[AiE] Everything went better than expected

“My Lord, I don't know how long we can elude the Inquisition anymore, they are on to us.”
>The sinister Archmage turned from his book and pierced you with his gaze
>”WHAT?! What do I pay you fools for?! Get rid of them, at least until I have figured this out. Now get away from here, and if anyone interrupts me again, I will turn them inside out!”
>Archmage Silas was not joking, you saw it happen before how he did this to one of the less obedient mercenaries. He wasn't one of your friends, but it was still terrifying to see one of your comrades end like that.
>Over the course of the last few months, the Archmage made an enemy out of everyone
>He started experiments on living humans
>They mostly did not survive
>The few who did wish they died in the process
>This dark magic was beyond your understanding
>Like all magic
>It took the better part of a lifetime of hard studies to even cast the simplest of spells
>And only the truly gifted could become as powerful as Silas...
>Or the truly mad ones

>You walk to one of the many windows
>You are so high up, you can't even see the people on the ground
>You never understood the mage's obsession with their towers
>The tower is only held stable by the Archmages power
>It would crumble under its own weight without magic
>You spy for any lights
>Luckily the Inquisition always makes a lot of noise wherever they go
>But they know of Silas's pursuit of the dark arts
>You worked for him for Years
>But only after he discovered the book that open the path to the arts of dark magic for him, he became a complete madman
>You knew you should have burned it the minute you retrieved it
>You enter the barracks
>The archmage became increasingly paranoid and ordered you and your fellow mercenaries to move into the towers lower levels
>Your friends welcome you
>”'ey Anon, what did the old fart say?”
>Torlan, your oldest friend
>You started together with him your not so glamorous career as mercenaries
“He just wants to study his damned book. Don't bother him, he's in a bad mood.”

>You sit down on the table where the few of your remaining comrades wait for your report
>Only six of you are left
>Craig the Asshole, 'Sir' Rexor the ex-royalty, he lost his status because of a streak of murders he got framed for
>He tortured the real murderer to death for 3 days, 2 years later
>Then there was Walter, he was really lazy, but he never lets anyone down in the end, at least that's what he thinks
>Cedric who is an old veteran and the leader of the remains of your band
>Torlan who is a mountain of a man, all muscles, little brain and lastly you yourself
>You had many battles together with these men and you wouldn't exchange a battalion of knights for either one of them
>Even though you'd really like one right now
>”I say, we ditch this shit! If we hide long enough they will forget us, they only want the old geezer!” Craig tried to persuade the others for weeks now
>”No, the Inquisition will find us with their damn magic, they know who we are. That would be suicide, we can only trust Silas to get us out of this. He told me he had found a way.”

>You trusted Cedric for all your life, even if you didn't trust Silas, if Cedric was convinced, so were you
>Walter was almost asleep as Torlan smashed his fist on the table, spilling half of the drinks
>”If we kill Silas! Maybe the Inquisition will let us go!”
>”The Inquisition treats traitors no better than heretics Torlan, you know that.” Cedric said that with a calm voice that calmed the big man
>Somehow he knew how to handle all of you
>That's why he was the leader
>And because he never disappointed anyone of you
>He was a tactician and a strategian
>”This old mage will lead us all to death I say.” Rexors doubt was righteous
“Yeah, he even killed one of us, don't you remember? What if he wants to sacrifice one of us for his escape plan? Or all? His dark magic is banned for a reason.”
>”No, he needs us as much as we need him right now. And he apologized for that accident, it was not his intent to kill Rulf, and you know that, all of you, it was Rulf's own fault for not listening to him.”
>It was true, but that doesn't force any of you to trust Silas any more
>Rexor stands up “But what do we do if the Inquisition has surrounded the tower and Silas has NO way out of this?! We need at least a plan B for this possibility!”

>Cedric closes his eyes and furrows his brows
>”I fear we have not many options, if we surrender to the Inquisition, they will torture us to death. And they know how to torture, Rexor, what you did was child's play in contrast to what they can do. It is better to die fighting than to get caught by them, trust me this.”
>Cedric once told you that he worked for the Holy Inquisition, he knew what he was talking about
>After a heated discussion you all scrambled
>Only concern and doubts were on your mind
>Only the Archmage can help you now
>You strap on your heavy armor
>A mix of leather and plate armor with a full helmet and gloves stolen from the Inquisition
>They would burn you for only this little crime, let alone to aid a mage of the black arts
>You are so fucked
>Time passes and there is little to do other than guard duty
>The tower is huge and the Inquisition will soon find it
>Hopefully you won't be here anymore when that happens
>A knight of the Inquisition is a bitch to fight
>They dedicate their lifes on catching and fighting heretics and criminals
>You stand no chance against even one of them, let alone an entire squad
>Suddenly you don't want to be alone anymore
>You hurry around the tower to find one of your friends

>Cedric is at the top, arguing with the Archmage
>You find Walter dozing off on a chair, hands behind his head
“Hey Walter, you awake?”
>He doesn't even open his eyes
>”Sure”
“You think we get out of this misery?”
>He smirks
>”Heh, funny, Craig asked me the same question an hour ago. I don't think this will be easy.”
>He opens his eyes and gives you a serious look, he doesn't often shows his serious side, so this is serious business to him
>”To be honest, I don't think that we will all make it out of this alive. If the Inquisition doesn't catch us, Silas will be our doom sooner or later.”
>Walter stands up and walks a bit with you
>”I just hope that it's over soon, I can't stand having to expect the Inquisition storming this place any minute. It's giving me trouble falling asleep, you know what I mean?”
“It's the same with all of us, I can tell that for sure.”
>You have a bad feeling about your situation
>Why didn't you become a blacksmith like your dad?
>Walter bumps you with his elbow

>”But hey, we still live right? And we will give them a hell of a fight if anyone wants to change that!”
>He pumps his fist in the air
>”Have I told you already how Torlan got thrown out of the brothel once?”
>He laughs already
>He always cheers everyone up
>While Walter tells his ridiculous story you walk around the tower
>”... and then he sat on the table with the whore in his hands, but the table broke under his weight! Ha Ha Ha! But she wasn't finished and he had to claw his way out of the !!! THERE!”
>He points out of a window
>Oh fuck
>The Inquisition is here!
>Already?!
>You can see smoke and a few banners outside
>“FUCK! I go and tell Silas and Cedric upstairs, you rush down to the others and make sure to keep them out of the tower!”
>Walter runs up the stairs
>You run down
>It would be much easier if the tower wouldn't be so damn high!
>As you arrive downstairs Rexor, Torlan and Craig are already barricading the entrance
“They are really here!”
>”You don't say, genius!” Rexor is infuriated
>So are the others
“I thought we gave them the wrong location?!”
>Craig throws a chair to Torlan and answers

>”Yeah sure, but they most probably didn't trust us just like that and followed us. Fucking shit, this won't keep them out for long!.”
>”Damn IT! Go get some more of the drawers! And you Anon, go upstairs and gather more the furniture there at the staircases. If they break the doors down we will block them off there!”
>You hurry upstairs and do so
>The three of them soon follow and together you block the staircase at every level with furniture until Cedric and Walter arrive
>Cedric seems euphoric
>”Quick! To Silas! He is done, we can get away from here!”
>You throw the rest of the assembled furniture down the stairs as you can hear them banging on the door
>Cedric grabs your arm and pulls you with him
>”Come boy! We have no time for that! A few chairs will hardly stop the Holy Inquisition!”
>You hurry upstairs , maybe you shouldn't have put on your armor this morning
>Fuck
>You tire out, but Cedric pulls you with him until the top floor
>The others are already there
>Silas already started his fancy magics
>”I hope you are ready, there is no way back once I cast the spell!”
>Cedric shouts “Just start already my Lord, they are here!”
>With a flash a barrier is cast into the doorframe
>It looks like moving glass

>Silas walks to his reading podium and turns to you and the mercenaries
>”There is a high possibility that we will not survive, if we arrive at the other side and half of you are dead, don't you dare to blame me for this. I can still lower the barrier and let you go.”
>Craig steps forward “The damn Inquisition is just a few fucking floors below us! Are you fucking kidding me?”
>Cedric grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back “Calm yourself, Craig!”
>”Well then, I will tell you where we are headed. We will transfer to  a parallel dimension next to ours. That means that only a few changes will happen, but enough to make us strangers in this world.”
>”What does that mean? I never heard of a place called like that?” Torlan may be a little dumb, but none of you understood what Silas just said
>”Well Torlan, that means no one will know who you are and that you all will be free men.”
>All mercenaries in the room are visibly and audibly relieved
>At last good news, finally
“Then what are we waiting for? The Inquisition will be here any moment!”
>Silas makes a stopping gesture
>”Now keep calm, they won't be able to break the barrier by conventional means, nor by any others. There is also a possibility that... “
>He scratches his head and takes on a confused expression
>Walter asks “That what? What could be worse than the possibility of death?”
>He gives an ironic laugh and shrugs
>”Well, there was a variable that I did not understand at all. It must have something to do with the ancient culture that centered around this book and-”

>”Cease your god damn blabbering Silas! I've had enough of this! Let me out, I will rather surrender to the Inquisition than listen to your fucking bullshit!”
>”Watch your tongue Craig, if you want to die that badly I'll gladly fulfill your wish.”
>Cedric grabs Craig and holds his mouth closed while pushing him down and giving him a serious berating
>Then he turns to Silas
>”I'm sorry my Lord, he doesn't know what's best for him.”
>Cedric probably saved his life for the thousandth time now
>Silas gives a grunt and continues
>”Now as I said, there is a possibility that if this variable is fulfilled, we will apparently end up in a place where we can't even breath the air and will all die in less than a heartbeat.”
>Sounds like Silas lost his patience as well
>”It has something to do with an exchange, but I haven't translated enough to be sure.”
>This time Rexor acts up “It is all fine and good Lord Silas, but can we finally START this? I really don't want to get killed now that there is a chance of escape!”
>Silas looks insulted
>”I just wanted to let you know the dangers, but if you rather walk blindly in to your doom, so be it!”
>The Archmage walks towards the group of mercenaries
>”Stay close to me, this is not supposed to be cast on several people. If you are too far away, you will cease to exist... probably.”
>You surround the Archmage and get as close as possible
>He lifts his arms, nothing happens
>A knight of the Inquisition appears outside the barrier
>He strikes with his sword and kicks and rams but to no avail
>The barrier stands

>You are filled with fear and anticipation, there is still hope, yet death is so close
>The number of knights increases with every moment, but the barrier holds
>Now Silas's eyes become white as snow and the veins on his forehead swell considerably
>His eyes are actually emitting light
>”No matter what you see on the other side, keep your calm boys!” Cedric shouts
>He shouts because there is a strong wind blowing that becomes louder with every second, like a tornado is forming in this very room
>The knights shout something
>You don't care to listen
>You just want to stay as close to the Archmage as possible
>Then a mage of the Inquisition appears
>”Archmage Silas! You and your minions are under arrest in the name of the Holy Inquisition! You will answer for your crimes against nature and god!”
>He strikes the barrier with an arc of lightning
>The barrier shatters
>Bolts shoot through the doorframe as soon as the barrier is gone
>Adrenaline shoots through your veins
>Silas shouts in an inhuman voice
>The light he emits is becoming much more intense at a frightening speed
>Craig leaves the formation to fend off the incoming knights
>He screams as he is pierced by a sword
>The rude mercenary stumbles backwards
>Then the light engulfs everything
>It feels unreal, unnatural
>Everything fades to black like someone just closed the only window to a pitch black room
>You don't know if your eyes are open or closed
>You scream for your comrades, not daring to move a muscle
>But you can't hear your own voice
>You don't even feel the vibrations of your own voice in your throat
>An eternity passes
>Or was it just a second?
>Then in an instant

>Everything appears again
>Like someone turned on a light
“AAAH!”
>You jump away from the group
>It doesn't look like the tower at all
>But the Inquisition is still there
>Far away at the far side of the huge room you are in
>It has a sinister look to it though
>And the dark forms of your foes can be seen even if you can't make out their features from that far, but they look different
>You look to your comrades
>They have scrambled as well
>Except for Torlan
>He just stands there
>You come closer
>Your heart is racing
>It feels like it could burst out of your chest at any moment, only in the wildest of battles have you felt like this
>Torlan got pierced by several bolts, chest, stomach, this is bad...
>His leather armor didn't pose much of an obstacle
>Craig lies on the ground
>Or what's left of him
>Only his upper torso lies there
>His guts are spilled everywhere over the ground
>And Cedric also lies on the ground unmoving
>A bolt is protruding from his left eye
>Shit
>You run to Torlan
“Stay with me Torlan! You hear me?”
>He coughs up a huge amount of blood
>His breaths are short and frantic
>You saw a lot of injured men
>He is done for

>Your best friend is about to die
>He will drown on his own blood
>”It's okay... just... a... “
>He coughs uncontrollably
“Keep calm, help will arrive soon! Stay with me!”
>He grins
>It looks terrible with blood dribbling from his chin
>He looks around
>Rexor is walking in circles
>Walter watches the incoming foes with his hand on his weapon
>Silas is on his knees, completely exhausted and gasping for air
>Torlan takes a glimpse of Cedric's and Craig's bodies
>He stumbles
>You grab him and help him stand
>He grabs around your shoulder and leans on you
>This fucking Inquisition!
>They will bleed for this
>”Ano-”
>He coughs more and more blood
>You are sprinkled by now
“Torlan! Relax, everything will be fine, but you have to relax you hear me?!”
>He got hit by five bolts
>They are almost completely inside
>Torlan coughs up a laugh and points at your side
>There is a bolt protruding from your left side
>It doesn't hurt though, yet
>”Anon!”
>Walter calls you

>He points to the incoming enemy
>You turn around
>And the pain catches up to you
>It hurts like hell
>Your stomach muscles cramp uncontrollably as you fend of the pain
>It only bleeds a little
>A little for a bolt wound at least
>You can hear the sound of hooves
>They even brought cavalry!
>Those bastards!
>And buzzing! Like bees or similar insects! What the-
>You pull your weapon as they come closer
>Is there a way out of this?
>You will have to fight this time
>And they outnumber you ten to one
>At least
>Rexor is rampaging
>He thrashes everything and screams like an animal
>Walter just stands there
>Silas has regained his breath
>He looks around
>There is no way out, you are trapped
>Then a rip opens in the wall behind you
>”Silas, was that you?” Walter shouts
>The Archmage looks angry and shakes his head
>”No, this is a portal, and a trap! They want us to go through!”
>This is way too convenient, why would somebody rescue you?
>Rexor wastes no time, he is desperate
>”Through here!”, he shouts
“He is right Lord Silas, there is no other choice! We have to!”
>The Inquisition is almost there, it looks like they created a new abomination

>Horse like creatures some with horns, some with insect like wings, some with both and others with neither
>The dark green and cobalt blue tint is unlike the Inquisitions style, but what do you know about them?
>They won't get you alive!
>You walk through the rip in the wall with Torlan on your shoulder
>There is another room beyond, and this doesn't looks like the dark one you just came out of
>It is a long room with a dark crimson carpet
>The walls are decorated by large, mostly green colored windows that depict some pictures of heroic deeds
>But you don't care
>Because you are expected by an armed group of these creatures
>You come to a halt besides your comrades
>Torlan collapses
>He pulls you with him to the ground
“TORLAN!”
>Walter pulls you up and away from Torlan
“We can still save him!!!”
>”ANON! Pull yourself together! It's over!”
>You are glad you are wearing a full helmet, otherwise everyone could see you cry while you fall on your ass, holding your side
>You took a nasty hit, it hurts like a hot iron was shoved up in there
>A big one of these creatures steps forward
>Definetly female
>She has a long gnarled horn and a strand of hair flows down between her big green eyes
>”Who are you!?”

>She sounds angry as can be
>And she looks like it too
>Behind you the portal is exited by a group of six of these creatures
>A dark purple tinted, a deep dark cyan with different shades of green and blue hair, a slightly pink one, a light colored one with deep violet hair that looks styled ,a yellowish one with pinkish hair and a slightly orange one with almost blonde hair and a black stetson
>They have holes in their legs, yet they seem to stand without trouble
>There are more coming but you don't care right now
>They trapped you efficiently
>You just want to pull this bolt out of your side for now
>The purple one shouts
>”Queen Chrysalis, don't let them fool you. One of them is King Sombra, we saw them transform in a flash of light!”
>Rexor is at the edge of his sanity
>He twitches and clenches his teeth until a thin stream of blood emerges
>Walter is sweating like mad, you can feel his fear
>Only Silas keeps his composure
>The big one called Queen takes another step forward
>She starts eloquent ”If you surrender, we may-”
>Rexor loses it, he runs towards Chrysalis with his axe swinging
>”YOU FUCKING ABOMINATIONS!!! I WILL KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!”
>Chrysalis rolls her eyes
>He might be mad at this point, but he is right
>Better die now fighting, than getting tortured to death over the course of years
>Walter gives you a nod
>A nod that says everything

>He runs after Rexor with his sword at the ready
>And Silas starts with his magic as he walks forward casually
>You still sit there, fumbling the bolt out of your body
>Shock makes you shudder uncontrollably
>Looks like you are bleeding inside
>Rexor is the first to die, his axe got stuck in his first victim
>He is instantly swarmed by a group of the smaller ones
>It looks like he is being eaten alive, only for a moment he screams in agony, then it's over
>Walter doesn't make it much farther
>The queen only glances his way
>Her horn is engulfed in green flames for a moment and Walter just...
>It looked like an explosion made out of blood
>There is nothing left of him
>Then the Archmage attacks
>The dark guards gallop toward him
>He swings his arm in an arc
>The guards fall down and wail in pain as they age in moments until their deaths
>And even then they continue, until there is little left than ashes
>Chrysalis throws green fire at him
>It engulfs him completely

>But when the fire dies down he still stands unharmed
>”You have to try harder than that, you fools and your Inquisition are nothing but a joke to me!”
>He lifts his arms and starts a big spell
>You still try to rip out that bolt
>By now you have done more damage than there was before
>The steps behind you would make you jump up if you had the strength left
>You have to lean to the side of the bolt, or otherwise the pain is unbearable
>You turn around and those six are onto you
>They just look at you, circling around you like predators looking for a weak spot
>Your constant shuddering and heavy breathing probably shows them you're injured
>Or the blood that trails down your body
>You hear Silas scream
>He is being torn apart, literally
>Blood splatter everywhere along with his insides
>You look back to the six
>They have cornered you by now
>The blonde one speaks up
>”Ya' know pardner, if you jus' lay down ya' weapons, we won't have t'murder you like ya friends' over there.”
>She nods to the bloody remains with an evil glint in her eyes
>Surrender just to get tortured to death?
>You should fight
>But your weapon gets heavier and heavier, and you are so tired
>You could just close your eyes and take a nap
>NO!
>FIGHT!
>They've killed Torlan! And Cedric! And Walter, Craig, Rexor even Silas now!

>You will avenge them!
“I will...”
>'Never surrender to the Inquisition!'
>The words get stuck in your throat
>You lift your weapon, this will send the message
>But it is ripped from your hand by a purple flash
>The sudden pull makes you stumble into the creatures
>One of them immediately latches on to you
>You grab it with both hands, but are unable to pry it off
>”Be careful Applejack!”
>The Applejack creature gives you a few hard smacks against the helmet, it dents under the force
>Under such a brutal assault you waver, every hit could kill a grown boar and if not for your armor, two of the likes of you
>Applejack stops when you fall to your knees
>She has a mad grin all over her face, showing you rows of needle like teeth
>She grabs you by the collar
>”Twi, can yer get this damn metal off? Ah can't see a thing like that.”
>Someone grabs you from behind and yanks on your helmet, the straps are quickly found and undone
>There goes your helmet
>By now you've given up
>Applejack inspects you, then she licks over the corner of your mouth
>Apparently you have a bleeding lip
>She visibly savors the taste
>This isn't good for you, is it?

>If they are some kind of vampiric sub- or cross-breed you are fucked
>All attention is drawn to the big cheese
>She walks up to you and your assailant
>”Stop fooling around my little changeling, we still have-”
>She lowers her gnarled black horn right in front of your face and a green light fills your vision
>Suddenly the pain is gone, a warm fuzzy felling engulfs your being
>You forget about the dead
>All that fills your mind is this...beautiful creature that deserves nothing less than total obedience and love
>The light ceases and you can see again
>It seems like some time has passed, you are wearing nothing but a black tattered loincloth and a sturdy black iron collar with a short chain attached
>Your wound is treated, yet you feel something odd
>Something inside you, a need that wants to be satisfied
>Like a long gone addiction that came back to life
>You look around
>You see no door or windows
>There are small holes everywhere, none of them big enough for you to fit through
>The room looks...organic
>The floor and the walls are strange, yet comfortably warm
>Then a small, light portion of a wall seems to melt away
>Opaque feelings spring to life as the one called Chrysalis steps inside
>You can feel eyes from all directions upon you
>At first you feel frightened, afraid of the torture that may follow, but then those feelings simply subside
>Chrysalis just stands there with an expecting look on her face, you can see that purple one behind her taking notes
>You feel strange
“What's happening?”

>”Ah, now, don't be shy, please describe what you feel my dear Anon.”
>She knows your name...
>Why is this making you happy?
>You feel an urge to obey...without much thought you do as she said
“I feel...weird. I know I should be afraid, yet I am calm.”
>The purple one scribbles like mad
“I feel...drawn to you, strangely compelled to touch you. I...want to satisfy your every wish, please use me as you see fit! I would even sacrifice my life for you, just to make you smile! Please, I beg you!”
>You quickly kneel in front of her, your Queen is all you can think of
>Chrysalis can't suppress her laughter “Hahaha! Wonderful! Hm hm hmmm, it worked out so well! Well done Twilight, I am most pleased with the result. This will solve all the problems for food throughout my empire.”
>You don't know what your Queen is talking about, but you are happy to help her, no matter how
>The changeling queen lays her holey forehooves around your neck and comes close, her big emerald eyes set on you...you only need to tilt your head and you can kiss her...but...what if she gets mad with you?
>Fuck it!
>You return her embrace and give her a quick peck on her lips
“I-I love you so much!”
>Her expression changes from surprised to...a grin from one ear to the other after you said those words
>She seems euphoric “Bursting with love now, aren't you? Hm hm hm...wonderful.”
>You went down in history as the first love-slave, a magically enhanced type of slave who can hardly be killed by getting his love drained. You remained at Chrysalis's side for the rest of your fulfilled life.
>”Ah! That was delicious, I'll come back tomorrow, maybe for a little more intense...feeding, hm hm hm...”