//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-One // Story: Rats In The Belfry // by Beegirl Scribbler //------------------------------// “Stop that! Stop it now!” The pink gem refused to comply, and Somnambula scowled. About ten seconds ago the gem had started blinking uncontrollably. Her crystals did sometimes flash when near something that would upset their captives, but never this...deliberately. Perhaps she had underestimated Pinkie Pie. Now the other two crystals were flashing as well, though not quite as bright, and the pink crystal was starting to show cracks. This was going to get ugly if Somnambula didn't do something fast. With a snarl, she ripped the crystal out and threw it out the nearest stained window. At the exact same time, the crystal shattered. In the crystal's place was Pinkie Pie. She stood in midair, grinning. “Yeah! It worked! Who da mare? I da—what?” Somnambula was pointing down. Pinkie looked. “Ohhh!” The pony plummeted. Giving a smug smile, Somnambula glanced back at the crystals. She realized they hadn't stopped blinking. Indeed, cracks had formed, and— There was a blinding flash of blue and gold. Somnambula was sent flying into the throne room doors. “Did it work?” “We're out, aren't we, Count?” “Er, yes.” Hissing, Somnambula looked up. Fancypants and Celestia stood there in the flesh—though she did notice that Celestia's mane was a solid pink rather than its more ethereal hues. “Somnambula.” Celestia approached, eyes narrowed. “You should be in Tartarus right now.” “Tartarus is under new management.” Somnambula got to her feet. Fancypants raised a hoof. “Er, Princess, this really isn't my area of—” “Go. Organize the Guard.” “Yes, Princess.” Fancypants's horn flashed and he teleported away. “You made a mistake coming here,” Celestia said. “Heh. I am pleased you think so, Celestia. Believe me, I am the least of your worries. Already the forces of Tartarus have overrun the city.” Celestia rolled her eyes. “A pitiful attempt at stalling for the device's recharging.” “You think I am stalling?” “I think you—” “Ahem. Princess.” Somnambula heard one of the doors creak open. “It, ah, seems the denizens of Tartarus have overrun Canterlot.” Celestia groaned. “Organize the guard, Fancypants.” “I'll do my best.” The door shut. “You made a second miscalculation, you know.” Somnambula raised her hands. “Oh, really?” Celestia's horn started to glow. Somnambula snapped her fingers. A fireball appeared and launched itself at the Princess of the Sun. Celestia was just barely able to lift a shield in time, but the blast knocked her clear to the other side of the hall. Celestia struggled to rise as Somnambula gave a dark laugh. “You assume I need to stall after draining your power for three days.” She clapped her hands and both of the thrones rose into the air. “I am quite confident I have enough of your power left over to simply beat you to death.” Celestia straightened, eyes narrowing to slits. “We'll just have to see about that.” And so the battle began. Luna levitated the largest trapdoor open. The Scribe had willingly handed her the key—or showed her where it had been discarded, anyways. Why that door? Echechak asked. “Tirek was the First Warden. Grogar respects custom too much to just hide him in any old jail cell.” Behind the trapdoor was only darkness, and Luna didn't bother trying to create a light source. This was the Chamber of Darkness, The Room With No Walls. Any light brought within would be immediately quenched, along with its bearer. She entered the darkness and was lost. That was to say, the entrance could no longer be located. The key would lead her out, though, when the time came. She remembered that from her first—and only—visit to this room. “Tirek?” she called. There was no answer. Her voice sounded curiously muffled, as if the darkness itself choked it. “Tirek?” she repeated. Perhaps he does not wish to answer you, Princess. This room is for those who must never be found. Ignoring Echechak, Luna began walking through the gloom. “wHo iS THerE?” a warped voice called. Luna stopped in her tracks. “Echechak,” she muttered, “Do not listen.” I will try. “Smooze!” Luna called. “Is that you?” Since when is the Smooze kept in the Room of Darkness? she wondered. “iT Is aND IsN'T.” She felt something slimy touch her leg. “AnD It iS yOu. i HaD wonDeREd wHeN yoU woUld RetUrn tO Us.” Luna gritted her teeth. She alone had learned how to speak with the Smooze without it damaging her sanity, but it had taken much study. And it had been a long time ago. “Why are you down here?” “pRIsoNs cHAngE. YoU...dO nOT coMe To VisIt mE, thEn.” “I did not know you were here, old fr—” “I told you,” something snapped. “She comes now only because she wants our help.” “nO. LuNA is A fRiENd.” “Ha!” The something let out a hacking cough. When it resumed talking, its voice was a bit quieter. “A fair-weather friend, then.” Luna hesitated, then raised the key and activated it. From nowhere came a very faint gray light, illuminating a vast purple ooze and a black-furred, red-skinned centaur. The latter grimaced, as if unaccustomed to the light. “Tirek.” Her mouth was dry. Tirek's mouth tightened. “Good day, Luna. Assuming it is day.” “Night, actually.” “Hm.” He raised an eyebrow. “Did your revolt succeed after all?” “No.” Luna tried not to sound hurt. “It...is simply nighttime.” “That is good. You may leave now.” Tirek started to withdraw deeper into the darkness. Startled, Luna walked after him. “Wait! What are you doing?” “Serving my sentence. Perhaps you should try it.” “Excuse me?” “You are excused.” “You...your sentence is just a construction of Grogar's!” Luna scowled. “Grogar sought power. Why acknowledge his self-bestowed authority?” My goodness. Is that what the Princess thinks happened? “It would appear so, old friend.” Tirek rubbed his forehead. “It is a quaint invention I hate to disrupt. After all, we all know what comes of disrupting the Princess's happy world view.” Luna blinked. “Wh—what are you saying, Tirek?” It really is rather simple. Grogar did not launch any grand coup. “Indeed.” Tirek gave a shrug. “We did 'revert'.” Luna stared at him. She couldn't think of what to say. What was she to say to that? “Does this take you by surprise, Princess?” “You...” Luna had been told they had turned, of course. But she hadn't really acknowledged it. And when Grogar had betrayed her, she had eagerly seized the lifeline that, perhaps, they had simply been framed. Instead... “How could you?” she managed. “How could I?” Tirek scowled. “What did you expect me to do?” It appears her age has made her stupid. “Please, my friends, just—” “Friends?” For a moment, Tireks' face went dark. His eyes turned black. He reared up and leaped, landing right in front of Luna and looming over her. “You call us friends after what you did to us?” Luna started back. “What I did to you?” Tirek looked like he wanted to punch her. “You left! You turned! You told us to be greater than what we were while you were little above a self-involved, spoiled brat!” “I made a mistake!” Luna shouted. “And what were we supposed to do? Patiently wait for your return?” Luna took another step back. Her voice lowered. “What did you do?” He sought to bring you and your nightmare back. Luna glanced back at Echechak, eyes widening. And when he was gone, I sought to kill you. Echechak's compound eyes glinted in the dull light. I sought to destroy the moon and you with it, that none would ever meddle with the cosmos again. I sought to break my own code and assassinate a god. “Grogar stopped us,” Tirek muttered, backing away from Luna. “He never warmed to you when you were active, so he alone was qualified to rule after your treachery.” Luna looked between her two former friends, then at the nearby Smooze. Three of the ooze's many eyes looked at her with a mixture of pity and disappointment. “I am sorry,” she said, voice lowering further until it was nearly a whisper. “I...you do not know what it was like. To feel unloved. Obsolete.” I do, Echechak hissed in her mind. Luna glanced back in surprise. Have you forgotten the original reason for my imprisonment? The assassin for gods in a world where assassination has gone out of style. They locked me up because I didn't know how to do anything else. You are the one who showed me I could be more than the sum of my parts. Luna hesitated. She picked up Echechak with her magic and set him down on the floor beside Tirek. She took a step back. Then, feeling tears begin to run down her cheeks, she spoke. “I made a mistake.” “Yes,” Tirek said. “You did.” “But just as I taught you—” Luna swallowed. “—taught you that you could be more, you taught me I could be much less.” “Is that meant to be touching?” “You taught me even the best can fall,” she went on. “And I did. But you also taught me that anything can rise back up. And you taught me not to push them back down when that happened.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I know I have been...a poor friend. Sometimes you have friends you are not even aware of, I suppose, and in your ignorance you might neglect them. I should have visited more. Perhaps you could have kept me from making my mistakes.” Her eyes closed. “But I need your help now, because Grogar will enslave all. You are right; he was never touched by my compassion. He has never had a friend, and that makes me fear for our world if he is not stopped.” Echechak and Tirek looked at her, showing no reaction. “Please,” she whispered. “For...old times' sake?” A moment passed in silence. “Too old...” Tirek murmured. He backed further away from the light. Too old by far. Luna watched as Tirek left the range of the key. Sighing, she turned away. As she exited the Room of Darkness, she paused. She turned and tossed the glowing key in. “Did you...find what you sought?” the Scribe asked as she walked past. Luna didn't answer.