Umbra: Episode 1: The Umbra

By Terrarian Pony

WARNING: Content of this story may include violence, gore, romance, same gender romance, and probably references to several video games and TV shows. This series is also written in script format. If anyone is offended by any of the content listed above, than please turn back now. You have been warned.

Introduction: Welcome to the Umbra, a realm of creatures who have mysteriously disappeared, and woke up here, in this depressing void of emptiness, depression, oh, and monsters. The Umbra is a realm where someone around corner is paranoid of you, and probably wants to take all of your power.

Umbra is a series alternate of that of "The Magic Wilds". Some TMW lore still applies as well. However, unlike TMW, Umbra mainly takes place in a different realm where creatures mysteriously disappear too, called The Umbra.

Episodes

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Story: Terrarian Pony presents... Umbra

A Fiction Mythology Series

Episode 1

The Umbra ...

''Terran: (Narration) This is the story of a heroes journey. However, this story has no heroes. Myself included. Instead, only survivors, and a few good deeds. To see things from my point of view, you have to answer yourself this question. What would you do, if you ever felt trapped, specifically in an unfamiliar place, feeling alone in a dark abyss of nothingness? That's literally what happened to me. And that's the story I am going to tell you here. But you see, the problem isn't what had happened, but where, why, and how it happened. But let's start with the when. When it all began. This is my starting point.''

...

The fox creature wakes up, unfamiliar with his surroundings. His fur was purple, all but the bottom half of his face, his belly, his forepaw socks, and the tips of his three tails, which were all white. He had blue eyes, and blue markings in specific spots on his body.

Terran looked from left to right. He noticed that all around him was what he could only describe as black sand. There were buildings around him as well, they were made of some sort of glowing, purple crystal material. The sky... it's like it wasn't even there. All he saw when he looked upwards was a light-gray fog. The kitsune noticed that there was nobody around.

Terran:" Wh... where am I? What is this place? Am I even in Mythrolhia anymore? What's going on?"

The kitsune's memory was a little fuzzy, but it was slowly coming back to him. He looked at the locket around his neck. The front of the outside was embroidered with a Sapphire. He opened the locket, and inside was a picture of a blue female labrador, with greens eyes, wearing a bright green mage's robe, and a platinum circlet with sapphires. She also wore a special ribbon that flowed behind her in a wavy motion. She had blue wings on either side of her body that stuck out from the robe.

Terran:" My name... is Terran. Terran Jones. I'm... a member of the Phoenix Guild. I was raised by... by the Lokian Tribe. I moved into Rhodia Village, and I live with a blue labrador mage... with wings, I think?"

Terran took a deep breath. He had to remind himself who he was. He didn't know where he was, but he was going to make it back to her, somehow. He walked around, not even caring about the discolored sand he was getting in between his paws. He touched one of the strange, glowing buildings. The material was smooth, and it gave him a warm sensation. It gave him comfort. Suddenly, he heard a groaning noise behind him. He turned slowly, and gasped.

He saw a black figure, slowly moving through the street, making a strange groaning noise as it walked, like an undead creature. It was thin, and it's eyes were white and hollow. It wasn't too tall at all, but it's arms dragged about five feet behind it. It didn't seem to focus on him. Terran walked next to it, waving a paw in front of it.

Terran:" Hello? Can you tell me where I am?"

It ignored him, and continued to walk. Terran looked around and saw dozens more like it.

Terran:" What the... what is going on here? I'm dreaming. I have to be. That's the only explaination."

Suddenly, he heard a roar in the distance. Terran looked in the direction of where it came from, but all of the strange creatures began to flee from the noise, heavily grunting as they ran.

Terran:" Where are you all going? What's going... on?"

He saw a large, white, glowing creature coming from around a corner. A quadruped figure, with a body entirely made up of pure chaos element. It's tale was short, and it's body was very large. It didn't seem to have a head, but a large, white and grey eyeball where it's head should be, illuminating in front of itself like a flashlight. Terran didn't know what this thing was, but he knew it couldn't be friendly. He tried to slowly make his way to a hiding spot, but ended up tripping over a purple rock in the sand, falling on his face. The creature heard him, and looked in his directions.

Terran panicked, and began to run away, his heart beating faster than normal. The monster made an eerie roar, and others came out from around every corner, and started chasing him. Terran ran as fast as he could, trying to get away, but they seemed to have been catching up to him. As Terran ran through the empty, but infested town, he tried to find some place to duck into where he might possibly be safe, but no such luck. Suddenly, he heard a voice.

???:" Hey! Over here!"

Terran looked in the direction of the voice. It was a white female cat, with ragged fur, and wearing a torn cloak. She was beckoning him with a paw to follow her. Terran, not having many options, did so. She lead him in circles to throw off the monsters, and then lead him behind a large rock. The monsters looked around, but they could not find him anywhere. Eventually, they just went back to their own business. Terran let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. That was the single most frightening thing he'd encountered yet.

Terran:" Th-thank you... for the help. But, who are you?"

Cat:" Take it slow. You're new here, right? Let me help you."

The feline stretched out a paw for him to take. Terran was still catching his breath, but he managed to reach up his paw enough to grab hers. But before he could, she snatched his arm with an aggressive pull, sinking her claws into it, while grabbing with her other paw. Terran screamed in pain. Something was wrong. She was... taking something from him. A blue light flowed from his arm to the feline's body. It felt like she was taking his life essence. She grinned as he continued to suffer.

Cat:" Ah... yes! Soon, all you're power will be mine. It isn't much, but you are new here, and I really need your power."

The screaming stopped. Terran suddenly couldn't find his voice, instead he was just trying to find his breath at this point. Suddenly, a bolt of fire hit the cat in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. Terran felt dizzy, unable to see his savior. Or... was it someone else who wanted to steal his mana? He wasn't sure. He watched as the cat stumbled, and ran away. He looked up, his eyes going dim, but he could just make out the figure of lion, wearing a dark hood. And then... all faded to black.

...

It was a regular day, before going out to the guild. Terran was panicking, rummaging through his things. He had to find it. He HAD to! He couldn't go to the guild without it!

???:" Looking for this?"

The sweet voice came from a lovely, blue-colored labrador, with wings, who was holding a lovely, red silk scarf in her paws, smiling at him amusedly. The scarf was pinned with a shiny badge of a flaming bird, painted with red and orange feathers. This was the badge of the Phoenix Guild. Serena chuckled behind her paw.

Serena:" You kept forgetting to wash your scarf, so I did for you."

Terran took the scarf as if it were a delicate flower.

Terran:" Th-thanks. Heh."

Serena:" You know, I don't think it would be an issue if you showed up without it."

Terran shook his head.

Terran:" You have to understand."

He held the badge up above his nose.

Terran:" This badge... it makes me a representative of one of the greatest guilds in Mythrolhia. Losing this, it'd be like losing one of my tails."

Serena raised a brow at him.

Serena:" That special, huh?"

Terran blushed brightly.

Terran:" N-not as special as you, of course. Hehe."

Serena laughed at the flustered and nervous face. Her paw landed on his nose.

Serena:" I'm joking! You gotta chill out!"

Terran wrapped the silk scarf around his neck. It was warm and cozy. He slid the badge pin in easily, and walked out the door, waving goodbye to the labrador.

...

Terran woke with a gasp. He reached for his scarf, only to find it wasn't there. He blinked in confusion, then mentally started to panic. He couldn't go anywhere without his scarf. It wasn't natural to him. He examined his surroundings. He was in a small shack made of an unfamiliar wood. Whoever lived here didn't have many possessions. Suddenly he heard a strong, male voice.

???:" You got lucky. If wasn't in the area, you would have fallen prey to that scavenger."

Terran looked up at the lion in front of him. He had green eyes, and a scar across the top of his nose. He had a tired expression on his face, and he was without the cloak this time.

Terran:" Wh-who are you?"

Varren:" My name is Varren. Now it's my turn. What were you doing in that village?"

Terran:" I... I don't know. I don't even know how I got there."

Varren:" So your a newborn then."

Terran:" Newborn? I'm a hundred and twenty one."

Varren:" Newborn means you're new to the Umbra. The village you were in, it became overrun by monitors a couple weeks ago."

Terran's head was spinning.

Terran:" Umbra? Monitors? What are you talking about?"

Varren:" Do you know of the deity called Ara'khan?"

Terran:" Y-yeah. Lord of the shadow realm. I-is that where we are?"

Varren:" No. Much worse. The Umbra was created as a prison for creatures of the shadow realm, who were deviant, or abominations born of the shadow realm. Ara'khan knew the Umbra would become overrun, and monsters would escape if it were left unsupervised. So the lord of shadows made a deal with the pixie queen, Petra, and she ordered entities of chaos, like the monitors, to destroy anything they found dumped in the Umbra."

Terran:" That makes sense. So what does Ara'khan want with us?"

Varren:" I doubt Ara'khan notices creatures being sent to the Umbra. For what reason would the lord of shadows have to watch over his imprisoned subjects, if they were to be exterminated by beings of pure chaos?"

Terran really couldn't think of an answer for that. But what he really wanted, was a certain accessory around his neck.

Terran:" Where is my scarf? Red, might have a guild badge on it?"

Varren:" Found you as is. Nothing on you but your fur, and that locket."

That made Terran slightly upset. He wouldn't go anywhere on purpose without a scarf, and now he felt naked without one. But he couldn't worry about that now. He had to find a way out.

Varren:" What's your name?"

Terran:" My name... is Terran Jones. I'm a member of the Phoenix Guild. I was raised by the Lokian Tribe. I moved into Rhodia Village, and I live with a blue labrador mage."

Varren:" I didn't ask for your life story."

Terran:" I have to remind myself. So I don't forget."

Varren:" Tried that. Doesn't work."

Terran:" How do I escape the Umbra."

Varren:" You don't."

Terran:" There has to be a way."

Varren:" If there was... do you think I'd be here? You're in hell now. Accept that, and you'll do just fine."

But Terran wasn't going to have that. He would get out of here, and he would find a way back to his love.

Varren:" I know that look. You're going to try anyways, even if it kills you. I won't stop you. But there things you should know. This realm is filled with creatures who've been sent here by some unknown force. Many of them have grown paranoid, corrupted enough to the point where it's every creature for themselves. They won't lift a paw for you."

Terran:" So why did you?"

Varren:" I didn't. I only aided you because I suspected you a newborn, and I was right."

Terran:" You only help newborns?"

Varren:" If I can. But you're on your own from here."

Terran:" That cat. What was she doing to me?"

Varren:" She's what we call a scavenger. A creature from Mysticia who was brought to the Umbra, and craves power from creatures who are weak, or dying. Being a newborn, you were easy prey."

Terran:" Why?"

Varren:" In the wilds of the Umbra, essence is the only thing that matters. The more essence you have, the more powerful you are. The more power you have, the more others want to take it. Scavengers take whatever they can. All it takes is for them to grab you, and they start sucking all that power from you. Lose all your power, you will die. Die, and all your power is transferred to whoever decides to claim it."

Terran didn't like that one bit. But he still wasn't disuaded.

Terran:" Where's the nearest settlement?"

Varren pointed in a single direction with a claw.

Varren:" Ashsand. Just west of here. Like I said. You're on your own."

Terran collected himself as he stood up.

Terran:" Fine by me. I can take care of myself."

He began to walk out the door when the lion stopped him one more time.

Varren:" One more thing, your normal magic is weaker in the Umbra. Unless you're in tune with the shadow element, you'll want to learn Umbra magic. It'll be difficult to find someone who can teach it, but it's your best bet if you're going to survive this place."

Terran:" I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the rescue."

...

Terran began down a road paved in the black sand. Terran thought it was sulfur at first, but the feeling between his paws, and the smell wasn't right. But this sand, it was different from any other he'd seen or felt. It was like walking on tiny pebbles, but it sunk his paws like snow, but it wasn't quite cool enough. The smell wasn't like the burning scent of desert sand, nor like salty scent of ocean sand, but more like the scent of wet dirt, with a hint of something repelling he couldn't describe to himself. The town was just within view now. He could see a wall erected around what looked like a well defended settlement. The wall wasn't too big. Perhaps about the height of two baby elephants. An arrow pierced the ground in front him. The arrow was made from some strange wood Terran had never seen before. He looked up to see where the arrow came from. A raccoon wearing a black hat was standing on the wall with a bow, and he'd already drew another arrow.

???:" You with them?"

Terran:" T-Terran Jones, of..."

???:" I didn't ask for your life story. I asked if you were with them."

Terran:" With... who?"

Just as he asked, he felt tremors in the ground. A group of warriors made of pure shadow ran toward them, taking all kinds of shapes and forms.

Terran:" Umm... no, I-I don't think I'm with them..."

???:" It's not them I was talking about."

Terran:" Maybe I can help you! Then will you let me through?"

???:" You won't be able to handle a horde. Stay back, let our reaper wipe them out."

Terran:" Reaper?"

As if on cue, a red kitsune with five tails with light red tips jumped on the wall.

Red Kitsune:" Another horde, I presume? It'll cost you."

???:" You'll get the usual payment, Drak. Just get rid of those shadows."

Terran: "Drak? I know that name."

The other kitsune jumped down from the wall, turned his head to look at Terran with a big grin as his tails suddenly began to open like mouths. Now Terran remembered, his ears pivoting. Drak is a mutant, and was a hired hitman back in Mythrolhia. But before that, he was a member of the Lokian Tribe. Terran's old tribe. He did awful things, for the pursuit of power and money. In addition to his mutation, he uses blood magic to do his dirty work. The red kitsune's body began to grow three times bigger, eyes glowing red, and his mouth oozing a sticky, red substance, looking almost feral.

Drak charged into battle, the horde of shadows running towards the abomination in an assault formation. One slam of his front paws devastated an entire handful of shadows, and knocked a bunch of them down. A swipe of his claws destroyed another handful. The rest began to flee after such a devastating blow. The monster kitsune chased them down, and did not let a single one escape. His methods were brutal, his speed, unmatched, and his power...

After he was done with his "meal", his body began to shrink again. Terran scowled at him as he passed. Drak scowled right back. One of them growled at the other, but Terran wasn't sure if it was himself or the red one. Only the voice of the raccoon broke the silence.

???:" Jarred. Open the gate. Let them in."

Drak:" Hey Badger! You sure we can't leave this one to rot with the shadows? I don't think he's built for hard labor!"

Terran:" I should kill you right now."

The gate started opening, but neither Terran or Drak moved an inch.

Drak:" More like get yourself killed. I would kill you without hesitation. Unfortunately, the raccoon holds my leash. As long as he gives me tokens, I have to do what he says. By the way, you don't plan on staying long, do you?"

Terran:" You don't even have to the right to show your face."

Drak:" Well that's not up to you, now is it?"

Badger:" Hey! What is going on, down there? You having tea party? Get inside so I can close the gate!"

Drak:" Word of warning... stay away."

Drak began walking in to the town, and Terran followed soon after. Badger jumped off the wall to Terran, but Terran was more fixed on his old rival.

Badger:" Hey. I know that look. Now listen here. As long as you're within these walls, there's no talk of Mysticia, and no fighting about the past. Got it?"

Terran finally looked him in the eyes.

Terran:" Do you even know who that is? He's a murderer."

Badger:" Yeah, and so's the guy next to you. And the guy next to that guy."

Terran:" Just killings and murder aren't the same."

Badger:" That's a matter of perspective, now isn't it? Look, I don't care what he's done in Mysticia. He's our best reaper, and he defends these walls, *mutters* for a steep price, of course.

Terran:" What's a reaper?"

Badger:" I can tell you haven't been here long, have you? Reapers are what we call highly powerful individuals, who've collected a lot of essence during their time in the Umbra, but it's more than just a matter of essence. They gain power through artifacts. Somehow, that maw-tailed fox took down a reaper before he even became one."

Terran:" That doesn't surprise me one bit."

Badger:" Reapers are not only powerful, they can strike down an a whole group of enemies with a single strike, and can even survive in the Glow. I'll tell you about that some other time. Something in the Umbra gives them some kind of special strength. Don't mess with a reaper unless you know you can kill them."

Terran:" And what about Drak? You're content working with someone who could potentially kill your entire town in the blink of eye?"

Badger:" A question I get all too often. But I assure you, as long as he gets his tokens, he won't cause any trouble."

Terran:" I keep hearing about these tokens. What are they?"

Badger dug into a brown satchel on his side, and pulled out a hand full of small, flat, black stones, with golden glyphs on them.

Badger:" These are Umbra tokens. No one really knows why, but they grow all over the Umbra. They just appear randomly, and you can pick them up. They don't seem to have any special use to them, so we use them as currency here in the Umbra. If you don't want to go hunting for them, you could also do some jobs, and earn more tokens. Word of warning, though. Someone offers you tokens for free, don't take them. More likely than not, you'll be paying for it in some way."

Terran:" Can I use them to buy anything useful?"

Badger:" Sure, you can get weapons, or some special apparel, such as dark weave. You could also buy yourself a house here if you're interested, but that's pretty costly. Or if you need some R&R, you could head over to the Den of Desires. First visit is always free. Helps to let the dreamers figure out your deepest desires."

Terran:" I feel like that would make me extremely unfaithful. I have a girlfriend back home after all."

Badger:" It's not what you think. Dreamers are... special creatures born of the shadows, with the ability to help you experience your deepest desires through dreams, but they can feel very real. I'm surprised you never heard of a dreamer. They're may also be found in Mysticia, but there are many born here, where the shadows lay restless. Should you encounter a dreamer in the wilds, I would advise against trusting them."

Terran:" What would they do?"

Badger:" They would lure you into a dream, and when you're vulnerable, take all of your essence, and leave you in an eternal dream. Any other questions, or can I get back to my business?"

Terran:" Just one more question. How the heck do I get out here?"

Badger:" Easy. Just jump back over the wall, if you're that eager to get torn by shadows."

Terran:" No, I mean... I mean how does one escape the Umbra?"

Badger didn't reply for a long, silent moment.

Badger:" They don't. The Umbra... this place... it's a prison, with maximum security, and it's holding shadow abominations, rejected children of the Lord of Shadows. But the real problem... the problem with trying to escape, is the chaos elementals. They're it's guards."

Terran:" They can be dealt with, can't they?"

Badger:" Sure, or we could invite them out to dinner, with us as the main course. You've never seen a chaos elemental fight, have you?"

Terran:" I've fought against users of chaos magic before, and won."

Badger:" That's different. Chaos elementals are made of pure chaos. Just like shadow elementals, like the dreamers I mentioned earlier, are pure shadow. Unlike creatures who are able to learn elemental magic, elementals themselves, are made of, and control their own element. Elementals are so strong in their own magic, almost nothing can overpower them."

Terran:" What if I were invisible to them?"

Badger:" That could work, if illusions weren't so useless in the Umbra. Using illusion magic here isn't as effective as in Mysticia. It wavers, and it doesn't last as long. The subtleties aren't so subtle. Besides, even if you could muster up the magic power to go completely invisible, no one knows where the exit is... or if there even is one. Eventually, you give up, and you realize there is no exit. No escape. No hope."

Terran couldn't believe that, but he also couldn't help but feel the weight of the raccoon's words pulling him down. He had to stay optimistic.

Badger:" I know that look. Listen to me. I know you're going to try and find a way anyways, so I won't stop you. But if you're going to be staying here, I have one condition. Don't drag any of my creatures into it. We don't want preachers here."

Terran:" You mean you don't want a rebellion on your paws."

Badger:" That mouth will get you into trouble around here. Doesn't mean you're wrong, though. Things here are peaceful, or at least as peaceful as their gonna get in the Umbra. Just... don't go planting ideas in their heads."

Terran sighed.

Terran:" Fine. But I can't be held responsible if the idea is already there. But you're right. I won't go promising anyone some better life that may take them nowhere."

Badger:" That's all I ask. If you need a place to sleep, go to the Mining Guild, and talk to Mel. She's takes in newborns without tokens, and she'll keep you as long as you work for her. But she's the queen of that place, and I can't help if you end up in The Hole. Some crazy stuff happens down there."

Terran:" Thanks... I'll do what I can."

Badger:" Hey, one last thing. Welcome to Ashsand."

To be continued...