Chapter 12: Confrontations Within the Darkness

As if it was nothing the beast had vanished in front of his eyes, only to show its true self moments later...

The thick and mysterious mist began to slowly take shape. Distinguishing shape and size as it became clear, the mist turned shadow opened its eyes as menace spread throughout the area, frozen in place for a moment Geo didn't know what to do...

Only to shortly after realizing what he was seeing,

The mysterious creature had taken shape of what he mostly took to heart and turned it in the stuff of horrors.

He wasn't sure before, but now... there was no denying it anymore... the creature had turned itself in what looked like...

"Sunshine?! Wait... this isn't how you're supposed to look?!"

Instead of the radiant, heartwarming, occasionally stubborn, and jolly shetland pony she remembered from his past life, what stood in front of him had taken shape of something truly opposite of what he remembered.

Darkness oozed from the purple flaming manes which he remembered to be well brushed and shiny.

Menace spread further as he looked into the creature's eyes.

Geo thought to himself what would have been the reason for this to happen when he remembered the rambling of an old stubborn drunkard at the tavern.

Mumbling on and on about the woods surrounding the area, he couldn't stop mumbling about one in particular as it had unfathomable encounters of fear itself...

"The Forest of Confrontation!! Didn't think that old wives tale had some truth to it?

Maybe I should take note of rumors and the sort?"

Geo thought to himself before breaking out in awkward laughter as there was no one around for miles.

"Hahahaha as if that would occupy my thought?"

He let it sink in for a moment before accepting that his sarcastic mockery was him trying to deny the truth.

Now unable to deny this he realized the creature had not taken any action towards him, other than changing its appearance to turn his beloved memories in horror and fear.

Realizing the creature didn't move in for the kill something must have been off.

"Odd... why doesn't a beast like this move in to attack me?"

The entire situation had calmed Geo down, instead of piquing his interest.

Why did this creature behave the way it did, and...

Was there even a real confrontation?

Maybe this... this was a defense mechanism? Might it be scared?

Uncertainty overtook Geo's strain of thought as the creature made him confused, giving in to all these uncertainties there was still one certain oddity. It had not moved in to attack... Instead, it felt more like it was struggling. But why?

Intrigued by the creature's odd behavior as it went against everything he had expected, slowly Geo closed in. The most shifted as Geo approached the entity showing different appearances like a chair with wheels or even a group of eerie familiar people.

Just before Geo froze, his body told him to take a step back. At that moment the appearance crumbled and faded away into the mist, revealing a small furry silhouette near his feet on the ground.

As Geo looked down, he noticed two small glittering dots which must have been its eyes.

Too scared to run away the little silhouette looked like it had tried to roll itself up in a last attempt to conceal its presence, yet... It was all in vain.

Geo had spotted the little critter and swiftly lifted it into the air. As if by magic, Geo's touch made the creature glow within the darkness of the night. Revealing its true colors.

The shade completely vanished from the creature, within his hands a small fluffy ball of fur could be seen, curled up in his hands.

The touch of it was a world apart from anything soft he tried to compare it to.

Geo then proceeded to sit down against the tree behind him as he observed whatever he was holding onto. The little fluff ball trembled in fear as if these were the last moments of its life...

Geo continued to observe. As time passed the trembling of the creature came to a halt when finally it slowly began to lift its head. First, it looked down, unsure of what was happening it began to look left and right...

When slowly it lifted its head upwards, their eyes met startling the little creature.

Quickly it rolled up again, but... since it noticed nothing happened afterward it quickly recovered. With a blank and confused look, the little creature stared at the one who was holding it.

Geo smiled and gently lowered his hands towards the ground.

Allowing the creature a safe passage towards freedom.

The creature sniffled on Geo's fingertips trying to find a way towards the ground. Geo then gently proceeded to open his hands allowing the creature to walk away within the darkness of the night.

As it hopped of Geo's hands it quickly dashed off into the night, but before it has completely vanished it turned around giving one last glance towards the person who allowed him another chance at life.

Geo had to take a moment as this was all a bit taxing on him, sitting there without a clue of what had just happened or a way to venture truly this forest for that matter. The only thing he could do was retrace his steps and move forward as much as possible.

Thinking about this quickly subdued Geo's worries.

He then stood up grabbed his map and realized something crucial. The map...

It chanced according to the light shined underneath it.

The faint glow that remained from the endeavor, even if just for a moment, revealed the true map hidden within the map. It even pointed out where he was located on it!

"Well... isn't that convenient? Now I know for sure... I have been walking in circles for hours!!"

Geo said frustrated, yet relieved he had found a way out of this mess. Learning from his past mistakes Geo sat down for a moment observing the map which had now revealed the true path to follow toward his destination.

He made sure the area kept glowing, allowing him to carefully observe the hidden map within. Quickly it became clear that he wasn't an expert on reading maps,

but even for him, it had become obvious where to head next.

The map pointed the way towards a specific area within the forest, talking about a passage hidden deep within. Looking closer Geo got the feeling the entrance was close by.

"I mean... why else would a creature, who protects itself by turning into those who approach it their worst fears? And... isn't the map telling me I have to keep doing what I did?!"

Geo knew he had to walk in more circles which frustrated him a bit, but now it was different, there was a goal; finding the entrance to the passage.

Setting off into the general direction of his destination he couldn't help but think what might be in store for him next, and as he did, something lurking deep within the shadows keeping a record of his every move.