took the opportunity to grab Minos's tongue and began to pull it towards the spiked wheel but Minos tried to crush me with his still good arm but I just kept dodging it and when I was close enough I impaled the tongue on the top spike before I looked at Minos.
"This is going to really...really hurt." I said before I stomped on the button that activated the wheel. The wheel spun around and pulled Minos towards it and impaled his face and under his chin the wheel momentarily stopped because Minos was pulling in the opposite direction but in the end the wheel one and shredded through Minos head tearing away at anything that may have been inside before the rest of the body fell backwards revealing a set chains that led down into the circles below. I took this as the time to reinstate the restriction that I had removed, and once I was done I heard Bones speak.
"I did say I'd rip your tongue from your throat."
"Well that was fun and all," I said as I whipped some of the fucker's blood off of my body. "but how do we find your weapon now?"
"We keep descending," he said as he gestured to the chains.
"Did you have to kill him?" Celestia asked and I looked at her with a face that said 'really?'.
"He's not dead Minos made a contract with a devil and used his soul as payment that landed him a position here he can not did till he's worked off the debt so give it a few minutes and Minos will be back sending souls to their circles one again so I suggest we leave now," he said as he walked over to the chains and grabbed a hold of one before he descended into the darkness with us following behind.
Next Chapter: Chapter 17: Further down Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 59 Minutes