//------------------------------// // 7. Who You Really Are p.2: Welcome to the Library // Story: Power Struggle // by Regis-Th3-Lesser //------------------------------// Rainbow and Ember zipped around the massive building before them scanning desperately for an entrance. “Anything?” Smog shouted to the swirling pair. Ember landed in from of him with a pout. “No…” “Ah, damnit.” “There has to be a way in.” “I hope we didn’t come all this way just to be stopped by a magical password!” Rainbow fumed. “Don’t worry Rainbow, we’ll find a way in,” Ember consoled her. Spike looked up at the monument, “There has to be a way in…” he said as he rubbed the wall before him. In the heat of the day, it was cool to the touch. What looked like metal felt… natural. Soon he felt something, like a heartbeat or steady breathing. His hand started to smoke and fizzle, but he felt no heat. Fire seeped from under his palms and danced in the shape of the sun. The others watched in curiosity and worry, mainly Ember. With an eruption of golden fire a doorway blazed open before them. “How did you do that?” Smog asked with astonishment. Spike hesitantly took a step inside. It was dark, and the air was tainted with a thousand year funk. He turned back to the others who stood frozen by fear and amazement. “Well? We came all this way, right?” “Right.” Ember took hold of his hand and walked along with him into the darkness. “Wait for me!” Twilight dashed inside. “Oh dear…” Rarity whined. Applejack wrapped rested her arm on her shoulder with a smile. “Ain’t nothing but a li’l bit of dark, sugarcube.” Fluttershy swallowed audibly hard, but Rainbow reassured her. “We got this!” She patted Smog’s back. “Lead the way, big guy!” Smog snorted and walked into the darkness. The air inside was wet, smelling of rain and fresh mud. The darkness was absolute and thick beyond compare. Spike began to question if he was even moving forward through the inky void. Then, a bright red flame burst to life in front of him. He thought it was a torch, so he reached for where the handle would be but nothing was there. Perhaps it was mounted on a wall? He felt around for any solid structure, again finding nothing. “W-What’s going on?” Fluttershy trembled. “I don’t know…” Spike said as he reached out towards the flame. Inches away from touching it, it jumped to his hand and began spreading around his body. “Ahh! Put it out! Put it out!” He cried. Ember began beating on him with her wings, surprised to find that it was no warmer than a lover’s embrace. “Spike, look.” He held his hand above the flame creeping up his arm. Soon it jumped to Ember as well. “What do you think it is?” Twilight reached for Ember, but Smog held her back. “Wait, we don’t know what ‘it’ could be doing…” The flames slowly engulfed the two in a haunting blood red glow. Smog readied for the worst while the others watched in bewilderment, fear, and curiosity. “Do you feel anything?” Smog asked cautiously. Spike looked at a flame soaked Ember, “It feels like a nice blanket, or a hot bath.” Without warning, the aura of fire surrounding Spike cycled through different levels of fire from red, to yellow, to white, eventually settling on blue. “Spike!” they cried in fear of him being burnt alive. A loud voice speaking in a forgotten tongue echoed through the darkness as a door appeared before them. The flames left Spike and Ember joining the intense yet inviting light piercing the darkness. “I think that may be the way, y’all,” Applejack covered her eyes with her hat. “There’s only one way to find out!” Pinkie leapt from the group and took off, “Last one in is a big ole smelly party pooper!” “Pinkie!” Smog chased after her becoming engulfed in the light. As her eyes adjusted she couldn’t process what she was seeing. The ceiling stretched to the sky and beyond. There were grass fields were cut by a river flowing from a cascading waterfall, and field was littered with old stone carving of dragons and creatures long since passed. “Dammit, girl! Don’t go running off-” Smog too was stricken by the beauty of the library, if this were even one to begin with. These walls reminded him of the temples he used to seek refuge in during his travels. “By the flame…” “I know, right? It’s sooo pretty! Hey guys! Come on!” Soon the others erupted through the door adopting the same twitterpated gaze that befell Smog and Pinkie. If there were ever more of a whimsical moment, this would be it. “Whoa…” Rainbow sighed. Though it was beautiful, Twilight was thoroughly disappointed to find a glaring lack of bookshelves. “Hello…” the voice spoke again, breaking everyone out of their daze. “Who’s there?” Ember asked with apprehension. A stout ghostly dragoness appeared before her sending chills down her spine as she fell in the grass. “Ghost!” Fluttershy yelped hiding behind Applejack. “The better question is, who are you? I only gave the dragon lord permission to gain entry.” All eyes fell on Spike. “They are my… caravan! They’ve assisted me in reaching this..?” “This is the Crypt of Dogul,” She spoke proudly. “So, no library then?” Twilight whined. “There are stores of knowledge here from every age of dragon history.” Twilight suppressed a squeal of joy. “Where is the knowledge kept?” The dragoness pointed to her temple with a cheeky smile. “Wait a second. I do not mean to be rude or intrusive, but a ‘crypt’? We’re in a mass grave??” Rarity gagged. “This is the ancestral home of the Gyohst. Every Gyohst who ever lived has been laid to rest here, and so has their knowledge.” Rarity shuddered at the thought of standing on thousands of dragon corpses. “Once they pass their entire life, all that they did, the ones they loved, everything, rests with them.” The dragoness apparated in front of Spike, “So, my lord, what is it that you seek?” “Gah!” Spike jumped, causing her to raise her brow in confusion. “Sorry, you startled me.” “Apologies my lord. What is it that you seek?” Spike looked at his friends who in turn looked to him, “We are looking knowledge of this land’s past.” “Excellent!” she tittered. “This way, Dragon Lord Avaar.” “Actually, my name is Spike.” She stopped, halting the group as she did. “I do not mean to intrude, my lord, but your name is Avaar.” Spike frowned and spoke authoritatively, “No, my name is Spike.” “With all due respect, my lord, I have knowledge of everything past. I am telling you that your name is Avaar.” “Knowledge of my past? What are you talking about?” His voice grew ever more defensive. Spike racked his brain trying to figure out what this crazy ghost lady was saying. There was no way she knew of who or what he was. “No… no, no, no, no. You’re trying to trick us.” “Spike?” Ember asked attempting to calm him. A cold frown grew on the dragoness’s brow as she approached Spike. Everyone stood at the ready to defend against this ethereal threat. “This is sanctum a for those who seek knowledge and truth. I will tell you once again, my lord; your true identity is, Avaar. I peered deep into your soul and have seen a purposeful ignorance. An ignorance that will not be tolerated!” She rose into the air, and with a snap of her fingers, the entire area flooded with inky darkness. “W-What’s going on?” Fluttershy fearfully whined. “I don’t know, but be ready for anything,” Smog replied, not at all sure what was about to transpire. Then, the dragoness let out a sickly, bloodcurdling howl as the floor began to violently quake and buckle. Rainbow and Ember tried to take to the air, but the darkness was too thick to tell what was up or down. As the floor continued to rumble and jitter. Cracks appeared one by one burning with a light as red as the depths of hell. The dragoness appeared several times larger completely drenched in flames. “Since you wish to ignore the truth, you can burn in your ignorance!” Her loud, bass-heavy voice sent shockwaves through the ensemble as the floor gave way, swallowing them whole. ~^^^^^~ Rarity groaned, feeling a sharp pain radiating from her ankle. It was dark and dusty. No one else was in sight, and she was more than certain that she was covered head to toe in dust and debris. She sat up, the pain shot through her entire leg causing her to yelp. “Who’s there?” A familiar voice called out. “Applejack? Applejack! I’m over here!” Rarity called, lighting her surroundings with her horn. Applejack rushed over and slid to a halt by Rarity’s side. She frantically inspected Rarity from head to swollen ankle. “Damn! Are you okay?” “It’s nothing more than a sprain, Darling.” Applejack gave her a worried frown that Rarity found all too adorable. “I’m going to be okay, well, I will be once we find our way out of here.” They were surrounded in perpetual darkness save the light coming from Rarity’s horn. “Well, we won’t find nothin sittin around here.” Applejack lifted Rarity bridal style and began carrying her off. The void around them was so thick that the light coming from Rarity barely illuminated the ground below them. Every step felt as if she was playing chicken with death. The further she walked, the lighter their surroundings became. The light didn’t come from a single point, rather it came from all around bathing them, in a bluish orange glow. Then they found themselves in a corridor lit by torches of orange and white flames. Something called to them,told them that this was the path they should take. So onward they went. ~^^^^^~ For another group, there was a different story. Four friends fell into a vast room with walls that touched the edge of space. It was quiet save for the occasional drip of water on the rocks. Smog bursted out of the water taking in a gallon of air. He looked around for any other signs of life. Nothing… only him in this deep pool of water. He mourned the loss of his newfound friends, but if he was to survive he needed to find a way out  now. “Smog!” a coughing voice called. He turned to it, relieved to see Pinkie, and Fluttershy resting on nearby exposed rocks. He swam to hem and as he drew nearer he noticed another pony. This one blue and unmoving. He picked up his pace, swimming with all of his might until he pulled up on the rocks finding an unconscious Rainbow. “Is she okay?” he asked while inspecting her for any wounds. “She’s still breathing…” Fluttershy moaned with worry. “I thought she was,” Fluttershy swallowed at the thought of Dash passing away, “I’m glad she’s still alive.” Smog looked to the pink mare fiddling with her wet shirt, “Pinkie?” She jumped and looked at him with fearful eyes, something Smog thought he’d never see from the exuberant mare. “Are you alright?” “Y-Yeah,” she shook, “I’m okay, Smogy.” He reached out to her, surprised when she flinched at his touch. Even though her constant shouting and bounding were annoying as hell, he prefered that over this. Smog grabbed her arm and spoke with compassion, “Pinkie… please.” Tears quickly filled her blue eyes as she buried herself in Smog’s chest. Smog didn’t speak, partly because dealing with emotions was a major learning curve, and also because he felt nothing he could say would help. “I was so scared when I saw Dashie sinking!” she sobbbed. “She wouldn’t breathe or move. I thought she was gone…” She held him tighter, sobbing even louder into his soaked armor. Her loud cries echoed through the waterlogged room, filling the atmosphere with a sense of dread and hopelessness. He hadn’t a clue where they were, or where any of the other’s were for that matter. Pinkie sniffled and pulled away from him. “Thank you, Smog…” “You don’t have to-” “Nope!” she hopped to her feet, her cheery self returning. “You’re a good grumpy friend.” She pulled out a pair of Pinkie Pie’s Patented Party Pepper, or binoculars to common folk, and searched around the massive room. While she did so, Smog watched over Fluttershy and Rainbow. Fluttershy was the most intriguing to him. For someone who is so skittish, how did she ever work up the courage to come all this way? Well, he was one for three with this consoling thing. Maybe he could get through to her also. “Fluttershy.” she looked up at him, one eye covered by her wet bangs. “Are you okay?” She shifted her gaze away and sneezed at the cold. Smog moved next to her and awkwardly hugged her from the side. “I am not remotely good with helping those who are in mental or emotional turmoil, but I don’t want to see any of you feeling melancholic or defeated. What I’m trying to say is, we’ll find the others and we will get out of here.” Fluttershy looked up at him and sniffled, “Okay…” “Hey guys!” Pinkie sprang up with glee. “I think I found a way out.” She handed Smog the oversized pink binoculars and pointed to a tunnel that was partially submerged. “That’s good and all, Pinkie, but how are we going to get there?” She pulled a long balloon from her bosom and began to work furiously until she fashioned a colorful boat before them. “How the hell…?” “Just a trick or two I learned from, Party Favor.” She jumped into the boat breaking the mirror like image in the water. “And it can hold a full, Pinkie!” Smog learned a long time ago not to question this mare yet here he was again. Well, it was more of a way out than he had. Fluttershy shambled over and tried to get into the boat, but it kept escaping from the shore Smog rushed over and held it in place while she climbed aboard. He then turned his attention to the unconscious Rainbow. He lifted her carefully from where she lay, looking down on her with worry and longing. “We’ll get out of here; I promise.” He stepped on the boat, still cradling rainbow. “Alrighty, here we go!” The balloon dingy sprang to life with a motor powered by potatoes for all Smog knew. As they neared the tunnel, the torches that lined the sides burned with a black, blue, yellow, and pink flame. “Ooh, that’s pretty,” Pinkie gushed as they sailed away. ~^^^^^~ Spike lay on his back surrounded by rubble and pinned down by a piece. There was a bright light coming from above, but it didn’t cast onto his surroundings. He’d been like this for Celestia knows how long. The pain stymied his advances, but he needed to know where he was and how to find his friends. He prayed that they fared better than he right now. Speaking of his friends, this piece of rubble that had pinned him to the ground began to move and groan. “Owww…” she whined lifting herself up on Spike’s chest. “Twilight?” “Looks like you broke my fall, buddy,” she chuckled weakly. “Where’s Ember?” Twilight lit her horn, parting the darkness. Nothing but rubble surrounded them, except for a misshapen lump on the edge of her light. “Ember?” The lump wriggled and shifted. Spike nearly threw Twilight off him, and crawled towards the object. “Ember…?” Spike tenderly caressed her cheek bringing the dragoness back to the realm of the living “Hey, Spike…” she wearily groaned. Spike pressed his forehead against hers, laughing in relief. “Where are we?” “We fell,” Spike answered. Ember blinked several times, “We did?” “Yeah, don’t you remember?” “She may have hit her head,” Twilight said. Spike nodded and turned his attention to their surroundings, “That is a good question though. Where are we?” “We are most likely still in the library, but on a lower level? Stay with Ember, I’ll try and find a way out.” “Wait!” Spike grabbed her arm. “You don’t know the way out. I can barely see in this place.” “I don’t trust Ember to move. Someone has to find out where we are.” “Then at least let me come with you!” Twilight gave him that look of, seriously. “Right…” “Stay with Ember. I’ll be back.” The light cascading down from above didn’t aid in her search at all. Every step she took felt like she was putting a foot in her grave. The further she meandered, the thicker the darkness felt. She had gone far enough. She turned to face herself dressed in her royal fatigues. “What the heck?” “This is who you’ve become, but this isn’t the real you, is it?” Her double spoke with a smirk. Twilight’s mind couldn’t begin to process what she was seeing. “You know who you are, but there is a truth that you’ve been suppressing for years, Twilight Sparkle.” Her double presented her hand. “Come with me, and I’ll show you the truth of who you are and what you will be.” Twilight felt compelled to follow despite her initial worry. She took hold of her doppelganger's hand. As soon as she did, veins of fire as black as a void snaked up her arm quickly overwhelming the alicorn. “Spike! Help me-” was all she managed to get out before she became one with the darkness. Meanwhile, Spike sat by Ember’s side waiting for Twilight to return. “Does she know where she’s going?” asked Ember. “I don’t know. She can’t have gone too far, given that I can’t see more than a foot ahead of me,” he held the fire burning in his claw above the ground, “Still, there could be anything out there…” He rose to his feet and started off to where he believed he saw Twilight go last. This darkness felt alive, as if it were thinking and watching. “Why do you deny it?” A ghostly voice whispered. Spike whipped around expecting to find someone or something, but he was met with nothing other than the void. “You know who you are.” Another deeper voice spoke through the inky dark. Spike looked around nervously. The lack of light hindering his sense of direction. “Stop lying to yourself!” A cacophony of voices boomed through the darkness. After their echoes ceased, the true black of the void set in. He believed it to have snuffed out his fire, but as he looked to his claw it was still shining bright. “Perhaps you need… motivation.” A bloodcurdling scream pierced his ears coming from where he left Ember. WIthout any thought he dashed off towards where he left her, not sure if he was moving forward. “Ember! Twilight!” he cried in desperation. He spun in an endless circle his mind beginning to deteriorate until he saw a point of white light. He sped towards the light, but it didn’t move nor increase in magnitude. He had to make it. He had to know where he was. “Accept what you do not know. Step into the light...”