//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18: "Everyone Get A Fright." 
// Story: Morning Meir Mysteries: Case 2: A Fright On Nightmare Night 
// by XombieSlayr 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 18: "Everyone Get A Fright."

"Oh, wow! Great costume!" A mare in a bumblebee costume complimented me.

"Thank you. Yours is great as well." I replied with a smile.

Vampire Pensipony simply rolled her eyes. "I get that this is a festival for fun and games, Meir, but let's not let ourselves get too carried away with this, okay?" she said in a serious tone. And she was right. (Of course, nopony had complimented her costume, so...)

We stayed as a group as we searched for any sign of the voodoo hounfour secret entrance. I searched around the tents, the fun displays, the candy sculptures and...wait.

I went back to the giant candy sculpture I had given a look at, and examined it closer. Etched into the bottom was a series of small borderline invisible voodoo markings, as well as the cartel's tell-tale symbol. I motioned for Pensipony to come take a look, and upon seeing it her eyes went wide. "Hidden in plain sight...of course."

As a group, me, Gold Digger and Pensipony pushed and moved the sculpture from it's spot, revealing a hidden hatch door underneath. We had found it. Pensipony tried the hatch door and it lifted up easily. I suppose they would leave it unlocked for cartel members to come and go from the festival to the hounfour.

Taking precautions so that we wouldn't be seen, we each climbed down the ladder into the voodoo hounfour. I waved to Karosta and Miss Fortune who stood not far from us. Karosta gave the slightest nod to show she had seen me, and Miss Fortune smiled warmly, saying with her eyes she wished us all luck.

Taking one final moment, I mentally prepared myself as I began my descent to the hounfour, closing the hatch on my way down.

Secret Voodoo Hounfour, Underneath Nawlans Stadium

Once at the bottom of the ladder, I looked as we now found ourselves in the tunnels beneath the stadium. Strange voodoo markings painted the walls in different colors, as the smell of incense wafted through the air all around us. The slow but steady beating of drums could be heard through the walls. Fluorescent lights lined the ceiling of the hall, buzzing above our heads.

We followed the hall to a large dimly lit room. Maroon Robes and tribal masks hung on hooks on the walls amidst several pieces of Zebrican art. The center of the hounfour was a large circular room-apparently used for rituals. Despite the metal and concrete foundation of the stadium, everything down here seemed to be made of stone.

We put on the robes over our costumes, and used the masks to hide our faces. Hopefully we wouldn't have to be down here for long enough to worry about being seen, but we had to disguise ourselves to get close to Carlsen. Wherever he was down here.

"Agh!" Gold Digger cried looking at a boar's mask in disgust."Aren't there any other masks besides this one? It's hideous!"

Pensipony (Who was now robed and wearing a tribal leopard's mask) sighed. "Just wear it, Digger. You won't have to have it on for long." she said simply.

Gold Digger pouted but nevertheless put on the mask.  I myself chose a toucan mask, as it fit easy over my muzzle without suffocating me.

With all of us disguised, we decided to stay together and search for Carlsen. It was too dangerous down here for us to split up, and we had no idea how outnumbered we really were down here. It was best to play it safe.

Investigation Begins

We explored this part of the hounfour, keeping an eye out for any cartel members. We found several small bedroom suites, probably for members to stay overnight. (Although I can't imagine anypony wanting to stay here for any reason)

Finally we came to a larger bedroom. The largest one we had seen so far. We entered quietly, taking in the luxurious comforts that the room had been outfitted with. It became quite apparent that this was where Carlsen was staying. A small voodoo idol and altar had been set up in the corner, surrounded by a row of candles.

We searched around, but there was no sign of Carlsen. The stench of freshly burning sage and incense permeated the air.

The sound of the door opening, stopped us all in our tracks. "Damn it!" Pensipony whispered. "He's here!"

"Quick, everypony into the bathroom!" I whispered to my friends.

"But...I went before we left!" Gold Digger commented, as we pushed her into the suite's bathroom, and closed the door, leaving only a small crack for us to look into the room through.

We heard hooves trot steadily on the floor, and Carlsen came into view. He looked sick, as his eyes seemed more sunken in and his ears drooped along with his normally combed mane. He went over to the voodoo altar and lit a fresh incense, before pricking his hoof and letting a drop of blood fall into a small bowl the idol was holding aloft. He closed his eyes as he knelt to the altar.

"Bogun Legba! I call to you! Reveal yourself to me, so that I may serve you." He called out. 

At once the lights in the room dimmed and flickered, as a strange whispering cut through the air. The lights flickered before finally going off completely. When they came back on a strange shadowy masked figure could be seen in the mirror above the altar. Definitely not a pony, it's slender face was obscured by a tribal mask in the shape of a skull, it's red eyes glowed like hot coals through the mask's eye holes. A large black top hat adorned the being's head, covered in feathers and small bones. Tribal voodoo tattoos and lines were drawn over its visible face, and they glowed in several different colors, like a black light over neon paint. A large toothy grin was seen below the eyes as it smiled wickedly at Carlsen.

"Ah, yes...the pony. What is it you seek, child?" it spoke in a deep cruel voice. The way it said pony, made it sound like it was telling a joke, or that it thought that was humorous. Were we really so simple to the Loa? I couldn't say, but I still thought he was being a jerk.

Carlsen dropped his face to the floor. "Lord Legba, I am so close to taking this city. But...that mare...Morning Meir-"

The voice chuckled mockingly. "Heh heh, right. You're so scared of her aren't you?"

My eyes widened, as my brain struggled to comprehend what I had just heard. Carlsen was....scared of me? I could understand aware, or maybe even intimidated...but...scared? What was it about me that he was scared of?

Carlsen said nothing as he continued to look down. "I....I just need a little more power. So I can get rid of her for good."

I felt a lump in my throat as I kept listening.

Legba seemed to find this funny, as he chuckled once more. "I have already given you all you have earned, child. Besides...no amount of power in this or any world will allow you to get rid of Morning Meir."

Carlsen looked up at Legba, fear in his eyes. "What is she? Please, I have to know!" he begged.

Legba laughed, a cruel deep voiced rasp. "You already know the answer, little pony!" 

Suddenly he leaned in through the mirror and stared down at Carlsen, a sickening glee on his face. "She is....The Smartest Pony In The World." he whispered, like a breath of wind. "Do you really think you can beat that?"

The lights went out again. When they came back on, Legba was gone.