The Hearts of Man: Chapter 12 -Legacy-

Chapter 12: Legacy

 

>Lyra was putting the finishing touches on a bag slung over her torso while you sat outside for her.

>You didn't know what in the world you were getting yourself into.

>Lyra had basically talked you into joining her on a quest to find an ancient human artifact somewhere beyond the Everfree Forest.

>At first glance, she seemed out of her mind, which explained why most of the town shunned her and kept their distance.

>But after speaking with her for the majority of the day, you realized that she may have had some ridiculous theories about humans, but she had also found out more about them than anyone had in centuries.

>And any chance to find out more about your kind in this world peaked your interest immediately.

>Lyra trotted out of her house to you, a smile beaming up at you from her.

>"Do you have your things?"

>You raise the dark brown pack up to her, nodding.

>You had returned home in order to pack up provisions for a few days.

>Lyra had told you that she found signs of a cave in the base of a mountain, but didn't explore further without someone to serve as a guide.

>Since you have thumbs, holding a torch seemed like a great idea.

>Lyra bounced a bit in excitement and looks up to you.

>"Great! Now, the trip should take a day's walk to reach the cave. Since it's midday now, we'll make camp halfway through and sleep for the night. Any questions?"

"What do you think we'll find in the cave?"

>Lyra's eyes shine in determination.

>"I have absolutely, no worldly clue! Isn't that exciting?"

>You smile and give a noncommittal shrug.

>Maybe you'd finally get some clue as to who you are in relation to being in Equestria.

>Or maybe Lyra would end up getting you killed.

>Either way, you were invested.

>The two of you begin making your way out of the town, and into the Everfree.

 

-------

 

>Hours pass, and the sun descends to the horizon.

>Lyra hasn't said a word the entire trip, and in turn neither have you.

>Eventually, the silence breaks.

>"So, uh, Anon is it?"

"That's correct."

>"Right. So, Anon, is it true what they say?"

"I'm not sure I follow."

>"Oh c'mon, you mean to tell me you haven't heard the rumors about you?"

>You throw a quizzical look her way.

"If there are rumors about me, and since they're rumors I assume they're negative, then why would anyone tell me about them?"

>"Well I... okay that makes sense. But still, you haven't heard?"

"I think we've established that no, I have not heard."

>Lyra gives a wry smile and cocks an eyebrow up.

>"Well word around Ponyville is that you had a little 'visitor' while up on the moon."

>Your eyes widen in mild surprise.

>You force yourself not to blush.

"A visitor?"

>"Mmhmm. In fact, someponies think that your "guest" visits you at that little mountainside home of yours."

>Nope.

>Not gonna blush.

"Who uh... who do they say my guest is?"

>Lyra gives the smarmiest grin you've ever seen.

>"Oh, nop0ny special. Just, you know, Princess Luna."

>Goddammit.

>Your cheeks flush red.

>Lyra sees your embarrassment and her jaw drops.

>"Wait it's true? You were on the moon with Princess Luna?!"

"No!... Yes? It's complicated."

>"Well we have a few hours till we have to make camp, so we have plenty of time for you to fill me in!"

>You give in, sighing.

"When I was banished, I almost went insane. Being isolated for an undetermined amount of time can do that to you."

>"But you didn't, right? Go insane I mean."

>You shake your head.

"No, I didn't. I have Luna to thank for that."

>"What did she do, if you don't mind me asking?"

"What do you mean?"

>"What did she do to keep you sane?"

>You stop walking, eyes fixed on the sky as the first hint of stars start to bleed into view.

"She simply... was."

>Lyra gives a look of slight confusion, and you try to elaborate.

"We would just sit and talk most nights, take walks on others. There's only so much moon you can see, after all. The most important thing she did for me though, was simply exist. I needed her... and I guess in a way she needed me too. She wasn't banished, she could come and go as she pleased. Hell, she didn't even need to be on the moon at all."

>Your eyes close as a cool breeze flows over you, as you remember nights spent on the moon's lonely surface.

"Yet she came, almost every night for an entire year. Honestly, that's all I really needed. Someone to talk to. Luna just made it all the more special I suppose."

>The breeze kicks up, sending shivers down your spine.

>You don't mind, and your eyes stay closed as you recall your first night back on Equestria.

>Luna's mane seemed to almost blend into the night sky as it flowed out and around her.

>Her smile growing slowly as she looked up at her domain.

>Those were the nights you cherished.

>Opening your eyes, a small smile on your face, you look to Lyra.

>Her eyes are wide open and looking directly at you, her mouth agape.

>She looks stunned.

>Almost scared.

>You feel a light caress of something soft against your face.

>It's a mane.

>Turning around, you can't help but crack a grin.

"So, how much of that did you hear?"

>Luna looks at you with her teal eyes and puts her forehead to yours.

>"Plenty."

 

-------

 

>The sound of crackling firewood fills your ears as you warm your hands.

>Luna sat next to you, her gaze locked onto Lyra, who sat across from both of you.

>Lyra, like you, was holding out her hooves to warm them.

>The simple fact that she acted like a human amused you.

>Lyra, on the other hand, did not seem amused at the moment.

>Ever since Luna dropped in, Lyra's been on edge.

>It's not everyday you see an alicorn, and a princess at that.

>Well, except for you.

>Luna: "We still do not understand. You are saying that there is an artifact hidden in a cave near hear?"

>Lyra: "Yesyourhighness."

>Luna: "And you say that you found this cave before, but did not venture into it?"

>Lyra: "Yesyourhighness."

>Luna: "But now that you have a human guide, you wish to go into said cave?"

>Lyra: "Yesyourhighness."

>Luna: "And according to a scroll the two of you read, and left behind at your home, whatever you find may very well kill you?"

>Lyra: "Yesyourhighness."

>Luna: "We wish for you to cease answering us in such a fast-paced manner."

>Lyra: "Yesyourhi-"

>Luna: "Stop."

>Lyra starts to answer again but shoves a hoof in her mouth.

>You can't help but laugh a bit at the interaction.

>Luna doesn't seem to be in the joking mood however, as she turns to lecture you next.

>Luna: "Anon, be honest with us, as you always have. Why are you doing this? You do not even know this... minty one. Why risk your life for her when you've only just been released from your banishment?"

"Lyra may seem eccentric, but she's on to something. I'd like to help her find whatever it is she's looking for."

>Luna: "This still does not answer our question, Anonymous."

"I'm curious. She's found signs of human life, and I'm the only human left on this planet as far as I can tell so I guess I'd like to learn more about my kind."

>Luna squints, a pained look on her face.

>Luna: "We had thought that what we told you of your kind would be enough to convince you of their ways."

>You return her frown with one as well, sympathizing with her.

"I know you don't like this, but... I think I want to learn WHY they did what they did. Learn from the past, avoid their mistakes... is that so bad?"

>The dark mare sighs and stands up, motioning for you to follow her.

>The two of you are standing a ways from the campsite, shrouded in the shadows of the forest.

>Luna approaches you, and whispers intently.

>"Anon, we will be honest. We do not trust this mint pony."

"Lyra?"

>"Yes, that. She is obsessed with human beings and their past, dangerously so. We worry that she will place you in harm's way if you continue journeying with her."

"Luna it's only about a day's travel. We find the cave, we find what's inside, we leave. Not much room for-"

>"Anon."

>She's giving you a stern look.

>"You are delving into things that are beyond your comprehension. We will not stop you, but we will warn you: The answers you seek may not be pleasant."

"Never thought they would be, Luna."

>She smiles sadly, closing her eyes.

>"Please, for us, do not die on this venture of yours. It would displease us greatly."

"We wouldn't want that now would we?"

>You both share a smile, as Luna slowly backs away into a mist of dark shadows and faint stars.

>Returning to the campsite, you find Lyra laying down a blanket and getting comfortable.

>She spots you, then begins craning her neck to see beyond you.

>"Where's the Princess?"

"She had to leave. Let's get some sleep."

>Lyra give a sigh of relief and lays down lazily, relaxing now that the royalty is gone.

>You sit down a few feet away from her and lay down on a soft patch of earth, using your jacket as a makeshift sheet to cover yourself up.

>The feeling of sleeping on a hard surface is familiar to you, and you drift off to sleep.

>"...Anonymous?"

>You open your eyes, woken from the beginnings of slumber by Lyra.

"Yes?"

>"Can I ask you a question before you go to sleep?"

"Sure, go ahead."

>"Well...you and Princess Luna seem to be very close."

"That's not really a question, Lyra."

>"Are... are you and the princess close to each other?"

>There's a pause between the two of you, as you roll over onto your back and stare at the night sky, the moon looking back at you in return.

"Yeah... yeah I guess you could say that."

>Lyra lets out a yawn and her eyes droop down in grogginess.

>"Guess those rumors aren't far fetched after all."

>You smile and close your eyes to sleep.

"No, I suppose they aren't."

 

-------

 

>It's gotten much colder as you and Lyra near the base of the large mountain you've trekking to.

>You can see your breath form into white mist in front of you as you breathe, and your skin crawls with goosebumps.

>Snow falls lightly from the graying sky.

"You're sure the cave is near here, Lyra?"

>The mint green unicorn smiles and nods her head.

>"It's not far now! We should be finding it shortly."

>And indeed the two of you do.

>A small hole in the side of the mountain sits before you both, moss growing around the entrance.

>"Okay, this is it! Do you have the torch?"

>Reaching into your pack, you pull out the small torch Lyra gave you before the two of you left, and you light it with the flick of a match.

"Alight, let's get this done with."

>You enter the cave, uncertain as to what you will find within.

>An hour passes, and you're still creeping through the dark tunnel, light from your torch illuminating your path.

>"Anonymous, have you noticed something about this cave?"

"The lack of bats?"

>Lyra give a disapproving look.

>"No. Not bats. The walls, Anon. They're changing in structure."

>You glance at the walls, staring at them intently.

>They seemed to be getting smoother the further down the tunnel you went.

>Carvings began to appear, revealing patterns in the walls.

>As you walked further, you entered what could only be a temple of sorts.

>The walls in the chamber were adorned in murals, scarred by time and muted in color.

>They depicted figures, human in appearance, kneeling before a figure shrouded in shadow and blackness.

>And at the center of the room stood chest high pillar.

>A faint red glow faded in and out of existence from where the pillar stood.

>You stood still, gazing at the pillar, but Lyra moved forward.

"Lyra."

>She didn't stop. She continued toward the pillar and the slowly pulsating, red glow.

"Lyra, what are you doing?"

She's halfway to the pillar now, and you're still standing still, your feet glued to the floor.

>Summoning up your courage, you go after her.

>As soon as you get closer to Lyra and the pillar, you feel a throbbing in the air.

>The room itself has a heartbeat, and you can feel it reverberate through the room.

>With every step you take the pulse grows louder, and you can feel it shake you from within.

>It's coming from the pillar.

>No.

>It's coming from whatever is ON the pillar.

>From where you are you can see what looks like an orb, the red light humming from within it.

>This isn't good.

>This CANNOT be good.

>Lyra is right on in front of it, and turns to look at you.

>Her eyes.

>"Isn't it just lovely, Anonymous?"

>Dear god her eyes.

>"Can't you hear it? It sings to me."

>A toothy grin spreads across her face from ear to ear, as she peers into you soul with her eyes.

>Eyes that were as black as the void.

"Lyra get away from that thing! We're leaving!"

>"No...no no no no no... I believe we're staying here.."

>She reaches out to the orb, and touches it with her hoof.

>And that's when your ears start to bleed.

 

-------

 

>A shrill shriek pierces through the entire chamber, dropping you to your knees as you clutch your head in pain.

>It's Lyra.

>The orb flashes with an unearthly light as Lyra's scream rocks the cave.

>Her body contorts grossly as her limbs lengthen, the sound of bones popping and cracking in the process.

>Her skin darkens and splits open as she continues to change before your eyes.

>You slam your eyes shut, your teeth clenched, and your hands over your ears.

>The noise seemed to reverberate throughout your entire being.

>And just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.

>Your ears still rang, but the shriek at stopped.

>Opening your eyes, you saw something that caused you to cringe in fear.

>A large pitch black unicorn stood where Lyra once was, it's red eyes staring at you unblinking.

>The horn on it's head was thin, sharp, and a black mist rose from it's body.

>It had no mouth.

>But the part that frightened you the most, was how real it looked.

>It looked nothing like the ponies you encountered in Equestria. Instead, it looked like a horse from your world.

>Its body appeared emaciated, the outline of bones and joints clearly visible through its dark fur.

>You wobble to your feet, not taking your eyes of the dark horse.

"...Lyra?"

>It doesn't answer.

>You take a step backwards to the way you came.

>The spot where a mouth should have been on the black horse begins to tear open, flesh stretching and peeling away, revealing teeth.

>You take another step back.

>And then it charges you.

>It moves with such ferocious speed, it's horn thrust out to meet you.

>You don't have time to get out of the way, so you instinctively raise your arms to protect yourself.

>What you experience next, makes you wish you were still on the moon.

>The dark unicorn's horn slams into your left palm, and it sinks into your skin.

>With force you could never be prepared for, the horn shoots down the length of your left arm, burying it into the bone itself.

>You're arm screams in pain.

>It's as if it's been drenched in fire.

>Dark ribbons of pure shadow and crimson fly from the impact point of your hand, static leeching across your body.

>The pain makes you wish you were dead, your body convulsing in sheer terror.

>Stop.

>Make it stop.

>Please just make it stop.

>With all the will you can muster, you bring your right arm above your head and slam it against the unicorn's head.

>You do this over.

>And over.

>And over.

>Your hand is bleeding.

>But panic sets in, driving you forward as you continue striking the demonic horse, it's teeth bloody and breathing ragged.

>With a final swing, you bring your fist down on the horse's skull, as a sharp crack rings through the room.

>The horse flails backwards, it's horn shattered, the rest of it buried in your arm.

>The shrieking returns, as what used to be a small, mint green unicorn now shakes and tremors in place, blood seeping from it's eyes and mouth.

>Slowly, it disintegrates into ash, it's eyes the last things you see before you black out.

 

>And with that, the easy part was over.