Chapter V: "There’s no one else here,"

>The slow clomping of your feet ebbs loudly across the tunnels.
>Your side is burning, you don’t know how long you were running.
>You only stopped when you almost ran directly into a “DANGER” sign.
>It was only after stopping that you realized that your body literally couldn’t push you any further.
>Now you can barely walk in between your heavy breaths.
>Despite how far away you are now, you can still feel them there.
>Disowning you as their friend.
>Because you just don’t deserve them.
>Now you’re alone.
>And completely lost.
>The this tunnel looks the same as every other one, and the map is completely empty of landmarks.
>There’s no way you can ever find your way out of here.
>…
>Why are you even bothering to keep moving?
>You slump onto a wall and slowly slide down to rest on the floor.
>You concentrate on catching your breath.
>Why did you do it?
>Why did you have to tell them?
>Why did you even hurt him in the first place?
>…
>You could have lied, you could have fluffed up the truth and made him look like the bad guy.
>He’d do the same in your position.
>Not that he would need to, telling that story.
>Did you really think your friends would forgive you for that?
>Just because they had forgiven you before?
>Forgiveness is not something you get, it’s something you suffer for.
>Anon has taught you that much.
>If you had lied and gotten caught, they would have hated you.
>But they hate you now anyway.
>So what was the point?
>Because telling the truth is the right thing to do?
>What a good person would do?
>You’re not sure you even know how to be a good person anymore.

>Your breathing mediates and slowly starts to return to normal.
>You begin to listen to the darkness around you.
>Hoping for something, for anything.
>But of course, nothing comes.
>What exactly where you expecting?
>You ran for god knows how long, as if there’s a chance anyone would be here.
>Didn’t you say to yourself before that you don’t care if you’re lost forever?
>You’re such a hypocrite.
>You deserve this.
>You pull your knees up close to your chest and put your arms around them.
>Your breathing is back to normal now.
>And there’s no sound around you.
>…
>Surely this must have happened before? Someone getting lost?
>The map is unreadable, the tunnel is a mess.
>They must have a procedure for this, right?
>Unless Crystal Prep just abandons their students as failures if they get lost.
>Or maybe they’d just abandon you here.
>Not like MacRoonie, or any of the CP faculty would show you much compassion if they were given the choice.
>And considering how much she distrusts you, would Cheerilee even care to lend a voice?
>…
>That’s crazy.
>Crystal Prep would never live it down if a student got lost on their watch.
>What are you thinking?
>This trip is driving you out of your mind.
>Just like Anon is.
>Just like everything is.
>You ran into a maze because you couldn’t deal with your guilt and now you’re sat down in a cave, listening endlessly, hoping fruitlessly to hear something.
>…
>But you can hear something.

>A slow, gradual beating of shoes on stone.
>It’s louder than you would expect.
>Almost aggressive.
>The person is either incredibly large or intentionally stamping their feet on the ground.
>Neither thought is very reassuring.
>A shadow appears.
>It’s unrecognisably distorted, looking like some demented skeleton stretched across the wall, reaching to the tip of the ceiling.
>You feel your muscles freeze up and lock you in place.
>Despite the fact that this… person could be your only chance of getting out of here.
>You’re still a young girl.
>Who is very exhausted.
>And very alone.
>The shadow starts to shrink down to a more realistic size as it approaches.
>You start to make out various distinguishing features.
>Thin.
>Reasonable height.
>Probably male.
>…
>Spikey hair.
>Flash Sentry turns the corner and witnesses you curled up pathetically on the ground.
>”Whoah, dude, Sunset. I thought I heard somebody down here.”
>For the first time ever, you’re actually glad to see him
>Better than a rapist.
>Or worse.
>…
“H-hey Flash.”
>Your voice comes out as a hoarse cough.
>”Good timing, I was planning to run into you.”
>Planning?
>Oh god he wants to harass you about Twilight again.
“Flash, If it’s about Twilight can it wait?”
>You cough to try and clear your throat.
>It’s incredibly dry.
“I got separated from my group and I’m not really feeling up to talking right now.”
>Flash keeps walking towards you as you’re talking.
>He doesn’t answer you.
>Either he didn’t hear you because your voice is so weak, or he’s just choosing not to listen.

”Flash?”
>He clasps your forearm.
>Before you can react he yanks you up to your feet.
>Pain shoots up your legs as your knees are forced to rapidly flex out of their stiff position.
“Ow! What the hell Flash!?”
>”You’re going to talk to me. Now.”
>What is his issue?
>Why can’t he just get over Twilight already?
>You are NOT in the mood for his crying again.
>”I’ve been very patient with you Sunset, It’s been what, four months now that I’ve been asking?”
>He’s been keeping track?
>How creepy can you get.
“Why do you care so much about Twilight, Flash?”
>Flash could have his pick of any of the air-headed bimbos at Canterlot if he wanted.
>Plays music, spikey hair, wears a leather jacket.
>Despite how painfully cliché it all is, it works on most girls.
>So why does he only ever want the girls it doesn’t work on?
>He sighs.
>”You never could get a grasp on romance Sunset. Me and Twi, we got a connection, nothing we had ever even came close.”
>Your roll your eyes.
>This again
“You knew her for what, a week, Flash?”
>He smirks at you.
>”You don’t need long to know It’s true love Sunset.”
>True love?
>You’d puke but you don’t think you could handle losing any more moisture.
“Flash… grow up. She barely even knew you. If she actually felt the same way she would come back and visited you at least once by now.”
>His grip on your arm tightens.
>You wince in pain as it happens.
>”Look who’s telling who to grow up now. If you were actually mature when we were going out then you have to be the biggest prude never known to man.”
>If it’s prudent to not want to find out if Flash is as rough in the sack as he is with kisses then you’d hate to see what Flash considers trashy

>You’ve had quite enough of him trying to crush your forearm.
>You try to pry yourself loose with your free hand, only to find that he won’t budge an inch.
>”And what’s this crap about her not wanting to see me? You know she’s a fucking princess right? She can’t find time to see me because every moment of her miserable days and nights working, probably thinking about me every time she gets the opportunity, heartbroken that she made the choice to walk away from the love of her life.”
>What kind of delusional reasoning is this?
>He’s absolutely insane if he really thinks that’s what’s going on.
“Flash, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. How would I even get Twilight’s attention for you if she was so busy should couldn’t even think?”
>He closes his eyes and shakes his head.
>”I dunno, somehow you’ve done it before though, I’ve seen you with that book, I know you’ve gotten Twilight to come here before. You came from that world and you know its secrets.
>He opens his eyes.
>“That’s why I know you’re lying cunt when you say you can’t get her to come here.”
>Well he’s certainly not making a good case for himself if he wants your help.
>You’re amazed how so many people like this tool.
>Why did you ever date him, no status is worth associating with Flash.
“Piss off Flash. I’m done asking Twilight about this, you and I’m done with this conversation if you’re going to speak to me like that!”
>You try more violently to pry your arm from his grasp, digging your nails into the visible bone beneath the surface of his skin.
“I’m- glad the Twilight from Crystal Prep turned you down, she deserv-“
>Flash clamps his fingers around your other arm.
>”that bitch isn’t Twilight!”
>You jump back at his sudden outburst, but quickly whip back as his iron grasp pulls you back and off balance.

>”Twilight is my princess. The little bitch wearing her face wouldn’t even stop to talk to me.”
>You scramble to find your footing again
“Flash, let go of me.”
>”I was patient with her as well, I even gave her the benefit of the doubt and let her have another shot at me. But she fucked that one up as well!”
>He starts to walk forward, forcing you to stumble back.
“F-Flash, I’m serious-“
>”Shut up! I’m done being turned down by flat-chested autistic mistakes and I’m sick of waiting on you wasting my time.”
>He’s not smirking anymore.
“Flash-“
>”I mean what is it with you? You actually have the nerve to try and set up that snot-coloured smart-ass with that crazy piece of ass from CP but you won’t so much as throw me a bone when it comes to Twilight. I thought we were meant to help each other out?”
“H-help each other out? That ended about the time you decided to ditch me and started turning everyone in Canterlot against me!”
>He raises his eyebrow.
>”That? That was your fault. You never did learn how to make people like you on your own.”
>…
>”Not my fault you got left behind when people got tired of your mean girl shtick.”
>Your elbow scratches by a metal object.
>You pull it back and see that you’ve passed by the “Danger” sign.
>Is he…?
>”Look Sunset, I’ll keep this very simple.”
>You feel your boots scrape by loose stone.
>”I’m out of patience, so I’m not going to wait any longer. You’re going to have Twilight, the real Twilight, meet me in the courtyard tomorrow morning.”
>You screech as your foot paces backwards and finds nothing but empty space.
>Your other foot and Flash are the only things holding you on the ground.
>”If you don’t, then that’s it.”
>You turn back.
>Nothing but blackness.

>Your leg flays erratically, desperately searching for solid ground.
>As you do he forces you out even more.
>You manage to land your leg on the tip of crumbling rock.
>”I’m going…”
>Flash leans forward, arcing you backwards.
>You want to scream.
>But you can’t
>”To lose…”
>He starts to lighten his grip on your arms
>And widening his eyes.
>No, no, no, no no no!
>Your claw madly at his jacket.
>”My grasp…”
>He slowly releases his fingers one by one, turning his head slowly as he does so.
>You manage to clasp your sweating hands on his jacket.
>Before he lets go completely.
>For a second you’re suspended in air, with nothing but Flash’s jacket to support you.
>For a second you think you’re falling.
>Then his hands slam against your chest as he grabs your jacket.
>Your body is thrown against the wall.
>Your ears fill with ringing as you slide down and crumple to the floor.
>You see Flash pacing back and forth above you.
>His voice comes out in white noise, barely discriminate against the throbbing and ringing inside your skull.
>”….IF you actually think that mentally handicapped… home-schooled piece of regurgitated green shit is going to get fresh with that CP cunt while I’m still alone…”
>He points at you, mouthing volatile words that you can’t make out.
>Then he starts to walk away, smacking the danger sign as he goes.
>He rounds the corner and finally disappears, leaving you shivering against the wall.
>You want to scream, to cry, anything.
>But the combination of an incredibly dry throat and dangling on the edge of a bottomless pit has stolen your voice.
>Not that anyone seems to listen anymore anyway.

>The world around you distorts and wavers for a long time while you sit pacified on the ground.
>The ringing dies down and so does the throbbing.
>Eventually, after an indiscriminate amount of time you start to recognise the rough interior of the tunnel.
>And the fact that you’re still inches from that seemingly bottomless pit.
>You’d get away from it but your legs are stiff again.
>So instead you stay on the ground, reminding yourself that that actually happened.
>Flash is insane.
>He’s going to kill you if you don’t get Twilight to talk to you.
>He’s going to kill you for that.
>He almost killed you just then.
>If it wasn’t for the the fact you’re wearing that hard-hat…
>Anon is insane
>No matter what he won’t even give you a chance to fix anything.
>He wants you to suffer just so he can feel better.
>Everything is insane.
>It’s driving you insane.
>…
>You’re still lost here.
>Flash wasn’t exactly helpful in solving that problem.
>At least he won’t be able to kill you if you die down here.
>Your eyelids start to weigh down your vision.
>You’re such an idiot.
>’Girl ran away and got lost forever on an excursion, fellow students are stupefied that she did it’
>Twilight would have never gotten lost in here.
>Princess Twilight or the Twilight from Crystal Prep.
>You’re an idiot for running away and you’re an idiot for thinking you could ever fill Twilight’s shoes.
>Your eyelids flutter as you hear footsteps approaching down the tunnel.
>Oh god.
>He’s coming back again, isn’t he?
>No.
>No.
>NO.
>You’d rather be here alone then deal with Flash again.
>You scramble at the walls, trying to find some support so you can bring yourself to your feet.
>Eventually you manage to grasp something and bring yourself up to about chest-height as the long shadow reappears at the end of the hallway.
>You look back at the pit.
>It’s either that or whatever Flash has prepared for you.
>You turn back to the encroaching shadow.

>It’s now or never.
>Before you can make a decision you realize that your legs are frozen in place.
>You grip at the wall to hold you steady, but it doesn’t stop your legs from shaking.
>You don’t get it.
>You’ve dealt with Flash before.
>For almost three entire years, probably more.
>God damn it you’re pathetic.
>You clutch at your ears in some vain attempt to try and drown out your own thoughts.
>You hold them so tightly you almost can’t make out the familiar voice calling out for you.
>”Sunset, is that you?”
>You turn back to the shadow to see it’s been replaced by a familiar girl in glasses.
>”Oh Sunset, thank god I found you.”
>You let your hands gradually creep back to their normal position as you stare wide-eyed at Twilight.
>Her brow furrows in concern as you fail to move at all in response to her presence.
>”Sunset are you okay?”
>If you don’t even know how to feel.
>Then how can you know that even she’s real?
>She steps towards you and reaches out her hand.
>What are you thinking Sunset?
>It’s Twilight!
>The vigour of your legs miraculously returns as you spring off the ground and throw your arms around her.
>You bury your head in her shoulder as she squeaks in surprise.
>Probably also because your helmets scraped each other as you made contact.
“I’m so sorry Twilight. I-I…”
>She grabs your hands and gently removes them from her person, holding them adjacent to her head.
“I’m sorry for everything I did. Please forgive me.”
>You keep your head down.
>You don’t want to look her in the eyes.
>She you notice that she’s breathing heavily
>”You should be Sunset! Do you even know how long it took to find you? Cheerilee’s probably got all sorts of search looking for us right now. Think before you go running off like that!”

>That’s what she’s angry about?
>You look her in the face now.
>You need to know what she’s thinking.
>Her brow is angled in anger.
>And there are tears in her eyes
>”What on earth would we do if you were just… gone!?”
>She indignantly slaps your arms away and crosses her own.
>You stare at her.
“I-I, I didn’t meant to, I was just..”
>”Just what?”
>She taps her finger on her arm.
“Terrified.”
>The tapping stops.
>”Of what?”
>You look away from her.
“That… after I told you about me and Anon…. you would…“
>You allow your voice to trail off as you stare into the corner.
>”Sunset…”
>Here she’ll say it like he did.
>Perhaps, after all, the hole would have been a better bid.
>”Do you really think I was going to stop being your friend because of that?”
>…
>”You saved me Sunset, I can’t ever forget that.”
>You don’t know why you’re thinking like this.
>You look her in the eyes again and smile.
>She doesn’t even need to try to say the perfect thing.
>At least outside of texts.
>You’ll never understand why she was so unpopular at Crystal Prep.
>She’s still glaring at you.
>You wipe away at your eyes.
“I’m sorry Twilight.”
>…
“And thank you”
>She sighs.
>”It’s okay Sunset… It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”
>Okay
>Not quite, but at least you’re no longer going to die in an impossible to traverse maze.
>Which begs the question…
“How did you find me?”
>This time Twilight smiles.
>”I almost didn’t. But then I remembered something Anon said.”
>She pulls up her hand to reveal a small device as it makes a soft popping noise.
>You’re amazed you hadn’t noticed it before.
>”You’re responsible for a lot of magic, Sunset.”

“Anon wasn’t lying about that?”
>You stare wide-eyed at the device in Twilight’s hand
>How was his device not too sensitive?
>”I was betting on it, although it was hard to tell which one was you.”
>She turns a dial on the device, causing it to emit a series of buzzes and blips
“Wait, you mean the girls? All of them show up on the… Magic-o-Metre?”
>Twilight winces as you mention the name.
>”I assume so, I mean what else could it be?”
>She stares blankly at the screen as the device crackles.
>”It was pretty obvious which was you… or well… there was a reading way bigger than the others and I sort of just hoped it was you.”
>Why would your magic be so much stronger than the rest of the girls?
>Something doesn’t add up here.
>...
>It’s not important.
>Probably just more of your own paranoia
>But that can wait until you get out of here.
>There are more important questions.
“Speaking of which, where are the girls? They didn’t come with you?”
>Twilight continues to look at the device.
>”After you ran off we lost track of you pretty fast.”
>She slowly runs her fingers over some buttons, not looking at you.
>Probably still mad at you, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.
>”Since Rarity and Fluttershy couldn’t read the map on their own I told them how to get back to the starting area and to tell Ms. Cheerilee.”
>You scratch at your head.
“She would have started a search as soon as they got to her, how long ago was that??”
>Twilight rubs the back of her neck.
>”Uh…”
>She lets go of the device with on hand and brings out her phone.
>”About forty minutes… It took a while considering this place is still a maze and I only had a rough idea of where you were.”
>She looks at her device again.
>”It’s a little strange actually…”

>It occurs to you that you never once tried to call anyone for help.
>You pull out your own phone to observe that you have no notifications.
>”Don’t bother, there’s no reception this far from town.”
>Figures.
>At least you feel like less of an idiot for not checking it now.
>Not that you’re not an idiot for not checking it.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I just – I just want to get out of here Twilight. You know the way out right?”
>She nods, still looking at the device.
>You knew you could trust Twilight not to be stupid enough to get lost
>Like you.
“You’re the best Twilight. Let’s go before Cheerilee has heart failure.”
>God knows how much trouble you’ll get in for this.
>It’s a load better than staying however.
>You walk past her and the danger sign, stopping at the half-way point of the tunnel.
>”Wait a second Sunset.”
>You realize Twilight isn’t following you.
“Twilight?”
>She turns a switch on the device, causing it to emit a small buzzing noise.
>”I saw Anon on my way over here.”
>Anon again?
>For once you had managed to forget about him.
>…
>It’s been a long time since he occupied so much of your thoughts.
“Anon? You mean with Pinkie’s group?”
>It’s strange to imagine them interacting.
>Hopefully it’s going better than you think it is.
“How far away are they? Maybe we could meet up with them.”
>You could stomach Anon glaring at you if it meant you’d be able to hang with Pinkie.
>Maybe he’d actually be distracted with Sunny
>It would be nice if something you did actually helped him for once.
>Twilight finally takes her gaze away from her device.
>”That’s the thing. He wasn’t. He was on his own.”
>…
>Figures.

>”He wasn’t that far either, the next few tunnels over.”
>This close?
>This is getting ridiculous.
>This spiralling mess of a mine has over a hundred different tunnels and every conceivable direction he could follow, and he ends up in the same place as you.
>Maybe he’s been stalking you.
“What was he even doing?”
>Twilight puts a finger to her chin
>”Y’know, now that you mention it I don’t really know. He was just walking along looking at his phone…”
>Maybe you’re just being paranoid again.
>How would he even have found you in the first place?
>Unless he can read the map he’d be just as lost here as you are.
>…
“Looking at his phone like it was a map?”
>Twilight nods.
>You sigh.
“Then he’s probably lost.”
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>”What makes you think that? He’s not an idiot, he’s not going to…”
>Twilight trails off as you lower your eyebrows.
“Run off and get himself lost?”
>Twilight sighs in response
>”Sorry…. But you know what I mean right?”
>You push some hair behind your ears.
“You don’t need to be an idiot to make bad decisions.”
>Especially when you’re as emotional as Anon is.
“He’s probably had a fallout with Pinkie’s group, and now he’s lost.”
>Probably because you telling him about Sunny sabotaged her.
>Why did you ever think he would listen to you?
“Which means we’d better go and find him before we go back…”
>Twilight rubs her arm.
>”Sorry Sunset, I probably should have asked when I saw him.”
>She walks up to you and past the sign.
>”I was really focused on finding you, and as I said I had been looking for you for forty minutes by then and he looked pretty interested in what he was doing so…”
>You give her a reassuring smile.
“It’s fine Twilight, I’m not blaming you.”

“I’m in no position to blame you anyway, I’m the one who ran off in the first place, and I’d be frustrated if I was running around for almost forty minutes…”
>You trail off.
>Twilight raises her eyebrow.
>It’s been forty minutes.
>Surely he already knew.
>They would have called everyone back right?
>He must have known and he left you here.
>You’re going to freaking kill Flash.
>“Sunset?”
>You realize your eyes are wide.
>Twilight is tilting her head at you, looking concerned.
“Twilight, did you see Flash anywhere near here?”
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>”Flash is here?”
>This time it’s your turn to look confused.
“You didn’t see him? He came from the same way you did, you must have seen him!”
>Twilight shakes her head.
>”Why would Flash be anywhere near here? We’re…”
>Twilight takes a deep breath
>”We’re outside the boundaries of the exhibit.”
>Her mouth starts to quiver.
>”Students aren’t allowed to be here.”
>Twilight turns her head down.
“Not like Flash has never been somewhere he shouldn’t.”
>But Twilight never has.
>Once again you’re making her do something she doesn’t want to do.
>Sorry Twilight.
>”You don’t need to tell me twice, but are you sure that you saw him? His group started at a completely different end then us.”
>You clench your fist.
“I’m sure.”
>Twilight raises her head again, looking sceptical.
>”What makes you so sure?”
>You turn back to the hole.
>Twilight follows your gaze.
“I didn’t run in here and pass out right next to an incredibly dangerous hole. Flash threw me into the wall after threatening me.”
>You rub the back of your head as you remember the pain.
>Twilight turns to you with wide eyes.
>”Flash ASSAULTED you?”
“Pretty much.”
>Twilight adjusts her glasses, eyes still locked open with surprise.
>”Flash Sentry? The same Flash Sentry no one at Canterlot had a bad word to say about?”
>Why does nobody else see how much of a tool that guy is?
>Everyone still remembers when you were mean, why don’t they remember that he was an ass as well.
>Guess he was pretty good at shifting the blame to you.
“Yes that Flash, he had me petering over the edge of that thing and was threatening to drop me.”
>You gesture to the hole as you speak.
>Twilight shakes her head
>”That’s crazy Sunset, why would he do that?”
>Flash is the one who’s crazy.
“Because he’s a psychopath. He’s obsessed with Twilight and threatened me because apparently I can make her come here if I wanted to.”
>Twilight scratches at tuffs of her hair poking out from underneath her hand hat.
>”You mean… the other Twilight? The one from another world?”
>You nod.
>”That would explain why he was so interested in dating me I suppose.”
>Ugh.
>That creep and Twilight.
>You figured he had changed since the two of you were ‘together’, so you didn’t really interfere.
>Guess you were wrong.
>”But that still doesn’t explain why he was here, how he could even be here on his own without being able to read the map. And yeah, sure, he was forward with me, but never aggressive.”
>She stares at you inquisitively for a brief moment.
>”At least not in the way you’re telling it.”
>She doesn’t believe you?
>”Are you sure you didn’t just imagine it Sunset?”

>Is she for real?
>She doesn’t believe you.
>She actually doesn’t believe you.
“Imagined it? How could I imagine being thrown into a wall?!”
>Twilight jumps as you snap at her.
“How do I imagine being dangled over the edge of a bottomless pit, holding on for dear life?”
>You realize your fists are shaking.
>And Twilight is curled back.
>This is all far too familiar.
>You take a deep breath to calm yourself.
>It reminds you how thirsty you still are.
“Sorry Twilight… it’s just-”
>Your voice cracks as you try to speak softly.
>You cough to try to clear your throat.
>”Just that you’re exhausted, and stressed out, and want to get out of this cave. I get it.”
>Twilight tilts her head back and forth in time with her words.
>”In fact I get it because I’m not feeling much better either, alright? So can you not snap at me like that?”
>You try to talk, but cough again.
>You just nod instead.
>Twilight doesn’t seem to acknowledge it however.
>”Maybe Flash was here. Maybe him and his group somehow ended up all the way over here for no reason, a group that I may add, is mysteriously absent. Right?”
>You cough again but somehow manage to croak out an answer.
“He said they were… in a room nearby.”
>Twilight smacks her hands onto her hand hat with a dull clack.
>”What room? There’s nothing here! We’re nowhere near the exhibit!”
>She drops her hands to her side and sighs.
>She… she’s not right, she couldn’t be.
>You drop your vision down and look at the floor to avoid her gaze.
>You can still feel the bruises on your back.
>That had to have been real, right?
>…
>A bottle of water appears in your vision.
>You look at Twilight to see her holding it out to you.
>That jumper sure has a lot of storage space.

>You lightly take the bottle from her hands, giving her the most thankful smile you can muster, before tilting the bottle skyward and taking a generous helping.
>It may seem rude but you need it.
>“Look Sunset, maybe the nicest guy in Canterlot high is actually a psychopath and attacked you to get at the other Twilight.”
>She takes the bottle back from you.
>”I’m not trying to say you’re wrong, I’m trying to say it sounds crazy. No one will believe you.”
>…
>Do people really think Flash is that innocent?
>A reel of memories replays through your head, depicting Flash and his group with their stupid antics, screaming ‘bruh’ at each other at the top of their lungs.
>Who would ever think that guy would threaten to drop you to your death?
>It’s… crazy.
>…
>You sigh, with a much less dry throat this time.
”You’re right Twilight.”
>You cross your arms and hide your face underneath your hard hat.
>Twilight lightly touches your arm.
>”For what it’s worth, I think you’re telling the truth. I’m just not convinced that… that you’re really sure exactly what the truth is.”
>So you’re crazy then?
>That’s what she’s saying.
>…
>You expected that to make you angry, but it doesn’t.
>Maybe it’s because you are crazy.
>…
“It’s okay Twilight… I understand. Can we just go?”
>Twilight looks at you with concern for a moment, before sighing and walking down the tunnel.
>She gestures you to follow as she pulls out her map.
>”I saw Anon about three tunnels over, I marked it on my map. Although there’s no telling how much further he went since then.”
>She stares at the map.
>”It’s strange, the place he was going to isn’t on the map.”

>It’s really incredible.
>Every single tunnel.
>Exactly the same
>A labyrinth through hell.
>No matter how smart Anon is, there’s no way he’d get through this.
>Twilight however somehow manages to lead you through it.
>Even if Crystal Prep imprinted every tunnel into her head so that she would be able to traverse it, you’d still be impressed.
>Even if you can’t rely on your own memories, at least you can rely on Twilight.
>The two of you barely share a word as you follow her.
>One part because you’re afraid to make her lose focus.
>One part because you’re not sure if she’s mad at you or not.
>She has every right to be.
>She came down here and found you, she went outside of the jurisdiction of all three of the supervisors she works so hard to impress and rescued you.
>And all that after hearing about how badly you hurt someone who cared about you…
>After all that, you snapped at her…
>”Here.”
>You pull to a halt a few feet behind her, observing the messy excavation before you.
>You put a hand on your hard-hat.
“Wow, a tunnel that actually looks different.”
>While all the other tunnels were clean, symmetrical and well-lit, this one is dark, looked as if it was hurriedly carved out with a pick, with jagged edges and loose stone scatted around its edges.
>It was also telling that it has a familiar-looking “Danger” sign at its entrance.

>”We should check the other tunnel.”
>Twilight’s eyes are glued to the ominous entrance.
>”I saw him here, but no one in their right mind would go through this.”
>Well then it’s unfortunate that we’re talking about Anon here.
“No, here’s in there.”
>Twilight raises her eyebrow at you.
>”Why would he go into the most dangerous looking tunnel we’ve seen so far?”
>You step forward.
“For one, if he is lost, then this is the only tunnel that looks any different than the others, and after an hour of seeing the same thing and expecting a different result, you can count on him trying something different.”
>You take another step.
“And if he isn’t lost, then this is definitely where he’d be going.”
>Twilight grabs your arm.
>”Sunset, you’re acting crazy again, that makes no sense.”
>Her eyes are scanning, trying desperately to read you, desperately wanting to know.
>You don’t know how to explain it to her, but you’re sure this is where Anon would go.
>You have an idea though.
“Twilight, can you check the Magic-o-Metre?”
>Twilight eyes you as she takes the device out of her pocket.
>She turns her attention to it as it emits its signature popping noise.
>The popping escalates louder as she searches for the source of the signal.
>Eventually ending with the head of the device pointed at the entrance of the tunnel.
>Twilight’s jaw slowly falls open.
>”What… how?”
>You step between her and the tunnel.
“If you’re worried Twilight, you don’t have to come. You’ve already done enough, although I can’t really get out of here without...”
>Twilight shakes her head.
>”No, I’m coming, let’s go.”
>The two of you head into the tunnel, you in front, Twilight slightly behind, eyes on her device.
>As you pass the threshold you ask yourself why you’re putting yourself in danger for the sake of someone who despises you.
>And you tell yourself it’s because it’s the right thing to do.

>The shifting of stone underneath your feet became a background symphony to your movements as you traverse deeper.
>The only other sound being the soft popping of Twilight’s device, who at some point got ahead of you.
>You assume it’s because she is becoming progressively more eager to discover what the source of the signal is.
>You were happy to let her do so.
>The rocks reveal little of this tunnel’s significance as the illumination of your phone brushes over their surface.
>Something about this dark tunnel feels unsettling to you.
>”How in the world did you know that there’s something magical in here?”
>Twilight is whispering her words.
>Maybe she feels something strange here too.
>Stranger still is the fact that you don’t really have an answer for her.
“To tell you the truth I don’t really know, I just felt something. I can’t explain it.”
>Twilight bumps her head against a low hanging rock, stopping the two of you for a moment.
>”I feel something here alright, and it’s not nice.”
>She rubs her head and continues on.
>You stumble in turn behind her.
“I’m sorry Twilight, we’ll keep going just a little further then we can head back.”
>At the very least it won’t be hard to retrace your steps.
>This tunnel has been a straight curvy path to the end so far.
>”So you think Anon is in here just because there’s something magical in here? Assuming he’s not somehow the one responsible the signal.”
“Because Anon is a lot of things, one of those things is obsessed with magic, one of the things he is not is afraid of adversity.”
>Twilight peers at you from over her shoulder.
>”He seemed pretty scared when Sunny and Jet were trying to talk to him.”
>You shake your head.
“It’s people that scare him. People combined with a distinct lack of adversity.”
>Before Twilight can respond a loud noise breaks above the systematic popping of her device.

>A shuffling of rocks, a large stone tumbling down from some unknown direction.
>It is close, but not in the immediate vicinity.
>It is far but close enough to make the two of you duck down in surprise.
>Slowly as you realize that there is no danger, at least at this moment, you rise back up and exchange glances.
>Twilight’s breaths softly yet hurriedly, gazing at you with suspenseful eyes.
>Do you think it’s him?
>That’s what her silence asks you.
>You shrug in response.
>She sighs, turns back and advances forward.
>You creep along behind her.
>As you walk, Twilight switches off her device, silencing the rhythmic popping and allowing you to listen more clearly for signs of Anon’s presence.
>You hear no more of stones shuffling, you do however hear a strange buzzing noise, like static, except less consistent.
>The noise fluctuates up and down, as if it was a blank TV screen with someone trying to get reception by repositioning its antenna.
>Not long after the two of you begin to hear the noise, you notice a small light besides your own start to become visible as you are lead along the tunnel’s curve.
>The light is unnatural; placid and white, unmoving and harsh.
>Like the light of an electronic.
>You’re certain it has to be him.
>The corner feels like it extends on forever, neither the light nor the noise seem to escalate as you approach, they stay static, as if you were standing still.
>After a time, as you almost begin to consider that you’re stuck in some ironic time-loop, the corner abruptly ends, opening up into a long, broad stretch, cleaner and more open than the tunnel.
>At its end is a large hole.
>And Anon, on his hands and knees, brushing away at the rim of the hole and pushing loose rock out of the way.

>To his side the source of the light.
>His phone, blazing far beyond what you’d expect from a normal handheld device.
>The phone is also the source of the static noise, which seems to have plateaued with a consistent pitch.
>Above its humming you can vaguely make out Anon’s voice.
>He’s muttering to himself.
>Angrily.
>Twilight approaches cautiously, holding her phone up to try and get a clearer picture.
>Anon gets up on his knees and clutches at his hard hat.
>He slowly lets his hands fall to his side, then whips around.
>His eyes are wide with alarm, and his breathing is heavy.
>His eyes dart between the two of you and his mouth trembles.
>You carefully pace forward, one hand above your head holding your phone, the other loosely at your side.
“Anon? Are you okay?”
>His stare twists into a glare.
“Anon, calm-“
>”Shut up!”
>He scrambles to his feet, kicking more rocks down the chasm.
>What is it with these holes?
>”The first thing you do here is lie. What are you doing here? How did you get here?”
>He clutches his hard hat again, pulling it down.
>”Why won’t you just get away from me!”
>You don’t know what you expected.
>This is what he gives you after all you and Twilight did?
>In the background you hear her pacing over stone towards you.
>She doesn’t need to be closer
>For trying to help Anon, it’s only you who needs to pay the price.
>But at this point, what’s even the point in trying to play nice?
“What I’m doing here is trying to help you.”
>He snorts.
>”This again? You think I’m so stup-“
“Yes, I do think you’re stupid. You’re in a dark mine by yourself that you couldn’t possibly find your way out of on your own, near a gaping hole in the ground that you could easily fall into at any moment.”

>Anon stares in surprise, mouth still locked mid-word.
“You always do this, you’re acting crazy because you’re upset”
>He wipes his hand over his face and glares at you again.
>”Upset?! You-you think I’d actually let myself fall down a hole? Or get lost for that matter? Just because I’m not nepotistic enough to have gotten a person Crystal Prep escort doesn’t mean I’m lost.”
>You raise your eyebrow.
“So you can read the map then?”
>He snorts.
>”I’m not dependant on anything those braindead supervisors give me.”
>You cross your arms.
“Yeah, I’m not buying it.”
>He abruptly ducks down and snatches up his phone.
>It emits a jolt of static noise as its position is disrupted.
>He shines it in your face, gesturing to its screen.
>It details a complex looking collections of meter, like one you’d see on a car’s dashboard.
>”This lead me here, it can lead me out. Now there’s very little reason for the two of you to linger in my presence, so get out of here and just.
>He waves the phone in your face as he speaks.
>Your eyes scrunch shut each time it comes close to physical contact.
>”Just do me the first favour you’ve done me in four years and forget you ever saw me.”
>You clasp your hand around his wrist, stopping his menacing waving in mid-air.
>Static noise bursts from the phone as he rears back in surprise, his leg stepping over the circumference of the hole.
>You pull on his arm as he almost falls backwards, pulling him from the maw of the pit.
>He stumbles forward, throwing his hand out for support.
>It lands on your arm.
>Almost immediately he whips it off of you.
>”Sunset!”
>Twilight grips your other arm.
>You peer at her from over your shoulder to observe her glaring at you.
>You’re meant to be helping him.
>That’s what she tells you.
>But since when did she tell Sunset what to do?

>You clutch your hard-hat, surprised at the thought that just made its way into your head.
>You’re tugged back to Anon as he tries to free himself from your grasp.
>It turns out that after all this time you’re still stronger than him.
>He emits an exasperated chuckle
>”Resorting to physical force again? Do you see this? She still hasn’t changed.”
>You sigh.
>You pull his hand down to about waist level.
“Listen Anon. I came here to help you, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now.”
>He doesn’t answer, he just glares.
“I’m really, really tired, and believe me, I would like to just leave you here and pretend like you’ll be okay, but I can’t.”
>With his cold reception, why bother with this kind disposition?
>You don’t owe him anything, he won’t appreciate it, so why both giving?
>…
>But you do owe him something…
“Just… just come with me and get out of here okay? If you don’t one of the teachers will probably come after you eventually anyway.”
>He continues to glare.
>You let go of his wrist and raise your hands up to your sides.
“I’m not forcing anymore okay. I just… I can’t leave here without you.”
>Anon steps again to the edge of the hole, clutching his wrist.
>He narrows his eyes at you, before turning them onto his phone.
>He stares at it for a long time.
>”Anon, please. Sunset came here to help you, she means it.”
>Twilight steps closer.
>She’s put her phone away.
>Anon twirls his gaze towards her.
>”Of all people, I don’t know why you’d want to leave, Twilight.”
>Twilight’s response is to raise her eyebrows and cross her eyes.
>”Do you even know where we are right now?”
>He turns back to you.
>”I won’t let you pull me away from this Sunset. Not now. I’m not leaving.”
>You pull your palm to your forehead.
“Why do you have to make everything so hard Anon…”
>He shakes his head.
>”You’re the one who made this hard by coming here in the first place! Just leave me to die in the ditch you’ve left me in!”


>…
>As his words hit you, the world around you seems to collapse.
>His foot scraps upon the circumference one last time before the ground beneath him gives way.
>As if you were in the same tired dream again, he falls backwards, throwing his arms out to you for support.
>Your phone flies out of your hand as your reach it out to his.
>Your legs propel you towards him as he descends, pushing against your own survival instincts.
>Miraculously, your hands make contact, and you manage to clasp your own around his.
>However, as Twilight’s scream echoes from behind you, you feel your feet dive into emptiness where there was once solid ground.
>You feel another hand clasp around the arm you left behind you, offering its support to try and cease your dive into the darkness.
>Unfortunately, even with Twilight, it’s not enough to stop you from falling.
>The rocks and earth crumble all around you as you stare into Anon’s horrified face.
>You feel the both hands still around you as you plunge, and you realize that Twilight must have fallen as well.
>In what feels like a living nightmare, the three of you go hand-in-hand into the abyss.

>You’re not sure how long it is before you awaken in the darkness.
>You’re on a bed of sand, or at least that’s what it feels like.
>It’s pitch black, you can’t see anything.
>You lay there for yet even more time, slowly brushing your hand over the sand and trying to recover your senses.
>The sand would be better described as unnaturally soft rubble, or perhaps some sort of dust. It lacks the coarseness of sand, and is composed of hard clumps that are fused together.
>You wait for the feeling to return to your fingertips, but nothing comes.
>Do you even still have them?
>You scuffle to your knees and press your fingers against your face, feeling the familiar sensation of hard nails on skin.
>You sigh in relief, and notice that your fingertips are as cold as icicles.
>As you pull them off they leave a small burning sting.
>You attempt to stand up, pushing your hands against the dust to lift yourself off.
>As you do, the immediately dust gives way, sending you sliding forward onto your stomach.
>The sudden strain on your muscles sends shots of pain along your arm and down your legs.
>You grunt in pain, reaching for its source.
>Your hand lands on shredded cloth and moisture.
>You assume it must be blood.
>You struggle to get to your knees, but any ground you reach for falls away and you slide further.
>Your body twirls out of control, tumbling down through the dust despite your best efforts to stop.
>Particles of dust are scattered in the darkness as your body rolls downward, eventually stopping when you finally come into contact with solid ground.
>The fact that you bumped your head on the way down informs you that your hard-hat is missing.

>Now that most of your nerves have recovered, you realize that you’re freezing all over, not just the fingertips.
>With solid ground now beneath you, you sit up on your knees and wrap your arms around yourself, shivering.
>You feel the tattered cloth of your jacket along with the moisture.
>The moisture is everywhere. Your clothes are damp.
>It can’t be blood, it must be wet in here somehow.
>As you feel tiny encrusted crystals on your clothes along with the water, you realize that the dust you were sat upon must actually be snow.
>The slippery ground beneath you provides even more evidence of your icy surroundings.
>But how could that be possible?
>It must be something else.
>You might be able to figure out what, but you can’t even see your hand in front of your face.
>It’s also almost completely silent here.
>You scramble to your feet and scan your pitch black surroundings, looking for any sign of Twilight or Anon.
>No light, no sound.
>Where are they?
“A-Anon? Twilight?”
>You whisper into the darkness, still in too much shock to raise your voice.
>Nothing responds.
>You may have just bumped your head.
>But they may very well already be dead.
>…
>No, no, no no…
>You crouch back down and clutch your hair.
>They’re both dead.
>And the last thing that Anon said to you was…
>God damn it…
>You claw your fingers down your face.
>Now you’re alone.
>Why couldn’t he just come with you?
>Why couldn’t he just forgive you…
>A harsh light floods your retinas, causing you to instinctively close your eyes.
>”Hello? Sunset? Where are you?”
>Your hear Twilight’s voice, beleaguered and groggy.

“I’m here Twilight.”
>You try to squint as your pupils gradually adjust to the light.
>The surroundings become clearer.
>It is snow.
>Discoloured, dirty snow.
>The harsh light is barely bright enough to give the details, but you’re sure it’s snow.
>Its petite flakes reflect the light in tiny little dots, like little twinkling stars from the sky.
>You see that your clumsy descent began from a large snow mound that takes up the majority of the room.
>Your slide is accurately depicted by the messy indentation you left behind.
>At the top of the mound Twilight stands squinting at her surroundings.
>Parts of her clothes are tattered like yours, revealing red bruises where she has most likely scraped against rocks during her fall.
>She’s not wearing her hard hat
>”Sunset? I can’t see you, I lost my glasses…”
>She reaches out and stumbles over, her foot getting bogged down underneath the soft snow.
“Stay there, I’ll come to you.”
>You gauchely crawl up the snow, limbs consecutively sinking into the snow and flailing out violently to free yourself.
>Eventually you get to the top and lightly grab Twilight’s arm.
>The moment you make contact her shaking hands clutch your arms
>”Oh my god Sunset… I - I thought I was dead. I thought WE were dead.”
>You almost pull her into a hug.
>But you remember when you tried to do the same thing back at the… other hole.
>Maybe… I’d be best not to for now.
>Despite the fact that you want to.
>You slowly help her rise to her feet, the two of you shaking to keep balances as the snow slowly compacts beneath you.
>There are more important things right now anyway.
“I’m glad you’re okay Twilight, you have no idea. But we need to find Anon”

>Twilight shakes her head.
>”I can’t find anything while I can’t see. I need my glasses.”
>You look around the area with your elevated position, scanning for any signs of either Anon or Twilight’s glasses.
>In amidst the twinkling of snowflakes, you see the light bounce off a larger object.
“Let me…”
>You slowly hold Twilight’s hand in order to direct the light.
>”You see something?”
“Maybe, let me use the light for a little bit so I can take a look.”
>You carefully take the phone from Twilight’s hand and trudge towards the object as you level illumination at it.
>You crouch down and brush away the snow to reveal your prize.
>Anon’s phone.
>You’re not really sure what you expected.
>At this point it would be far too easy to just find it and be able to move on.
>At the very least this proves that Anon can’t be far away.
>Assuming his bones have not been broken like paper-mache
>…
>”Did you find anything?”
“How do feel about switching to contact lenses?”
>You search the circumference for the power button.
>”I already have some but I left them at home… they’re uncomfortable and make my eyes this weird shade of red-ish pink.”
>The screen lights up, revealing that it is requesting a swipe pattern.
>”I take it that means you haven’t found them?”
>Let’s see how well you know Anon.
>You swipe the screen up.
>Left.
>…
>You can’t go right as you’d overlap, so you try going up again and then turning right.
>Next you need a broad stroke, the only way to go is downwards so you try that.
>The pattern disappears and is replaced by a screen asking for a numeric code.
>Numbers, that’s irritating
>You may have had an inkling if it were words, you can think of quite a few phrases that he might use.
>Most of them involving hating you.
>You try the next best thing instead.

>The screen unlocks as you type in the code.
>The date you ruined his life.
>Of course he uses that as his code.
>Needs to make sure he never forgets.
>The screen that follows is the same complex collection of meters you saw before.
>The static also returns.
>Much, MUCH louder this time.
>It sounds absolutely deafening as it echoes against the dead silence that preceded it.
>”Sunset!?”
>Twilight throws her hands over her ears.
>You scramble for the power button and squeeze it down.
>Eventually, thankfully, the noise stops and the phone beeps off.
>You breathe a sigh of relief.
>Not that there’s much to be relieved about.
“So it turns out I didn’t find it Twilight, all I found is Anon’s… phone. But that’s it. Sorry”
>As your words fade into the darkness a new sound is heard.
>A groan, not Twilight’s, but someone else.
>”Sunset did you-?”
>You shoot to your feet and stumble over towards the source of the noise.
>Discoloured snowflakes are kicked up as you scramble towards a tuft of snow that has collected at the opposite end of the mound from where you fell.
>”Sunset where are you going? You’re taking the light…”
>You plunge your hands into the snow and feel soft cloth underneath.
>You grip at it and wrench it upwards.
>Out of the snow comes Anon, coughing up icy water.

>Your hands are shaking.
“Oh my god you’re okay…”
>You almost chuckle as you rest your head onto his chest.
“You’re okay…”
>”Disappointed?”
>His voice comes out as a hoarse cough.
>”Sunset? Did you find him?”
>A trembling hand wraps around your arm and tries to push you off.
>Rigorously antipathetic towards you, even now.
>Even when it’s his fault in the first place that you all fell down.
>You gently place him back onto his bed of snow.
“Yeah, Anon’s okay.”
>Okay as in the sense that he’s alive.
>He shares the same scrapes and tears the two of you have, as well as inexplicitly missing his hard-hat.
>Slowly, he props himself up on his elbows.
>He tries to rise further, but fails.
>His legs are still buried in snow.
“You sure you don’t want any help?”
>He glares at you.
“Alright, fine. Although I’m not sure how far you’re going to get without your glasses.”
>”Anon lost his as well? Oh my god Sunset, what are we going to do?”
>Anon reaches a shaking hand up to his eyes and brushes it over where his glasses should be.
>He sighs and slumps his arm back under him.
“Would you like me to look for them?”
>His head scans back and forth rapidly, stopping to stare blankly at where his other hand lies.
>He slowly pulls up the hand to reveal that it’s clutched around a pair of glasses.
>He raises his eyebrow and gives you a smug smirk.
>He dons the spectacles and immediately squints his eyes.
>They’re Twilight’s glasses.
>You shake your head and chuckle, ignoring the angry glare you get in response.
“Found your glasses Twilight.”
>You take the glasses off of Anon’s head as he tilts it away from you.
>His skin is as cold as ice.
>”Really? Oh thank god.”

>You put the glasses in your jacket pocket and step over to be behind Anon.
“I’ll give them to you in a minute Twilight.”
>You wrap your arms underneath Anon’s shoulders.
>”W-what are you doing?”
>His wiggles in your grasp.
“You’re freezing cold. I’m pulling you out of the snow, or did you want to catch hypothermia?”
>”As if you care!”
>You heave him upwards, putting his weight onto your chest.
>You’re surprised how light he is.
“Shut up Anon! It’s your own fault we’re down here. Now let me help you.”
>He’s too exhausted to do more than try and wriggle free, which incidentally makes it easier to get him out of the snow.
>”M-my fault? Are you so disillusioned that you can’t see that you’re the one who interrupted me? If you hadn’t shown up none of this would have happened.”
>Is he actually blaming you or just stubborn?
>You think you already know the answer.
>You drag him completely out of the snow and then slump him onto the ground.
>The front of your shirt is completely damp.
“If we hadn’t shown up you probably would have fallen down by yourself and be as good as dead right now.”
>You look around at the pitch black wisping at the edges of the phone’s small illumination.
>And then at Anon’s now revealed legs.
“Not that we’re doing much better.”
>”Can you two give it a rest?”
>You hear Twilight stumble closer.
>Then squeak as she loses her footing.
>You turn around to see Twilight slide down to the base of the mound.
>”Sunset, can I PLEASE have my glasses?”
>You leave Anon to groan and go over to Twilight, handing her the glasses.
“Now we just need to find Anon’s glasses…”
>Twilight examines the area around her with her reinstated sight.
>”Oh my god I hoped I just couldn’t see anything because I didn’t have my glasses, it’s pitch black down here.”
>Her eyes start to water.
>”Where are we?”
>After some more searching, you manage to find Anon’s glasses as well, along with your phone.
>You’re amazed that neither of them are broken.
>Anon’s glasses are cracked.
>Again.
>But other than that they’re mostly fine.
>Less than can be said about Anon himself.
>Out of all of you, he took the most damage from the fall.
>One of his knees smashed against a rock, he can’t walk on his own.
>He is not happy about it.
>It’s a miracle any of you survived in the first place, even with the snow.
>Not to say you’ll be lasting a whole while longer in the freezing cold while you’re all soaking wet.
>It’s also a miracle you haven’t all caught hypothermia.
>Shining light at the ceiling only reveals darkness that seems to stretch up endlessly.
>You couldn’t find the missing hard-hats, although they may be lower on the priority list.
>You seriously doubt you’ll be any less screwed if you had a helmet on when rocks start falling on you in this place.
>Mostly because it probably means a cave-in.
>With the added light from two phones, a break in the walls that leads into a path has become visible.
“Looks like we don’t have anywhere else to go.”
>Twilight shakes her head.
>”We don’t know what’s out there, w-we should just stay here and wait for someone to come find us.”
>She is tightly gripping her phone with both of her shaking hands.
“Who? Who knows we’re down here? Does anyone even know that this place exists?”
>Twilight pushes her hand through her fringe and to the back of her head.
>”I don’t know Sunset, this is crazy. There’s snow down here but it never snows in this area, the ground up there just suddenly collapsed for no reason, and there’s some sort of a magic signal but I have no idea what or why it would be here.”
>Twilight is tearing up again.
>”I just don’t understand Sunset…”

>You nervously fidget your hands, not totally sure how to comfort her.
>You haven’t been successful at it thus far.
>But then another thought comes into your head.
>The one you should blame for all of you almost ending up dead.
“Anon, you don’t want to add anything?”
>He is preoccupied examining his injured knee.
>It actually probably helped it a bit that he landed in snow.
>Although it probably didn’t help ward off infection much.
“Anon-”
>”You still have my Thaumometer, correct?”
>He cuts you off, but doesn’t turn away from his current task.
>He should at least look at you when you have a question to ask.
”Thaumometer? Are you talking about this thing?”
>You hold up his phone.
>He tilts his head to you and nods, reaching out his open palm.
>You retract the phone to your chest.
“No, first you’re going to tell us why you were down here.”
>He sighs.
>”Do you really think that even matters at this point?”
“Yes it does! You were snooping around down here, you know where we are, don’t you?”
>He glares in response.
>As usual.
“Just tell me Anon! You can’t even stand up on your own so we’re in this together!
>He tries to keep up the glare for a little while longer, then angrily turns his head away from you.
>You throw your arms into the air.
“Then fine! Don’t tell me and just stay there.”
>You whip around and cross your arms.
>”How would he even know Sunset? I’m relatively sure he didn’t plan on falling into this death-trap.”
>Because he always knows more than you think he does.
>Twilight sighs and turns towards the pathway.
>”I think you’re right about moving though. I don’t know why but I changed my mind. There’s no point staying here.”
>Anon turns his eyes to Twilight.
>”Well that’s a far more expected decision coming from you.”
>Twilight whips back and raises her eyebrow.
>”What’s that supposed to mean?”
>Anon shrugs.
>”Didn’t you want to know about the archaeology site?”

>You can’t tell if she’s surprised that he knows about the site or that he actually told her that he knows about the site.
>You’re leaning on the latter.
>”The archaeology site? It’s here?”
>Anon looks at you.
>”Depends, if I can have the Thaumometer back.”
>You roll your eyes and toss the phone from out of your pocket.
>He grunts as it lands on his stomach.
>Almost immediately he turns it on and starts fidgeting with it.
>”I didn’t have much to go on, information on the dig is scarce at best and inconsistent at worst. I could only rely on the fact that it was started, and was ended for no reason, at least no reason that was released.”
>You see the reflection of the screen light up in his glasses.
>”I only had one inkling. I had… reason to believe, based on some anonymous reports, that there was something in the site that might react to the Thaumometer.”
>You eye him as he talks.
>So he couldn’t find anything but he knows the site might be magical?
>That seems like it would be the hardest thing to find.
>”Considering how dramatically the Thaumometer reacted earlier, if we are not near the site now, then I have been lied to. Which would admittedly not surprise me.”
>Twilight eyes are intently focused.
>You however are far more sceptical.
“Why are you even looking for the archaeology site? You’d put your life in danger just for something magical?”
>He narrows his eyes.
>”Is this an interrogation? I’ve already got a broken kneecap so perhaps you should try waterboarding me instead.”
>You raise your eyebrow.
“No water.”
>”Use the snow.”
>”Stop it both of you!”
>You put your hands up.
“I was only asking a question.”
>Twilight pouts.
>You roll your eyes.
“Fine Anon, I guess you like magic so it makes sense for you to do stupid things to get it. I won’t ask anymore. Happy?”

>”Not particularly.”
“Good enough.”
>You’re done bending over backwards for him.
>Twilight slaps her hands on top of her head.
>You walk over to him and grab his arm.
>His body trembles at your touch.
>”Oh, so you are going for the torture after all? I cannot say that I’m surprised.”
>With some effort you hoist him to his feet.
“We’ve been here too long, I want to get out of here but you can’t walk on your own.”
>He struggles in your grasp
>”I told you, I’m fine!”
“Anon for god’s sake!”
>He pushes you off
>He stands there with a trembling leg, but relatively stable.
>”See? The last thing I need is help from the likes of you.”
>He spreads his arms triumphantly.
>Twilight steps forward reaching her hands out cautiously.
>”Are you sure-?”
>You put your arm out in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.
>You decide to call his bluff.
“Well, if you’re so sure Anon, then let’s go.”
>His face goes blank
>If he’s going to act like a child, then you’re going to treat him like one.
>The three of you falling down is all his fault anyway.
>You’re not going to buy into the game he likes to play.
>You take Twilight’s arm and start walking past Anon and towards the pathway.
>Twilight careens her head to look at Anon as the two of you pass him by.
>After getting about halfway to the start of the path, Twilight pats your arm.
>”Sunset...”
>You turn around with a smirk to see that Anon is still in the same position with his back to you.
“I thought you said you were fine Ano-“
>”Shut up!”
>His voice cracks across the rocky circumference.
“Well?”
>A single, trembling leg slowly steps forward.
>Immediately upon putting pressure on it Anon shouts in pain and topples over into the snow.

“You SURE you’re fine Anon?”
>You let a snort of laughter escape your lips.
>Anon doesn’t respond.
>”Sunset, come on!”
>Twilight is glaring at you.
>She’s really angry about this?
>Why should you bother with him, you’ve been trying to help him and everything you do just blows up in your face.
>Now you’re all probably going to die down here and he still does nothing but hate you.
>”W-we are god knows how far below ground soaking wet in freezing cold darkness. We have no reception so we can’t call anyone, no idea if this path even leads anywhere.”
>Her hands are closed into fists and trembling.
>”So stop fighting! Don’t you realize we could die in this place? We’ve got to get out of here!”
>You take a step back from her.
>Please don’t abandon me as well Twilight…
>You’re sick and tired of Anon treating you like some supervillain with ulterior motives.
>But you’re not going to hurt Twilight.
>You take a deep breath and walk over to Anon, who is still lying in the snow.
>You pivot round him to look at his face.
>Half of it is buried, the other half is...
>Sad.
>”Go away.”
>Take him by the hand.
>Again, he trembles.
“Look Anon, I’m not going to ask if you’d like my help, or for your permission to help you, because I know what the answer is already. The fact is, you need my help, or you’re going to die.”
>You pull his arm over your shoulder and lift him out of the snow.
>This time he doesn’t fight you.
>He allows you to put your arm around his waist to support him.
>He complies when you tell him to match his steps with yours.
>And he whispers in your ear.
>”Why do you even care if I die?”
>And you whisper back.
“Why do you think I wouldn’t?”
>You’re walking towards Twilight, still out of earshot.
>”Because I know you.”
“No you don’t Anon.”

>”Are you sure you don’t want me to help you carry him?”
>Twilight is walking slightly ahead of you, staying to your left, holding her phone to light the way.
>You’re holding Anon on the opposite side, to your right.
“No it’s fine, there’s barely enough room in this tunnel for three people to walk next to each other. He’s pretty light anyway.”
>Anon sneers at you.
>You roll your eyes.
“Take it as a compliment. Most people who spend all day at the computer are a whole lot heavier than you are.”
>He snorts angrily and goes back to looking at his phone and pretending you don’t exist.
>Despite the mild passive-aggressiveness you’ve come to expect, you’re surprised how easy it is to walk with him.
>He keeps pace with you comfortably and his shirt is substantially drier than his jumper was.
>Twilight is holding said jumper along with her own over her arm, as both are too wet to continue wearing.
>You were lucky enough to be wearing a leather jacket, but it doesn’t help a lot with the cold.
>…
>It actually helps a lot that you have Anon’s body heat to keep you warm.
>It’s…
>Nice.
>Less can be said for Twilight.
>She’s been constantly rubbing her hands together, trying to keep warm.
>Unfortunately there’s not a whole lot you can do for her.
>It’s unfair that she has to suffer along with you, she didn’t need to be here.
>You’re the one who brought her into this, none of this is her fault.
“I can take the jumpers if you want Twilight, they must be pretty cold.”
>She shakes her head.
>”You’re already helping Anon, and Anon’s in bad enough condition.”
>You mutter nervously.
“It’s not really as hard as you think…”
>”It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”
>She focuses on the path ahead, turning away from you.

>Twilight won’t even let you help.
>Has it really been going on so long?
>That even Twilight wants you gone?
>…
>Your head hurts again.
>You’d rub it but your hands are preoccupied holding onto Anon.
>Instead your head just drops loosely and you stumble for balance.
>This time Anon keeps you on your feet instead.
>”You’re not going to drop me, are you?”
>He actually sounds concerned.
>Guess that either means he really, really doesn’t want to fall or he doesn’t trust you.
“It’s fine, don’t worry.”
>”Don’t worry? It’s not exactly reassuring when the person I’m relying on to stay on my feet is having trouble staying on her own.”
>You shrug.
“If it makes you feel any better you could probably make us fall just as easily if you wanted. So it’s not like you have absolutely zero control right now.”
>He snorts.
>”It does nothing to reassure me but I must admit the thought of you slamming face first into the ground is rather delightful.”
>You glare at him.
“On second thought maybe I am going to drop you.”
>He returns your glare.
>”Just try it.”
“Don’t think I won’t-”
>”Stop it!”
>Twilight is looking back at the two of you.
>Anon returns her stare while you avoid it.
“Sorry…”
>She shakes her head and turns back to the path.
>The three of you are quiet and it suddenly becomes extremely awkward.
>Twilight doesn’t want to show it, but it’s clear she’s angry.
>That ‘fight’ wasn’t even that bad, why is she so mad?
>…
>She’s stressed out, you shouldn’t be making it worse.
>Maybe changing the subject can keep her mind off the cold at least.
“So Twilight, you said your friend was part of the archaeology dig?”
>She slowly nods.
“You never told me about them.”
>She doesn’t turn around.
>Or respond.
>Against your better judgment, that tells you not to pry
>You give it one more try.
”Maybe since we’re possibly heading into the site it-“
>”Nope, sorry Sunset, can’t do it. I need to keep secrets from you and the rest of my friends then run away alone into a maze to get lost when I finally do tell you.”
>You shirk back as she snaps at you.
>Perhaps you should listen to your better judgement more often.
>You sink your head down.
“I’m sorry Twilight.”
>She still doesn’t respond.
>What’s wrong with you?
>Why do you keep messing this up and making things worse for her?
>You’re awful. That’s all you are.
>”Hm. I thought Sunset was meant to be the mean one.”
>Anon’s voice comes from over your shoulder.
>Twilight turns her head towards the two of you slightly.
>”Why should I open up when she made me jump through so many hoops for her to do the same?”
>Anon nonchalantly turns back to his phone.
>”You don’t owe her a thing. I’m just disappointed, I’ll admit I’m quite curious on the subject, surely you could understand a desire to learn.”
>Twilight turns back and remains silent for a time.
>”You actually remind me a little of my friend, Anon. You and Sunset used to be almost like we were.”
>You and Anon glance at each other.
>Then you both snort and turn away in unison.
>And you thought it couldn’t get more awkward.
>”We met as freshmen in Crystal Prep, and were practically inseparable for our first three years there.”
>She wraps her arms around herself as she talks.
>”Her father was in charge of the dig, apparently he was really passionate about it. She told me about it a couple of times but I wasn’t really interested.
>She turns away from you completely.
>”We were starting to hang out less at that point anyway.”

>”We both got invested in our studies, even though we were interested in similar subjects, we… we just never found time for each other.”
>Your thoughts return to the morning.
>To the other Twilight, the book.
>”Last thing I heard she went on some work placement on her dad’s archaeology dig, although I haven’t seen her since it was cancelled a few months ago. I’m not even sure she still goes to Crystal Prep.”
>Her words are the only sounds that reverberate across the rocky walls.
>it’s as if the whole cave is staying silent in order to listen to her.
> I’m still amazed that we drifted apart so easily. Neither of us had another friend in the whole of Crystal Prep, we had almost every class together. We even shared the same hairstyle.”
>The name appears in your head.
>You’re not sure from what memory, something in your brain prevents you from going further.
“Moondancer.”
>Twilight turns around and stares at you.
>”Did Sugarcoat tell you?”
>You feel Anon groan.
“That was her name, right?”
>Twilight keeps staring.
>”What else did she tell you?”
>She turns back and clutches her head
>”I don’t even go to Crystal Prep anymore and she’s still spreading rumours about me.”
“Sugarcoat didn’t tell me.”
>She turns around, revealing a raised eyebrow.
>”Then how do you know.”
>Your eyes flutter and you look towards the ground.
“I don’t know.”
>Anon scoffs a laugh on your shoulder.
>”What kind of an answer is that? And you wonder why I don’t trust you.”

“You realize you’re ragging on the girl who’s carrying you?
>He raises an eyebrow
>”We discussed this before, remember? If I go down you go down as well.”
>From the corner of you eye you see Twilight shake her head and turn around
>”Regardless, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re an inveterate, very bad liar.”
>You shrug as best you can while holding him.
“I’m not lying, the name just popped into my head!”
>”Like all the names you used to call people when you were Canterlot’s queen bee?”
>You let go of his wrist and put your finger right up in his face
“Don’t you even go there! Or do you want me to bring up all the things you said to me-“
>”SHHH.”
>Twilight has stopped walking and is holding her hand up.
>Both you and Anon go completely silent at her command.
>”Do you feel that?”
>Feel?
>All you’ve barely been able to feel anything since you got down here except mind-numbing cold and…
>Anon.
>…
>Wait, you do feel something.
>It brushes through your hair and irritates your cold skin.
>A breeze.
>Anon speaks the words before you.
>”How could there possibly be a breeze down here? We’re at least a mile down from the surface.”
>Twilight shakes her head.
>”It makes no sense, nothing is making any sense.”
>She takes a deep breath.
>”But y’know what? I’ll take it if it means getting out of here.”
>She takes off at a hurried pace.
>You’re surprised she still has the energy.
>As she runs off the thought troubles you mind.
>And you realize you REALLY don’t want to fall behind.
>You scramble for Anon’s hand, pulling his arm over your shoulder and returning to your original position.
“We’re gonna go faster this time, okay?”
>”Just go.”
>You take a breath.
“One...”
>As you trudge forward, the breeze becomes stronger.
>And even more bizarrely, as the path starts to curve, you start to see a light appear at the end of the tunnel.
>A light from the outside?.
>It’s too soft to tell.
>As the corner finally comes to an end, you catch the glimmer of a hallway, and what lies beyond it.
>You can scarcely believe what you see, assuming the distant images are mistakes of your imagination.
>It’s only when you pass through the doorway fully that it full hits you.
>Twilight stares with a blank face and gradually drops to her knees, half from exhaustion, half from awe.
>”THIS is the archaeology site?”
>An underground expanse.
>Massive pillars of jagged rock go from the bottom of the enormous zone to the very ceiling, which may as well be the sky compared to the three of you.
>You’re standing on a ledge far above the ground, so far above that jumping falling down would break every bone in your body.
>Yet the ceiling is further above you still that falling from it to your ledge would result in the same thing.
>Along said ceiling are large skylights, letting in the open air that caused the breeze and the soft orange of the setting sun in the evening sky.
>And before you, at the far end of the vista is a tremendous, man-made structure.
“Is that… a castle?
>Anon shakes his head, his eyes wide.
>”Looks to me more like it’s the entrance to a city.”
>It’s weathered structure juts out from the cave walls.
>Old-fashioned would be an understatement.
>This thing could be centuries old.
>And all of it is underground?
>What on earth have you stumbled upon?
>You hear a familiar static noise come from beside you.
>Anon has un-sheaved his Thaumometer, and is pointing it at the ruins.
>Instead of the arrow on its counter bouncing up and down, it stands straight up at the most extreme position.
>Anon’s eyes go back and forth between his home-made magic Geiger counter and the ruins.

>Twilight slumps down and places her forehead on the ground.
>”Why didn’t I listen to Moondancer? I could have known so much about this place. But instead I’m just completely lost.”
>She moves up and down, lightly bumping her forehead on the ground each time.
>”Stupid… stupid…”
>Oh Twilight…
>You’re busy enjoying the vista, and here she is beating herself up.
>You feel Anon trying to wiggle his hand out of your grasp.
>You let go and shift to the side as he uses both hands to operate the Thaumometer.
>You still keep your arm around his waist.
>Don’t quite trust him to stand on his own just yet.
>But you do wonder if his “sources” could shed any light on this place.
>It might make Twilight feel better.
“Anon, you said you researched the archaeology dig, do you happen to know what they were searching for?”
>Anon doesn’t respond, still transfixed with his device.
“Anon?”
>No response.
“Anon!”
>He’s not going to ignore you.
>You tense your arm around his waist and squeeze, causing him to convulse and grunt in surprise.
“Come on Anon, Get your head out of your gadget and answer me.”
>You loosen your grip.
>He coughs and glares at you.
“Well?”
>He shuffles a bit and turns away from you.
“Stop playing dumb, I know you’re not going to go to these crazy lengths unless you know what you’re looking for.”
>”I thought you weren’t going for the torture.”
“Trying to get you to tell me something is already torture, so I'm just returning the favour.”
>He tilts his head towards Twilight.
>”Are you seeing this?”
>She ignores him and continues to rest her forehead toward the ground.
“One more chance to tell me before you’re walking on your own.”
>He sighs angrily and rolls his head, drawing out the moment as long as he can before he turns and gives you your long-awaited answer.
>”Have the two of you really never heard the story of King Sombra?”

>Your mind returns to the long nights alone spent in Celestia’s library, endlessly studying in order to keep ahead of the competition.
>Your studies draw you to the boundaries of what is considered ethical magic and from there you learn legends of powerful, terrifying unicorns who conquered entire kingdoms single-handedly.
>And among the most prominent of these figures is King Sombra, whose very existence alone is thought of to be a myth.
>Unquestionably a myth, according to Celestia, who is unconditionally enraged at the very mention of his name.
>Her anger, combined with her refusal to speak on the subject drives your curiosity,
>and drives you to defy her, diving deep into forbidden texts,  learning of power far beyond your current capabilities, easily obtainable if not for Celestia’s restrictions.
>You never did deal well with authority figures.
“A story? More like a myth.”
>You speak as if he’s talking about the same Sombra.
>You’ve no doubt he means the Sombra from this world, but you’re willing to bet that this Sombra has the same reputation.
>Possibly an even more mythical one considering that this world has no magic.
>Or just that magic is very rare, considering everything that’s happened so far.
>”You don’t even know about it and you’re already doubting its existence?”
>You narrow your eyes at him
“I know more than you think Anon.”
>He sighs
>”Why did you force me to talk if you’re going to immediately shoot down the first thing I say?”
>You didn’t shoot it down, did you?
>If anything it should have prompted him to continue.
>This isn’t fair, it’s not what you meant.
>You were just adding to his statement.
“Oh come on I-”
>”Just let him talk Sunset, I want to hear this.”
>Twilight is sat up on her knees, expectantly looking to Anon.
>You slump your head down and sigh.
“Go on Anon, I won’t interrupt you again.”

>Anon makes sure to smirk at you before continuing.
>”Good, but for the sake of personal security I’d rather it if you didn’t have your arm still in position to crush my stomach again.”
>You roll your eyes and unwrap your arm from his waist, allowing him to step back and place his arm on your shoulder for support.
>Without the two of you pressed against each other, it for a less-awkward position for him to talk.
>…
>But you’re cold now…
>”King Sombra was the wise and noble ruler of the Crystal Empire, a kingdom said to be the most prosperous and innovative of its time by an unfathomable margin.”
>You look at the massive ruin in the distance.
>An entire empire behind that?
>Twilight is looking at it as well.
>”This is the Crystal Empire? We’re miles underground, I don’t understand.”
>She rubs the back of her head.
>You would have asked the same question, but you’re convinced that Anon would use any words that come out of your mouth to derail the conversation.
>And of course, it’d be your fault, with no possible negotiation.
>”As far as I’m informed there’s very little information *to* understand. The story goes that Sombra became so self-absorbed in his own greatness, or the greatness of his kingdom per say, that he shut himself, and the Crystal Empire away from the outside world.”
>You rub your arms and look down to the expanse below you.
>”No record can state exactly why he did it, some say other countries were a drain on his economy and treated his kingdom with disrespect, others say his ego became so bloated that he saw outsiders as inferior, but whatever the reason, Sombra’s actions were damning.”

>”Jealous rivals spread rumours on the city’s isolation, spouting claims that they intend to bolster their forces in secret and launch a massive campaign to conquer surrounding territory. The terrified regions banded together and launched a counter-campaign in order to protect themselves from the Crystal Empire’s might.”
>It’s starting to feel like you’re in a history class.
>”It is here where the records are most divided. Some records, more highly regarded by historians, state that the entire kingdom was ransacked, its buildings torn down and most of its civilians slaughtered; others say that when the army arrived the city had already been torn apart by civil war. However, some, more fanciful records state that the Crystal Empire was so immeasurably advanced that they had somehow attained the secrets of magic.”
>Apparently magic really did exist in this world without Equestria
>Considering how much more prominent the empire is than Sombra himself, you wonder why Anon dubbed the story on his name and not the Crystal Empire.
>”Magic? How long ago was this?”
>Anon shrugs.
>”Anywhere between Five hundred to one and a half thousand years, the records are anything but clear in this regard, not that they’re particularly clear on the subject as a whole.”
>Twilight pushes her hand through her hair.
>”A thousand years…”
>One thousand years ago your Sombra disappeared as well.
>Guess you weren’t too far off in assuming they’re pretty similar after all.
>Wish he’d tell the important part already though…
“So what does this record of magic say? And what about Sombra?”
>You immediately regret speaking up again as he glares at you.
>”I was getting to that, would it literally end your existence to harbour some patience? It is a virtue after all.”
>He’s milking this for everything it’s worth.
>It’s like he’s a teacher who has an out for you.

>He glares at you for another moment, then continues.
>”Some records state that when the armies arrived, ready to charge headfirst into battle, they were walled off not by stone, but by an enchanted prismatic barrier that no man not tool could penetrate.”
>A barrier?
>This is sounding closer and closer to home the further it gets.
>”The regions had scouts posted for weeks on end, waiting patiently for some change to occur, whether it be a weaken in the barrier, or any sign of life from within. Instead, at least according to these records, the entire city vanished before their eyes.”
>Vanished?
>Okay this is starting to sound exactly like the Crystal Empire from your world.
>Still doesn’t explain why this is meant to be Sombra’s story though
>”So… what DOES Sombra have to do with this story besides just being the king at the time?”
>You would have expected Anon to show some form of agitation for being questioned again, but he simply turned his head at Twilight for a brief moment before continuing
>Guess it’s not worth getting angry unless it’s at you.
>”Because Sombra is the one who forced the Crystal Empire into isolation to begin with, and he is also the one responsible for the disappearance of the city.”
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>”If the city disappeared after it was completely isolated, who was left who would know that?”
>At least Twilight is asking your questions now so Anon doesn’t get angry at you again.
>”This is perhaps one of the reasons the story is considered myth. Allegedly there was a single survivor who was found wandering the area where the empire once stood. She claimed to have had a close relationship with Sombra, according to her, he was the one responsible for both the empire’s inordinate greatness as well as its eventual fall.”
>”In her words, Sombra was not just a tyrant, but a powerful and malicious sorcerer, who used dark magic to influence his people.”
>As Anon speaks, your mind keeps returning to Equestria, to a time away from all the dark times in your life.
>”I say influence, but perhaps the better way to describe it is that he dominated his subjects, as he did all kingdoms that would dare stand against his aggressive expansion.“
>How long has it been now? Four years? Almost five?
>As Anon talks, you look over the vast caverns before you.
>Your potential was once this expansive, now it is gone. Along with your old life.
>”The dark magic Sombra wielded was not like anything seen or experienced before in this world, and the crystal has eaten away at the heart of the empire. Along with her testimonial, she gave a… ode, a rhyme of sorts, for anyone who may seek to find the ruins.”
>Anon’s words dissipate into an uncomfortable silence as he doubtlessly waits for you to give him your attention.
>”rhyme? What rhyme, Anon?”
>Despite Twilight prompting him to continue, Anon does not do so.
>You prolong the moment until he verbally demands a response by loudly clearing his throat in your ear. In response, you nonchalantly turn to him with an innocent smile on your face.
“What, I’m listening”
>You do your best to remain casual, despite how uncomfortable it’s making you to still have Anon so close to you. You are rescued however, as Twilight intervenes.
>”What was the rhyme, Anon?”
>Her eyes are attentive, and her question is more firm this time, despite the fact she’s shivering uncontrollably.
>Shivering…

>You surprise yourself by forgetting about the bitter cold all around you, and how it affected Twilight.
>You barely register that Anon has continued, as your mind is once again preoccupied with the severity of the situation at hand.
>”Deep, deep in the depths it lies, a beating heart that never dies-”
>Anon’s eyes look both absent and focused at the same time, disinterested in the people around him, instead piercing into the structure that looms ominously in the distance.
>For the moment you see him, it looks almost as if he is challenging it, standing straight up and unafraid. Stark contrast to the usual Anon who shrinks away in the hopes that nobody will see him.
>Until Twilight interrupts him
>“-atop the buried castle, in a room that holds the prize.’“
>Anon whips back to Twilight and stares her down. His eyes scanning her face back and forth, unsure of how to react.
>Twilight returns the same stare, seemingly stunned by her own words. The only movement she exhibits is the shivering, that slowly creeps up her legs as the two of them stare.
>You remain with Anon, still leaning on your shoulder, as the silent witness, panning your eyes back and forth in unsteady anticipation.
>For what seems like hours, the tension builds in the confusion. Until you cannot take it anymore.
“Wha-
>“A heart of power that every hour, calls upon the world beyond our stars and skies.”
>Anon speaks as if he’s reciting in front of a classroom. Blank and emotionless.
>You’re not sure if he waited for someone else to speak before he continued to break the silence for him, or just waited for you to speak so he could undermine you.
>It wouldn’t surprise you either way.
>What does perplex you, is why the tension is so palpable you could cut it with a knife. So palpable in fact that Twilight is ignoring the fact that she’s freezing to death.
>”How do you know that poem?”
>Her chattering teeth almost hiss the accusation.

>Anon takes a moment to formulate a response. Possibly just as taken aback as you are by Twilight’s dramatic shift in tone.
>”I…I just told you? I knew Sunset wouldn’t care to listen but I at least thought you-“
>”Liar!”
>Twilight’s voice crackles along the cavern, lingering as it bounces to one end of the expanse and back to you in a tremendous reverberation.
>Anon looks Twilight up and down, slowly formulating an appropriate response. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, she interrupts him again.
>”Moondancer was the only person who knew that poem!”
>Her voice once again dances to the structure in the distance, and then back again.
>The reverberation comes back to the three of you like a wave of force, rippling through your body and sending a shiver down your spine.
>You can’t quite register the extent that her words affected you, and neither can Anon. He eyes her with a similar expression of confusion.
>Twilight is fuming, breathing heavily after her unexpected outburst. She stands rigid for a moment before the chill catches up to her.
>She throws her arms around herself, dropping the soaked jumpers and crumples down from her stoic pose.
>She begins shivering as her voice trails off.
>”I-I didn’t mean to… What did I…?”
>She looks back to the looming structure as Anon answers.
>”You called me a liar.”
>You would examine Anon’s expression to better determine the nature of his proclamation, as his voice is plain and inexpressive, however you can only look at Twilight.
>”I – I – I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you I just.”
>She doesn’t complete her sentence, she just keeps shivering.
“Twilight… you’re freezing.”

>You gingerly approach, offering out a hand as if you were attempting to coerce a timid animal. Anon stumbles to keep balance as you shuffle forward, prompting an irritated grunt
>All the while you do so, you remind yourself how many mistakes you’ve made when comforting people of late.
>Hopefully you don’t mess this up as well, as the situation is getting worse and worse.
>You need to keep moving, or Twilight is going to freeze to death.
>”What you mean and what you say and do have very little in common it seems-”
“Don’t start, Anon.”
>After once again being interrupted, he sighs.
>”Can I get at least one full sentence across without being cut off by some aggressive half-statement that I’m not yet allowed to know the full motive behind?”
>As Anon rambles, Twilight eagerly accepts your offer of comfort, clinging her shivering body to your arm.
>She rests her head on your shoulder and whispers in your ear.
>”I’m sorry. I – I’m scared, Sunset.”
>As she sobs between hushed and stuttered words.
>You answer Anon, who is trying to stay as distant from you as possible while still using you for support.
>He’s almost balancing on one leg he’s so determined.
“What part of the motivation do you not understand about being told to can it?”
>”Sunset… I want to go home.”
>You immediately turn your attention to Twilight, who is currently burying her face into your jacket.
“We’ll get home Twilight,”
>You whisper in response
“We’ll get out of here.”
>You can feel Anon glare at you as you speak.
>”The part where you get the nerve to say that to me, after-”
>Anon stumbles as you pivot back to him
“Y’know, we wouldn’t interrupt you so much if you didn’t take so long to say the simplest god damn things.”

>Twilight wretches back another sob as you snap at Anon, prompting you to whip your attention back to her. With Anon doubtlessly formulating a response as you do.
>You feel like you’ve caught the worst case you’ve ever had of being between a rock and a hard place.
>Twilight is breaking down while Anon is trying to break you, all the while you’re facing the constant threat of freezing to death.
>What the hell is Anon’s problem? Why is he determined to fight you, even now, after everything was turned up-side down?
>Just as Anon begins to respond, Twilight asks the question loud enough for the both of you to hear.
>”We’re going to die in here, aren’t we?”
>Both you and Anon are brought to silence by the remark, both of you staring at each other for an uncomfortably long moment.
>Anon’s face is frozen in place, unsaid words still on the tip of his open mouth. Slowly, his mouth closes, but he does not break eye contact.
>He tries to remain stoic, but you can tell that deep down he’s scared. He can barely walk, much less survive the cold.
>Despite his restraint, a brief shiver coils through his body.
>You are the first to break the stare by closing your eyes. You push Anon out of your mind and focus on the task at hand.
>The bitter cold is all around you, and the only way left to go is deeper.
>You rest your head against Twilight’s and take a deep breath, inhaling the warm air eradiating from her body.
>Her shivering ceases for a moment as you both take in each other’s warmth. Her sobbing significantly recedes and she begins to breathe normally, following your lead in slow, long breaths.
“We’re going to make it out of here Twilight, I promise.”
>You tell to both Twilight, and yourself.

>Your tenderness is interrupted with a muffled grunt from Anon, and a weight falling on your shoulders.
>Anon’s arm clumsily wraps around your shoulders for support, to which you automatically respond by tensing your arm to keep him standing
>You would have lost your balance yourself if Twilight wasn’t holding you.
>For an instant the three of you are locked in place, struggling to regain your ground. You and Twilight supporting each other while Anon drags you down.
>The instant ends, and you have regained control. Now with two bodies pressed against yours.
>The added warmth is welcome. You just wish it wasn’t Anon. The last thing you want is to feel his lean figure pushed against you.
>His hot breath running down your neck.
>The last thing…

>”Enough of this.”
>Anon’s voice is raspy and hushed.
>”Unless your plan is to drop me off the ledge, we need to keep moving.”
>Anon does his best to push off of you and regain control, but you take the first initiative by grabbing his waist and hoisting his arm over your shoulder.
“You’re acting like I need to drop you off the ledge.”
>Twilight reluctantly backs off momentarily to allow you to reposition, leaving behind a damp spot on your jacket.
>She is doubtlessly surprised when you pass Anon’s arm over to her.
>”S-Sunset?”
“You can barely stand, Anon. You’re gonna stay down regardless of how far you fall. But you are useful for something”
>Anon intently glares are you, but his brow is furrowed in confusion as well. You try to avoid his glare, hoping he doesn’t notice how flustered you are.
>Or that you’re blushing.
>Twilight stumbles as Anon is forced to shift his weight onto her shoulders instead.
>You take a step back once to two of them are settled. They briefly exchange glances and turn back to you.
>”Sunset what-“
>”Couldn’t stand me, could you?”
>Their conjoined answers couldn’t be more different in tone, as well as their expressions.
>Twilight just stares, while Anon continues to glare.
“I said you were good for something, Anon. That’s keeping someone warm.”
>Anon scoffs and turns towards the ground. Twilight glances between you and him as her face gains an extra hue of red.
>Good, blushing will keep her face warm at least.
>”Um… Thanks? But what about you, Sunset?”
>You pull your gaze from the two of them and scan over the side of the ledge for a path downward as Twilight expresses her concern.
“What about me, Twilight? You’ve been shivering non-stop, you need to keep warm, and Anon needs someone to help him walk. Win-win, right?”

>Along the circumference of the jutting rock the three of you are perched upon, you spot the beginnings of a path, protruding out from the massive walls that surround you.
>”But you’ve been shivering too Sunset! So has Anon! We’re all freezing!”
>You take your eyes away from your recent discovery and back to Twilight.
“What?”
>You hesitantly examine yourself, bringing your hands up from your sides and holding them out, slowly flexing your fingers.
>When did you stop being able to feel your hands?
>”Yes, this is mostly likely some form of error. I can’t see how Sunset could be freezing when she is best described as a banshee of some kind, rather than a person.
>Your eyes dart at Anon, who is now dangling from Twilight’s shoulders instead of yours.
>Still weak, still vulnerable. Still completely dependent on the two of you to survive, yet still doing everything in his power to piss you off.
>Maybe this is why you didn’t notice he was shivering until now.
“And what’s your excuse? I always figured a snake like you was cold-blooded.”
>He snorts
>”My excuse is that I don’t have an added layer of thickness like you do, especially that layer you keep around your skull.”
>This time, you do notice that you are shivering. Although you’re not sure if you’re shivering because of the cold, or shaking in rage because Anon just called you fat.
>Possibly. You’re not exactly sure. But it was close enough to make you angry.
“Oh that’s rich coming from-“
>”Stop it! Both of you!”
>Twilight trembles violently as she shouts, as if her vocal cords are more powerful than the rest of her body.
>Your verbal assault ceases immediately as she commands. Anon does not take advantage of your silence, but instead silently examines your reaction.
>”I don’t… We’re down here together. Start acting like it!”

>You feel history repeating itself. Why can’t you learn?
>Both of your hands snatch at your hair.
“I’m sorry Twilight…”
>She shakes her head
>”I don’t care, I just want to get out of here.”
>Twilight stares at you with already watering eyes while Anon glares at you through his glasses. All at once, you can’t stand looking at the two of them, side-by-side, so you advert your gaze.
>Everyone is turning against you, Just like Anon said.
>As you advert yourself to hide you notice an encouraging sign to your side.
>You take a deep breath and respond.
”And we’re going to, Twilight. Look.”
>You point a finger towards the one of the corners of the rock you stand on, where a gradual slope begins.
>There, the narrow path you spotted earlier rides the gargantuan circumference of the cavern all the way down to the ground below.
“It’s a walk alright, but it’s something.”
>You hear Twilight gasp behind you.
>”Oh my god, you’re right!”
>Looking back at the two of them, you notice that even Anon’s eyes have lit up, before immediately returning to their normal glare once he notices that you’re watching.
>The faster you leave him to scowl at the back of your head, the better.
“What are we waiting for then? We need to keep moving.”
>Desiring to exchange glares with Anon no longer, you about-face and begin marching down the slope towards the pathway.
>You only take a few steps before Twilight stops you.
>”Sunset, wait.”
>You comply with Twilight’s request, momentarily pausing and looking back.
>Anon and her are standing awkwardly across from you, still having not moved from their original position. Twilight is giving you a perplexed stare.
>What did you do?
“Are… You having trouble? With Anon?”

>It occurs to you that it looks like you just dumped Anon on her.
“I wanted to keep you warm. I’m sorry, Anon was easy for me to carry, I didn’t think –“
>Twilight shakes her head as you speak, causing you to trail off.
>”I told you Sunset, you’re cold as well. Come over here.”
>She motions you over, and Anon raises a suspicious eyebrow.
>”We all need each other.” Twilight repeats.
>”I’ve got his right, you get his left, Sunset.”
>Anon snaps his head towards Twilight.
>”Excuse me?”
>You choose to ignore Anon’s protest and address Twilight.
“I’m fine Twilight.”
>Why is she trying to force you to get close to him? Doesn’t she know it’ll just make you uncomfortable? Forget the situation you’re in, it’ll just cause Twilight trouble.
“I… I think it’s a bad idea.”
>Besides…
>Somewhere in the recess of your mind you feel a part of you that would just… rather remain cold. As if you feel like you don’t even deserve the warmth.
>”Sunset! Just do it.”
>Twilight staggers towards you, Anon tumbling beside her with a yelp as he’s dragged along. When she reaches you, she clutches at your jacket with a shivering hand.
>”This isn’t just about you and him anymore, this is just about survival, alright?”
>Twilight begs you with not just her words, but her eyes as well. Anon is currently attempting to push himself off of Twilight as much as he can. Undoubtedly to get away from you. The gesture is more symbolic than actually effective.
“Twilight… It’s not just me…”
>Anon scoffs.
>”It is.”
>Twilight momentarily divides her attention and gives Anon a sideways glare, but does not grant any other sort of response. She returns to you almost immediately and pulls you close. Speaking softly so only you can hear.
>”Who cares? You’re better than this.”
>Part of you wants to believe that.

>Anon might be able to hear her, despite how determined he is to keep his ‘distance’ in order to display his apprehension.
>”Just promise me Sunset. Promise you’ll try.”
>She’s so close to you, you can barely make out her expression. Her head cuts you off from the only illumination: the orange sunlight filtering in through the skylights in the high stone ceiling.
>A promise? Is that all she needs?
>You’ve made promises to yourself dozens of times in the past. You haven’t always been able to keep them. In fact, you’ve broken most of them.
>Can you even trust yourself anymore?
>You realize how long you’ve taken to answer when Twilight begs you again.
>”Sunset… Please. Do it for me.”
>Beyond what you expected from yourself, the trembling voice moves you.
>A part inside of you that you almost forgot. That tells you if you don’t know yourself, you can trust that Twilight knows you.
“I promise.”
>Your response is rewarded with a sigh of relief.
>”Okay… I trust you.”
>You reach out and lightly take hold of Twlight’s arm as it grips your jacket. Sliding your fingers down her arm until your hands touch.
>She lets go of your jacket, and for a moment you hold hands, taking in what little warmth you can from each with your frozen fingertips.
>”She’s a good liar, isn’t she?”
>The warm is lessened by a cold reminder: the piercing eyes hiding behind the reflecting glasses. For once you give it no mind, and instead focus on the moment you have with Twilight to rekindle your resolve.
>She’s smiling. She hasn’t lost faith in you, after all.
>”Alright. We need to go. Help me with Anon.”
>You nod in response, then slide to Anon’s left side.
>”Don’t I get a say in this?”
>You shake your head.
“You don’t.”

>As you move into position, Anon shrinks away from you. Some last ditch protest, not unlike a wounded animal’s last desperate attempt to fend off a predator.
>Except you are to blame the least, when compared to this wounded beast.
>You put one hand on Anon’s wrist and pull his arm over your shoulder, returning to the awkward closeness that made you so uncomfortable.
>Or perhaps it’s the headache you only just noticed.
>You do your best to ignore it, and place your other arm around his waist. As you do so, your head twinges in pain, and a blurred memory appears in your mind.
>A memory of closeness, to Anon. A time when the both of you would gleefully greet each other with a warm embrace.
>That was a long time ago.
>”Ready guys?”
>Twilight interrupts your reminiscence and points to the path, ignoring a resounding “No” from Anon.
>”We’re making it out of here. All together now!”
>You and Anon begrudgingly comply, pushing past the awkwardness and walking arm-in-arm down the long, curving stairs to the base of the cavern.

>You suppose it should come to no surprise that the stairs are man-made. Chiselled rocks stacked on top of each other. Remarkably stable, considering how old they must be.
>It would be pristinely silent, if not for the clumsy three who make their way down. Constantly stopping and starting, tripping and yelping as you narrowly avoid falling to your certain death.
>It’s a lot harder to walk down stairs when you’re three people with only two sets of working legs.
>Eventually, the three of you get used to the rhythm of walking in unison, and the noise dies down to the clumping of footsteps Aside from Twilight.
>Every few minutes or so, she whispers some words of encouragement to the two of you.
>”We’re doing it, see?”
>”We’re getting closer, only a few minutes more”
>”Not too fast, take it slow.”
>You’re happy to hear Twilight stay so positive. It’s one of the amazing things you’ve noticed about her. You’re not so sure Anon shares the same admiration.
>Twilight is constantly looking out to the distance, and towards our goal. She doesn’t notice that Anon shrinks away from her encouragement whenever she talks with clear annoyance on his face.
>Otherwise, he just stares at his feet. Probably to look where he walks, avoid eye contact, or both.
>You can’t make out his expression very well without making it obvious that you’re looking at him.
>The last thing you want right now is to give him a reason to start an argument with you. He would latch on to any attention you give him.
>You’re surprised he hasn’t noticed that you’ve been looking at him yet.
>You probably shouldn’t be, something in your mind keeps telling you,
>You need to know what he’s thinking, he’s got to be up to something
>You try to push the thoughts out of your mind, but they keep coming back. Along with this headache.
>Just forget it Sunset. Ignore him, for Twilight’s sake.

>The walking momentarily gets easier when you reach the bottom of the stairwell; the flat earth beneath your feet is welcome against the steep and dangerous incline that you were pitted against.
>Despite the temporary alleviation of elevation, you are faced yet again with a daunting vista.
>A howling wind roars against the fractured landscape before you. With many slopes and mounds that cut off suddenly into long drops that you can only hope contain enough snow to cushion you should you fall in it.
>The only time the area plateaus to steady ground is at the foot of the distant structure
>You’re not sure if you can all make it with Anon’s leg in the condition it’s in…
>The condition Twilight is in…
>The walk is still tiring you out, and there is still a long way to go before you reach the Crystal Empire, even then, will it even solve the situation you’re in? It’s just this vague goal you’ve put into your head to try and hold on to some sliver of hope.
>In fact, what are you really expecting at all?
>Regardless whether it’s a legitimate goal or not, it would be a lot easier to get to if you didn’t have to help Anon walk.
>The warmth is welcome, sure, but you could be arm-in-arm with Twilight, not Anon. If he could walk he could be at Twilight’s side instead.
>Twilight doesn’t have this history with Anon, she doesn’t have this awkwardness, these uncomfortable feelings

>You wouldn’t have to hand your arm around his waist, constantly thinking of when you were younger.
>Twilight wouldn’t be breathing heavily with exhaustion…
>Twilight has been starting to lag behind. She’s not as fit as you are, and the cold is clearly getting to her far more than it is to you.
>Why did you dump Anon on her? This is all your fault.
>Or his fault.

>After everything he’s done that has caused you pain, yet he’s been acting like it’s somehow your fault, your problem, all the same.
>He’s being silent now, but you know with him the lack of words are just as hostile as when he’s heard.
>…
>No.
>That doesn’t matter, you’re not going to start a fight again. You’re going to do anything you can to help Twilight.
“We should take a break.”
>You pull to a stop. Twilight trudges on for a few more steps before noticing your pause. Anon doesn’t respond, he just keeps looking at the ground.
>”N-n-no. W-we need- we need to keep going.”
>You notice that Twilight is clutching Anon’s arm with both of her trembling hands. Her breathing is heavy, but also stuttering as her body shivers desperately in the cold.
“Twilight? Oh my god.”
>Twilight trudges forward, pulling you and Anon with her.
>”I-I-in this open area… There’s wind coming through the s-s-skylights.”
>You look to the distant ceiling. You can see the aforementioned windows to the outside world, with thick trees and shrubbery on the other side.
>When you were at the mines, it was barren flatlands for miles. Where the hell are you?
>How has no one found this before?
>”I-I-it’s bringing in more and more cold air. But there’s also sunlight.”
>The beams of warmth in question are scattered about the cavern. Trickling in as much as it is able between the greenery that lines the edges of every skylight, leaving intricate patterns where the light touches the rock.
>Which leads to what Twilight was pointing out.
>”T-t-there’s only one place where th-th-the light touches the ground.”
>The light twinkles on stone walls wherever it lands, nowhere the three of you can reach. Except for where Twilight is leading the three of you towards.
>”T-t-the Crystal Empire”

>Almost like a spotlight, a beam of light lands squarely upon the foot of enormous structure, highlighting it in a golden glow, inviting you towards it.
> A path lies between the three of you and the Crystal Empire, but you’re not sure if you can make it...
>Despite Twilight’s exhaustion, she presses the three of you forward, as if mentioning the Crystal Empire is enough to reaffirm her determination.
>Or maybe it’s the fact you can practically see icicles coming out of her nose.
>Why is the cold affecting her so much more than you?
>”C-c-come on, we’re almost there.”
>It could still take you half an hour or longer to get to the distant structure. Even if you do, will it make a difference?
>It feels so vague, so pointless. The sun will not last much longer, and it could be even colder behind the structure, if you can even get past it. Yet… you still feel compelled to it somehow.
>Regardless, it’s all you’ve got, whether you like it or not.
>Carefully, yet methodically, the three of you venture past deep drops and up and down steep slopes. Fighting against the chilling wind that threatens to freeze you to death.
>Some of the ground is steady. Steady enough that you might speculate a beaten path may have once existed here. However, whatever path may be have existed for the use of humans has been since buried deep by pure-white snow, leaving each step to be a guess on whether your feet will land upon solid ground or not.
>Where is the snow coming from anyway? It can’t be from outside. You don’t know enough about meteorology to make an educated guess, but you feel like a jagged snowy wasteland shouldn’t exist underground.
>Every now and then one of you loses footing, straining the other two to pull them to their feet. Out of the three of you, Anon loses his footing the most. Despite the fact he basically only has one foot to lose.

>He doesn’t say a word throughout the many times you pull him to his feet, but behind his glasses you can see him get more and more flustered. You’re not sure if it’s because he’s bothered by the fall, or bothered that you’re the one who brings him back to his feet.
>Anything you do to help him seems to just make him angry.
>Through all of this, not once do you come to a complete stop. Trudging on in a tireless race against the setting sun, desperate to huddle beneath its warmth one last time before it disappears behind the horizon.
>Despite how miraculous your progress has been so far, the further you go, the more Twilight struggles to keep moving.
>She goes from whispering encouragement to herself incessantly, to just hoarsely huffing as she staggers forward more and more clumsily.
“Twilight, are you okay…?”
>Your words appear to fall upon deaf ears, as she fixes her gaze on the softly illuminated structure with manic eyes.
>You would try to say more to quell her fervour, but seeing Twilight like this has put some sort of indiscriminate lump in your throat, and turned your stomach.
>It’s not unlike how she was when she became a monster in the Friendship Games.
>Not unlike how you became a monster at the fall formal.
>If there is some lingering magic left here, if Anon’s story is true, could that be responsible for how unreal this situation is becoming?
>All the while you and Twilight desperately marching, Anon doesn’t care, he hasn’t even been talking, he’s just been quietly, and comfortably keeping pace behind his accusing eyes.
>Looking down, being silent, and keeping his thoughts on the inside. As if nothing else exists outside of his mind.
>Doesn’t he care that the three of you could die?

>As another ache of pain pulses through your head, you remind yourself that you were going to ignore Anon.
>Focus on Twilight, she needs your help. Except this time it’s all on you, no Applejack, no Pinkie Pie, nobody else is here.
>More minutes pass as these thoughts race through your head. All the while Twilight shivers more and more still, going from an exhausted stagger to practically limping.
>You’re not even sure what’s in a worse state anymore: Twilight or Anon’s legs.
>You would offer to give Twilight some relief and carry Anon yourself, hell you’d carry her instead if she’d let you, but you feel as if stopping for even a moment would break the magic spell that has given Twilight inhumane endurance and she would collapse on the spot.
>Eventually, the three of you come to the final stretch. A narrow pathway between two deep slopes, both go about thirty feet deep, with snow piled up at their base.
>You can only hope it is soft snow should Anon lose his footing again, or if Twilight collapses…
>You decide that any further without pause could be disastrous, even this close to your goal.
“T-Twilight? You need to conserve your energy.”
> She still doesn’t listen.
>You notice that Anon has turns his eyes to you.
“Twilight! It won’t matter if you get there if you die from exhaustion!”
>You ignore Anon as he, still silently, glares at you from the corner of his eyes
“Twilight!?”
>Twilight’s eyes are almost vacant.
>You stop walking
“Twilight, sto-”
>”You stop.”
>Your voice is cut off as Anon has finally pulled his head up to address the two people who are carrying him.
>In the most unbelievable fashion possible.
>You turn your head to him, completely unable to hide your disgust, your mouth half-open in sheer revulsion.
“Anon, you can’t be serious. Please tell me you’re not seriously starting this again.”

>His eyes are like two bitter, burning embers, showing no signs of .
>”I’m dead serious. I know you’re not like this.”
>His voice quivers as he speaks.
>You shake your head.
>He’s actually insane.
>He’s probably gonna blame you the next time he almost falls over as well.
“Anon. I cannot possibly describe to you exactly how NOT the time for that this is right now.”
>You let go of his wrist and whip your arm out, gesturing to the nightmare around you.
“Look at where we are! We could die, why can’t you understand that?”
>He shakes his head. He’s almost hyperventilating.
>”I’ll stop… when you stop pretending to care.”
>He’s no longer holding eye contact with you, his eyes are distant. Not unlike Twilight’s…
“What, pretend to care about liv-“
>You stop mid-sentence when you notice that Twilight is no longer to Anon’s right.
>She’s several yards ahead of you, moving towards the Crystal Empire.
>Moving fast.
>”No, stop pretending to care about her!”
>Ignore him…
>You promised her.
>She marches tirelessly, arms swinging uselessly at her sides as she strides ever forward and towards the light.
>You stumble forward, racing to catch up with her despite the pain shooting up your tired legs, forcefully grabbing Anon’s wrist and swinging his arm over your shoulder yet again.
>“Stop pretending to care about anyone!”
>You force your body forward, giving no satisfaction to the screaming child to your side.
>It’s as if nothing else matters to Twilight except getting into the Crystal Empire.
>Is it magic? Or is it something to do with Moondancer?
>”Stop pretending to care about me!”
>Something Anon said about her?
>Why she was so angry before? Is this Anon’s doing after all?
>”You don’t! Just admit it!”
>No, push his voice away.
>You’ll get through this.
>He’s gone insane, the cold has gotten to him…

>The world spins as it gets harder and to keep going with his voice in your ear, in your aching mind.
>”I’m just weighing you down, you’re only playing nice because of her!”
>For Twilight.
>She’s… stumbling, not yet tumbling but gaining distance. You can’t catch her, even with this persistence.
>Not with Anon.
>”You don’t care! YOU DON’T!”
>The screaming is too much. Your mind can’t take this.
“Anon, what is wrong with you?!”
>You pull to a complete stop and notice his whole body is shaking in your grasp. He’s struggling to try and pry his arm free from you hand.
>You look him in the fact to see his eyes quivering as much his voice.
>Anger? Cold? Fear? It doesn’t matter anymore.
“Anon, do you not realize that I’m the only reason you’re still walking!? If I really didn’t care I would have let you go!”
>He struggles for breath, despite the fact you’ve been doing all the walking.
>His eyes are trembling as well now, but maybe that’s just your own mind at this point.
“Is that what you want?”
>Twilight is still moving…
>You’re not sure how long until she collapses…
>Just as you sneak a look towards Twilight, he answers.
>”Yes.”
>You’re frozen, staring out across the expanse of rocks and snow, your sight caught between Anon and Twilight.
>Caught between them, again.
>“I do.”
>You slowly turn back to Anon. Afraid of what his face may tell you.
>”I would rather you leave me, take your damn hand off my waist too… and leave me to die because that’s what you do.”
>You stare at him, not sure what to say, what to do, or how to feel.
>His eyes are wide, staring endlessly behind his glasses.
>”And I know you want to.”
>You shake your head.
>You’re not sure if you’re angry or scared.
>It’s… not what you want is it?
>Not what what Twilight wants, but maybe, it’s what she needs.
>His breathing quickens as his eyes look deep into yours.
“Anon, get a grip!”
>”I would rather die than rely on you to survive!”

>You scream in rage and your arms move without you thinking, throwing him onto the ground like a limp ragdoll. You have no strength left in your mind to fight against your impulses.
>You stumble backwards as he clumps into the snow.
>He doesn’t look back up to you.
“Fine Anon.”
>You race across the narrow pathway to catch up to Twilight, each stride closer burns against your side as you struggle to breath.
>You’re almost sprinting you’re so desperate to catch up. Some feeling, some ominous premonition is festering in your mind. Telling you that if you don’t get to her, you’ll lose her.
>Perhaps something in the howling wind that has only grown stronger as the three of you have travelled has tipped your resolve.
>You only desire to reach her now.
>Closer and closer but still too far.
>You can see it… You can see her fall.
>The wind throws itself at her endlessly, tirelessly trying to make her lose her balance and topple to the bottom
“Twilight!”
>Your raspy voice battles the wind for dominance, but is ultimately meaningless
>You’re only a few yards behind her when he foot finds nothing but loose snow.
>She tumbles, your body throws itself after her in a fearless leap, but you are still inches from contact when the two of you fly towards the ground
>In the back of your mind, you hear Twilight scream.
>The ground hits you hard, your shoulder slamming against the earth and your body rolling down the snowy mound, various rocks scraping you as you go by.
>You hear Twilight hit the ground with a violent tumble down the slope with you.
>The spinning world accelerates in a revolving spiral of mad shapes and pure white kicking up at you again and again, before petering out into the deep abyss of your unconscious mind.

>A throb in your head becomes like a resounding rumble that echoes across your brain, the rest of the world feels and sounds distant in comparison.
>You struggle to find yourself in the blurry world around you. Unlike last time, thankfully, it only takes you a few moments.
>As you regain the feeling in your arms and legs, you become aware that your head is not the only thing aching.
>Pain is shooting through the shoulder you landed on, and you’re sure you can feel multiple cuts and bruises along your legs.
>Immediately your thoughts return to Twilight, and to Anon.
>Why can’t he just…
>No,
>Twilight, she’s what matters.
>You force your arms to prop you on your elbows you up so you can scan the area for where she landed. Doing so causes the snow around you to stir, and you become aware of the pounds of snow that has gathered upon your body.
>Every movement you make causes another frozen clump of tiny ice crystals to drop away, leaving a sullen, freezing cold wetness behind.
>In the cold you notice that the frothing wind has died down. There’s barely a breeze anymore.
>You bite back the chill and focus on what’s around you with your still-blurry vision.
>The first thing that grabs your attention is the pillar of light to your side, closer than ever and still clear even in your hazy world. Its tantalizing warmness urging you to draw closer, despite the fact it is hiding behind a daunting mound that you would need to scale to reach it. Before you lies the deep slope you and Twilight fell down, fresh indentations still scribbled down its elevation in memory of your tumble.
>You follow the trails, one usurpingly leading to yourself, the other flowing past you and far within the ditch you have fallen into. Your eyes follow the trail to its head: The still body of Twilight, half-buried in snow.
>No…

>If Anon hadn’t…
>If you could have just…
>You shake your head back and forth to expel the thoughts, focusing on what really matters.
>Your body kicks into action, crawling on your knees and elbows like a clumsy child moving towards their mother, biting back the bitter numbness that travels up and down your arms and legs each time you force them to move across the icy ground, you manage to reach Twilight in a matter of seconds.
>You almost dive the last few yards to reach her and start madly digging at her tomb of snow.
>As soon as you can lay your hands on her, you start dragging her out. Pain rockets up your arms and legs, but somehow you find the strength within to deliver her from the ice, only to collapse backwards in exhaustion, cradling her in your arms.
>Her eyes are closed, and her face is pale.
“Twilight… Please be alive…”
>You hand clumsily clambers for her glasses, which have fallen a few yards from her body. With them in hand you gently place them over her eyes.
>One side is cracked, but in otherwise good condition.
>How could you let this happen? She’s freezing!
>How could you let Anon stop you from helping?
>You shake off your thoughts and don’t give yourself another moment. Your mind demands you take action.
>Your whip your vision towards the pillar of light, and take a deep breath. Preparing your aching body to make the climb, Twilight in arms.

>You need to get to warmth of the sun’s fading fire. Onwards and upwards towards the Crystal Empire.
>That’s what repeats in your mind as you make the climb.
>You can still barely feel your limbs, but you can move them.
>That’s all you need right now.
>The one feeling that does register as you force your body forward is pain. This familiar pain, the pain you felt as you travelled for possibly hours on end. Your muscles have reached their limit, but you must ask more of them.
>The slope is steep, you have only your legs to pull you upwards, as your arms are busy keeping Twilight safe.
>It hurts. Your still aching mind can’t find a memory more painful, and every step feels like it takes minutes on end in your head.
“But it’s all for Twilight.”
>You can’t lose her. You won’t.
>The light grows larger and larger as the rest of the world blinks in and out of your mind.
>Are you losing consciousness again?
>You can’t, there’s no time for that.
>Some force, some fiery determination and rage pushes you upwards.
>if you’re even still going upwards. Are you moving forward now?
>It doesn’t matter, you will go any direction imaginable to get closer to the light.
>To the warmth… to the Crystal Empire…

>The world has been spinning for a while now, as your consciousness returns.
>It’s brighter now, everything is, and you feel the warmth of the sun surround you.
>You made it.
>You look down into your arms to see her still in your arms.
>Still pale, still silent.
>She’s…
>You can’t find the courage to check her pulse. Instead, you gently wrap your arms around her pull her close.
>You squeeze your eyes shut as tightly as is humanly possible as you cradle Twilight in your arms.
“Please Twilight…”
>You can’t understand it.
>Flash, the fall, the Crystal Empire, this place. It’s all like something out of a dream.
>Everyone is losing their minds, and you along with them.
>It would better fit the description of a nightmare, but somehow you haven’t frozen to death yet.
>In fact you can still barely feel anything.
>Have you lost all feelings in your body? Are you just too cold? Is it a concussion? Or is your mind deteriorating.
>You can’t tell anymore, you can’t think. Every time you open your eyes, the world is waving and spinning around you completely out of control.
>You made it to the light, but you feel dark thoughts within you.
>You can’t stop thinking, can’t stop blaming him.
>He lead you down here to this place, he fought against you and called you horrible things, right to your face.
>Why can’t he just let you help him…?
>Why does he have to push you away…?

>In the silence of the empty world around you, you hear a noise. Not the sound of a beating heart like you had hoped, but the distinct trudge of someone stepping through the snow.
>Your eyes slide open, stinging as you take in the dimming sun. The steps continue, but you’re too afraid to see what’s making the noise.
>Anon can’t walk. How could it be him?
>Unless he was lying about the entire thing.
>He wouldn’t lie about that right? Why would he?

>Slowly, you look behind you, towards the impossible steps approaching you.
“Anon…?”
>Anon stands tall a few yards away from you. Ignoring you completely and looking down into his hands where he holds his glasses.
“Anon, you’re okay?!”
>Behind him is a long trail in the snow that rides across the narrow bridge you and Twilight toppled from.
>His eyes are inattentive, his mouth lazily drooping ajar. His legs dig deeply into the snow as he trudges along at a snail’s pace.
“You can walk!”
>He stops, and his head slowly turns to you. His eyes are wide, somehow you can’t read his expression.
>His lips move sheepishly, and the words come out. Even though he’s several yards from you, it feels like the words are whispered into your ear.
>”You left me…”
>His words fall like heavy stones.
>He stares, maybe glares, motionless.
>You look down at your hands
>You feel your body start to shiver with rage. The uncontrollable thoughts flooding through your mind.
>He’s actually…
>He’s blaming you.
>is he-?
>You did everything you could. He asked you…
>He’s walking
>While Twilight is motionless in your arms.
>The way he collapsed when he put pressure on that leg, there’s no way.
>Unless he faked the entire thing.
>”You...”
>How dare he…
“Shut the fuck up Anon!”
>He flinches at your voice crackling against the stone.
>Then he stares at you as if him being able to walk is nothing new.
>Your body shakes and shakes with rage. You know you wouldn’t be able to stop it, even if you tried.
“Anon, look what you’ve done!”
>Reality shudders as you speak. Wisping and waving with the velocity of your rage.
“Why Anon, why did you have to fight me?!”
>All you can make out is him standing there in the cold, while you’re on your knees, safe in the sunset, but burning on the inside.
“Why do you always have to fight? Why can’t you just accept for once that SOME ONE WANTS TO HELP YOU?!”

>The words force themselves out of your body. All control you once had over your emotions are lost.
“You fought for nothing, and it hurt my friends, AGAIN!”
>Twilight was the only thing keeping them down. And now Anon has taken her away from you.
“You can’t possibly try and pretend you’re in the right! This is your fault! All of this is your fault! YOU KILLED TWILIGHT!”
>You hear your voice rage across the caverns as a furious wind kicks up. You scream so loud your find yourself out of breath afterwards.
>It feels like this is the first time the words have really hit you.
>Twilight…
>She’s gone.
>She’s…
>Is sh-?
>How could he do this?
>How could you let this happen?
>The wind ripples through your hair as you struggle for breath you scan Anon for a reaction, but he just stares, and… actually shivers.
>His eyes are no longer vacant. They’re just…
“What do you have to say for yourself Anon? Huh? Where’s the glare? Where’s the smart-ass remarks? Where’s the nit-picking everything I say like it actually makes you look tough?”
>You’re not going to stop for him this time.
>He’s not injured. He doesn’t care. He can walk, he made you carry him here!
“Why don’t you adjust your glasses and make of your stupid fucking long-winded speeches about how much of an ass I am?”
>You’re so angry.
>It’s too much
>No words seem strong enough
>You always held them down, now they’re coming out all at once.
“DO IT! Stop standing there and acting like I’ve somehow wrong you!”
>Your body goes numb again, as Anon seems to get smaller and smaller and your voice feels further and further away.
“How dare people have the fucking gull to talk to you?! It’s disgusting, right?”
>Everything you’ve been keeping on the inside pours out at once.

>You hardly recognise your own voice at this point, it’s like you’re just a spectator as your emotions take complete hold of your entire being.
>Anon stands frozen before you with the wind tearing around between you and him like a furious hurricane.
>No word is strong enough.
>Your arm whips towards the ground and clutches a handful a snow.
>You ditch the snow at Anon, hitting him square in the face.
“What’s disgusting is that so. Many. Fucking. People take time out of their lives to try and talk to you. So. Many. People would actually be your friend IF YOU GAVE THEM A CHANCE!”
>It all feels so right, but so wrong at the same time.
>These words were always there, so many faults to list, but you never wanted them to come out like this.
“ALL YOU DO IS HURT PEOPLE. You never try to talk to anyone, you just ruin any chance you ever had to have someone in your life.”
>His mouth moves, but you don’t hear him.
>You don’t want to hear it him make his case, you’ve heard all you can ever take
“I pushed you down some fucking stairs Anon. GET. OVER. IT. It’s your fault, and will always be your fault that you’re alone!”
>Tears of rage run down your face.
>You struggle for breath as your throat goes dry and your voice hoarse.
“Why do I bother? Why does anyone bother? You’re nothing but poison!”
>Your vision blurs again as the intense outburst becomes too much for your body to take.
“If you don’t wana forgive the world for what I did to you, that’s your fucking problem.”
>You gasp for air and throw another snowball, hitting him in the shoulder this time.
>The words keep coming. You want to stop, but you can’t.
“If you want to shit on everybody who tries to help you, when all you fucking do is help yourself. Then just do everybody a favour and KILL YOURSELF.”
>Is that what you really mea-?

>Both your arms move without your control. Pelting handful after handful of snow at him, somehow piercing through the bitter wind.
>You have no more words, but you’re so angry.
>You have no more wards, but they come anyway.
“I’d rather die in here alone then spend another moment of my life with you! Just. Go!”
>The snow pelts against his torso over and over.
>He still doesn’t leave.
“Go on, Anon! Didn’t you want to be alone?”
>Finally your voice gives out, and your rage is no longer loud enough to echo endlessly across the wasteland around you.
>The wind begins to subside, leaving you just enough silence for you to hiss the last words, only just loud enough for him to hear.
“I wish I had never met you, or you had broken your spine on the stairs. Anything to get you away from me forever.”
>All the words are dried up, and you are left gasping for air.
>Your arms are limp, now fallen upon Twilight’s body.
>You can only watch him now. You’re thrown everything you possibly could at him.
>He still holds his glasses, he still looks at you. He’s not glaring, just staring.
>His mouth moves the words come out in a whisper.
>”Sunset… I’m scared…”
>The words feel distant, as if your own ears are trying to block them out.
>You clutch at your head as another wave of pain courses through it.
>You see Anon falling in the halls of Canterlot High. His eyes begging you to come back.
>He raises his glasses. They’re cracked and bent. Barely fitting back onto his head.
>He cradles himself in his own arms, wrapping them around his shoulders.
>Quietly he whispers.
>”I’m sorry, Sunset... ”

>Then, his face is changed.
>His arms drop limply to his sides. And he looks towards the shimmering structure.
>He trudges through the snow, completely healed and apathetic towards you. As if the cold had never once chilled his body
>He walks past you and Twilight, entering the pillar of light and striding through it.
>You watch him as he goes by. Unable to formulate another word between the exhaustion and aching pain.
>The only sound he makes is a gentle whisper. You can barely make out his words.
>”Its doors are home to them, for whom the witch would keep…”
>His mouth keeps moving, so you can only assume that he’s saying more.
>With no hesitation he keeps walking. Closer and closer to the Crystal Empire.
>He’s… leaving?
>This is what you wanted, right?
>You wanted him gone? You wanted him dead?
>Is this what Twilight would have wanted?
>Is this the person you’ve become?
>You feel a terrible chill go across your body once again. Not of anger, but a recognition of what you’ve done.
>The wind has stopped, but your voice is shattered.
“A – Anon! Wait.”
>Your voice trembles as you try to reach him, but you can barely manage to whisper.
“Anon… don’t leave…”
>You try again, but it’s no use.
>You have no words anymore.
>He walks away again, leaving you and Twilight behind.
>You feel the tears return again to your face.
>Where did that anger come from? Where has it gone?
>Was it inside you all along?
>You pull Twilight close, sharing her warmth, and feeling her steady breathing.
>She’s… fine.
>You knew that, didn’t you?
“Anon, I’m sorry too…”
>You close your eyes and try to pretend this is all a bad dream.
>What’s wrong with you?
>Why can’t you stop hurting?
>Why can’t you change?