Spiral

Intro

“Are you sure you want to do this alone Twi?” Spike her faithful assistant asked her.

“Yes Spike I’m positive, the ruins are supposedly in to delicate of a state to bring anypony with me on this trip.” Twilight replied seriously, she was headed deep into the Everfree forest to unearth the secrets of the past from their dust coated tomb.

“I just think that this is a little rash, even for you.” Spike told her worryingly as he tied on her saddlebags, Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Come on Spike when have I ever been rash?” She asked him.

“Well let me think about that…” Spike began.

“I was being rhetorical Spike.” Twilight cut him off before he could regale her with past failures caused by rash decisions.

“Alright fine Twilight go and do what you want, don’t listen to your closest friend.” Spike told her with a huff.

“I’m sorry Spike I’m not trying to be mean but this is something that only I can do.” Twilight said pulling him into a hug, after a few seconds he relented and returned the hug with a sigh.

“Alright Twi, just be careful I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He told her doing his best to suppress the emotions welling up inside him and mostly succeeding, he didn’t know why but this solo expedition gave him a really bad feeling.

“You’d be the best librarian and dragon that Equestria’s ever had, on the bright side you’re already the best assistant that a mare could ever ask for.” Twilight replied with a final hug before she headed for the door feeling the familiar weight of her saddlebags settle firmly into place. “I’ll be back by tonight, don’t wait up.”

Twilight Sparkle also known as Princess Celestia’s prized pupil set off down the streets of Ponyville at a steady walk, she knew better then to waste energy before she even got to Everfree. The streets of Ponyville were next to empty thanks to the early hour of her departure. Not many ponies were required to wake up at dawn, and even those who were awake were far from the most alert ponies in the world. Twilight however was wide awake as her mind fantasized about what she’d find in her dungeon delving expedition. She was heading into Everfree forest in pursuit of answers about a long vanished kingdom that Celestia had mentioned to her by accident.

According to what Twilight had managed to unearth from the archives the kingdom was nameless and came from a time before Celestia, Luna, and even Discord. This was Twilight’s chance to really uncover the secrets of the past first hoof, and she relished the opportunity. Being Celestia’s student had allowed her many things, but until now she’d never had the chance to be the first pony at a new archeological site.

The eaves of Everfree loomed above her dark and imposing, yet even a forest as daunting as Everfree couldn’t darken Twilight’s sprits. She walked down the slightly overgrown path through the forest enjoying the songs of the birds until she reached the place that her map indicated. The path took a sharp turn to the right before the path vanished altogether and was replaced by dense underbrush. Using her magic she pulled the machete that she’d brought along in her saddlebags out of its sheath before she began to cut her way through the worst of the underbrush. It was grueling work and even for unicorn as magically conditioned as she was and soon she found herself straining to swing the black metal blade.

Twilight took a short break and retrieved her water canteen from her bags taking a long swig of clear fresh water that slacked her thirst and gave her some much needed energy. Once she was ready again she set off at the same pace hacking her way through the overgrowth. Sweat soon began to gather around her forehead and flanks but she pressed on determined to make her way to the castle that was her destination. After another hour of slashing she came within sight of her goal for the first time, it was right where the ancient map had told her it would be. The castle was a sprawling ruin that looked quite unlike any other ruin that Twilight had investigated the walls were the first thing that struck her. They were made of a black stone that was ingrained with swirls of red; the walls were also tall enough that it was a surprise that that clouds themselves weren’t impacting against them.

The next thing that she noticed was the entrance; it was actually a small affair for a castle, maybe ten feet wide and five feet tall. The entrance was guarded by both a drawbridge which was down and a set portcullis which were thankfully raised. The doors that rested behind those outer defenses were made of solid logs that were branded with large iron strips for added support. Twilight couldn’t believe that the place was still in such good condition after all this time, there didn’t seem to be any sort of damage to the superstructure or even any rust on the metals. Twilight walked over the drawbridge under the portcullis and through the doors her eyes going wide, the place was a scholar’s dream.

Twilight had emerged into a small courtyard that ran its way around the castle. The castle was very impressive; it was built in a triangular shape with a deep moat running around the inside of the courtyard and Twilight marveled at the clever placement of arrow slits and murder holes that would have made the castle a real challenge to take even after an enemy force had made it through the outer walls. With a sense of growing anticipation Twilight made her way through the courtyard and up to the castle’s interior. It was dark inside the castle, not just dark but light seemed to be sucked from the room the second that it crossed the threshold. Like any intrepid archeologist however Twilight had come prepared for the dark, using her magic she reached into her pack and drew out a magical lantern.

The lantern cast blue light out in all directions and Twilight gasped at what she saw. As her eyes adjusted to the new light they took in an incredibly appointed castle, the elegance of it took her breath away. The room was a beautiful work of art, and in more than one way, it was half made to impress. Twilight could tell because of the sheer scale of the place, the other half was pure defense. This is where defenders would marshal for a final defense of the castle, choke points and balconies to fire down at enemies were everywhere that Twilight looked. Twilight left the main lobby and began to explore using her lantern to see deep into the shadows, she had just entered a room when suddenly a ferocious growling filled the air behind her. Twilight turned to find herself facing down a full grown manticore, Twilight did the only thing that could be expected of her, she ran for her life.

Twilight ran through room after room the sounds of the manticore smashing its way through behind her were growing louder, the only reason she had any distance on it was because she’d thrown a chair at its head. Suddenly Twilight heard a crack sound from underneath her; she stopped dead in her tracks and looked down. The stone floor beneath her hooves had suddenly grown weak, and with every step that she’d taken forward it had gotten weaker.

Now as she looked down a circular crack was growing around her, as if encircling her in a noose. Then as the crack completed its circle the floor fell out from underneath her, Twilight screamed as she fell but she just kept on falling. Eventually she ran out of voice to scream and looked around her but she could see nothing, her eyes began to droop, she tried to fight it but eventually Twilight closed her eyes.

***

In Ponyville the next morning a scream was heard from the library as Spike discovered that Twilight hadn’t returned.

Next Chapter: Chapter 1 Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 21 Minutes