A little something for the time being · 4:46am Oct 30th, 2022
The next chapter is taking longer than it should've, primarily because I want to make it a good update, and because I had something special in mind for Halloween. Unfortunately that didn't go over all that well and I had to scrap the plans, which cost me time.
But I didn't want to discard everything I worked on, so I figured I'd leave this here for your reading pleasure.
Deep in the lowest levels of Canterlot's archives, far in the deepest and most restricted section, Ulquiorra silently stood before the sealed gates.
Heavy, tempered steel plating, shielding layers upon layers of the inner workings, and coated in a thick, rubberized paint mixed with anti-magic additives, ensuring that no force -no magical force at least- on the planet could actually force its way into this level of the facility. Even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna themselves weren't able to brute force the doors apart; something that they had seen to personally, to ensure the contents housed within would remain undisturbed to the best of their abilities.
Out of everyone that worked at the palace, he was the only one of them who truly had unrestricted access to this part of the archives, as he was the only one they could acknowledge as being trustworthy enough.
Slipping his right hand out of his pocket, he placed his palm against the scanner.
Almost immediately it beeped and flashed a green light, signalling access had been granted as the locking mechanism slowly undid itself automatically, the heavy doors parting as fast as the inner mechanisms would allow them to move. Which was far too long for his tastes as he simply strolled through the opening once there was a shoulder width between them.
The decor of the room was none of his concern, only the object that brought him here in the first place, which currently rested on a waist-high stone pedestal near the center of the room, with a bright spotlight shining down on it almost mockingly, temptingly.
A six-sided, four-inch square puzzle box, made of intricately carved wood and overlaid with gold leaf work. In other circumstances, a work that would fetch a handsome price to a private collector. But few would truly realize just what that price would actually entail until it was too late...
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and picked up the box, before tracing his fingers along its surface until they happened upon a particular engraved channel between two parts, causing the inner mechanism to spring to life, as the surface of the box began to ripple and shift as it reconfigured itself into a new pattern.
The air in the room suddenly shifted, taking on an extremely cold quality that even he could notice. Cold enough even his breath would be seen upon exhale.
The sound of chains rattling was soon heard. But it was an empty, hollow type of rattling that felt devoid of a substance of its own; it was if the sound was but a distant echo of itself, a memory of the past.
And then he felt it. He felt the presence in the room with him. He didn't even have to turn around to know it was standing behind him.
"It's been a long time," he commented without turning around.
"Not long enough."
The voice was just as hoarse and raspy as the last time he'd heard it, dry and utterly devoid of anything resembling emotion.
He set the puzzle box back on its pedestal and slowly turned around, looking at the entity that stood behind him, looking into the empty black eyes that looked back at him.
"Why do you consult the box when you do not desire the gifts it has to offer you?"
"I have questions. Questions that perhaps you can provide an answer to," Ulquiorra explained as he stepped forward, reaching into his right pocket and withdrawing a stack of papers to hold out in front of him. "There have been killings around Ponyville that can't be explained by conventional wisdom. Performed through a means that I can't identify. Is this your handiwork? Did these foals stumble upon you through some means or another? Are there other puzzle boxes in Equestria we don't yet know about?"
A pale hand, even paler than his own, reached out to take the offered pictures for examination. And with examination, lips slowly parted and were drawn back, bearing teeth in a forming sneer. Was it of disgust? Repulsion? Insult? Jealousy? He couldn't really tell for certain; not when dealing with beings like these. In their own way, they were every bit a mystery to him as Equestria itself.
"This is not the work of our order," was hissed in palpable disgust through parted lips, the action causing the bejeweled heads of numerous pins to shift about from the forceful movement. "This is nothing but crude, untalented butchery of the lowest of tiers. Utter savagery for the sake of the savagery itself. Pure self indulgence by an anarchistic mind. This is not our work. We cannot help you in this matter."
Ulquiorra accepted the pictures back as they were held out to him. "If nothing else, the existence and uncovering of more puzzle boxes can be crossed off the list of possible explanations. That in itself helps us greatly, and allows us to focus on other theories that may explain what exactly is going on here."
He turned back to the box, prepared to trigger its return to its previous configuration and end the conversation, as there was no further point in continuing any longer.
"A question."
But his hands stopped just short of actually touching it, driven by curiosity. And perhaps a touch of professional courtesy. His questions had been answered. It would only be fair if he did the same.
"Had this indeed been our work, had our offer of new sensations been accepted by inquisitive minds, what would you have done in response?"
"Negotiated for their release. Offering others souls in exchange for theirs if necessary," Ulquiorra clarified.
"More of your souls..."
There was a definitely sneer to be had in that statement, even if he didn't observe it for himself.
"One soul is as good as another. It doesn't matter where it comes from," he replied dismissively.
"We are still picking up the pieces from the last time you made such an offer for these ponies."
Oh now there was definite hostility in the voice this time around. But that could hardly be blamed on him. He'd upheld his end of the bargain, the buyer's remorse was strictly on them.
"We do not exist to serve as entertainment for you. We are not to be toyed with. If you try and play your games with us again, the next time we will simply take you and be done with it."
"Your chains are indeed strong, Priest," Ulquiorra acknowledged, "but not that strong. Even if I allowed myself to be taken, it would be your order that lost out on that deal, and lamenting the decision to proceed with it."
"We would have eternity to know your flesh."
Ulquiorra slowly turned around to face the entity in response, and with equal slowness stepped closer until there was barely an arm's length separating the two.
"And I would have eternity to impress upon you, just how bad of a decision that would be to make."
Meet a monster with a monster.
Noice
The spoken lines exchanged here are expertly crafted. That last bit was genuinely intimidating. I loved this! Thanks for sharing!