After analysing his situation and having a nap for an unknown amount of time, Cloud awoke feeling quite a bit better. Though he was unable to connect any dots regarding Twilight’s mark being in Shirith, he’d had enough time to digest the situation.

On awakening, Cloud could immediately see a big difference in his surroundings. On the wall opposite to his cage there now sat another cage.

Another occupied cage.

In the cage sat a grey, female Earth Pony. Her mane and tail were a dark purple, and her eyes a light blue. She sat with a blank look on her face, looking quite bored.

“Uh… Hello?” Cloud greeted, his voice still a little strained. “Miss?” The mare looked over at him with no change in expression nor composure.

“Hello.” She spoke in a monotone voice, void of emotion.

There was a short silence.

“I’m Cloud, what’s your name?”

“Maud.”

Another silence. Boy, what a sparkling conversationalist.

“Um… Would you happen to know what’s going on?” He asked, digging for something to go on.

“I have been abducted. Judging by your cage, I find it safe to assume you are in a similar situation.”

“Yeah, I am actually.” First things first; the culprits. “Do you know who took us? I was… in a bad state, to say the least, when they got me.”

“A Horse.”

Yet another silence.

“...Could you be more specific? Like, what they want, or where we are?”

“We are inside a travelling caravan heading south-west under the control of a group of what are most likely mercenaries consisting of various species. Their leader is a Horse who acts as if poorly hiding a superiority complex. I was taken for finding an artifact they seem to have interest in. It was an ancient energy crystal. From parts of conversations I heard while eavesdropping, the crystal is able to hold dark magical energy. I’m travelling the world for my rocktorate dissertation.”

A fourth silence followed.

“You aren’t a very good conversationalist,” said Maud.

Alright, let’s see… Weird magic book, circle seemed to absorb it, some kind of energy search, ‘carving it out’ of me, energy crystal… Most likely, the people who took me collect magical artifacts, or something like that, and I somehow absorbed one with my Support Circle. Still no idea how that happened… And what the hell was the deal with the other book? For now, I should-

The door to the room slammed open, interrupting Cloud’s thoughts. A large, blue Gryphon walked in, a satchel tucked under his left wing. He approached Cloud’s cage quickly and pulled the satchel out from under his wing.

“Hey!” Cloud exclaimed as best he could. “You! Where am I?!” The Gryphon ignored him and pulled the satchel open. “Listen to me, you unwiped asshole! If you don’t let me the hell out of here soon, I’m gonna wear your ass for a hat!” Shit, wait, he probably doesn’t speak Equest-

“Your obsession with my ass is noted,” the Gryphon replied, speaking in a deep and intimidating voice. Out of the satchel he pulled an oddly shaped crystal, a similar shape to that of an ice cream cone.

“Oh yeah?! Well... I’ll stick my horn up your ass if you don’t-!”

The Gryphon threw the crystal with incredible force at Cloud. It pierced his chest, digging deep enough to touch his spine. Cloud made the sound of a strangled cat and coughed up blood. He fell to the ground, in too much shock to think, and strained to look up at the Gryphon.

“Kill you?” Asked the Gryphon.

Cloud’s breath was rapid, panicked and shallow. He could feel his blood pooling below him and the energy in his body leaving him. He tried to speak, to scream, to anything, only cough up more blood. Finally, he could take no more and closed his eyes.

Author's Notes:

The second half of the half-chapter posted previously. Chapters will go back to normal length after this.