//------------------------------// // The Discoveries of a Lifetime // Story: Inequinoids: The Evil That Lies Beneath // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// Twilight happily bounced back and forth on her hooves as she stared up at the massive hunk of amber they'd unearthed from deep beneath Whitetail Woods. "This is amazing!" she squealed out as she dashed around it for a better look from all angles. "I knew we'd be making all sorts of discoveries down there, but I never expected one of this magnitude so soon! A fossilized ancient creature perfectly preserved in amber...and so huge too-ack!" She stopped as she clanged against something, the enviro-suit she'd designed specifically for underground environmental factors - intense heat, unexpected magma flows, and ambient magic spikes - clanging against the one worn by one of her compatriots. "We get it," Starlight stated blandly. "It's an amazing discovery. We are all thrilled to pieces that we'll be able to justify the expedition's huge initial budget to the Archaeological Preservation Society and our investors so we'll have a budget for a second expedition." She calmly pulled off her helmet to show that - while her suit, like everyone else's, was done in their color scheme for identification - her own colors were somewhat muted from being matted with sweat. "We're also hot, tired, and desperately in need of food and drink to refresh ourselves...and possibly a dip in a pool of water rather than acid." Twilight winced apologetically. "Sorry...I didn't expect the internal cooling systems to function so inefficiently. I'll up the enchantment layers and boost the stabilizing crystals before our next expedition." "That should be a while," Maud observed calmly as she easily hefted the chunk of amber - larger than the tree that had once housed the Golden Oaks Library - over her head in one hoof before setting it down on the flying platform they'd brought with them for whatever they found...though they'd expected several artifacts rather than a single fossil. "We'll take the time to learn all we can from this before engaging in another expedition." "We can always hope," Tempest murmured thoughtfully as she shifted her own helmet back, as uncomfortable as Starlight was but unwilling to comment on it. "Still, we should get back to Ponyville with this as soon as we can, Princess." Twilight rolled her eyes ruefully. "I've asked you to call me Twilight," she groaned softly. "And what's the rush? We're the only ones out here, and it's not like it's the Everfree!" Tempest was silent for a time, her eyes narrowed slightly. "...as you say, Princess," she allowed finally. "You're giving the look," Maud stated flatly. "Look?" Tempest asked in confusion. "The 'My commander is being an idiot but it's not my place to say so' look," Maud explained calmly. "The look you gave every time you called in a report to the Storm King when you worked for him." Tempest bit her lip and glanced away. "...that obvious?" she finally asked. "Expressions can say a lot about what a pony is thinking if you know how to read them," Maud confirmed flatly, her own expression unchanging. "Tempest, do you think I'm overlooking something?" Twilight pressed gently. Tempest frowned. "You're in charge of this expedition, Prin-" "Fizzle," Twilight interrupted calmly, instantly silencing the mare. "I'm not asking as a leader to a subordinate right now. I'm asking you as my friend...do you think I'm making a mistake?" Tempest closed her eyes and took a few breaths. "My apologies," she offered softly. "I'm still getting used to...friends." "It gets easier," Starlight reassured her helpfully. "...sorta." Tempest managed a smirk. She then turned back to Twilight. "The nature of the specimen concerns me," she continued calmly. "It seems like some sort of prehistoric beast...but it looks half dead inside the amber. If it was inside the amber when it died, how did it reach such a state of decay? If it died before entering the amber, why is it in an upright, struggling position? And why aren't there folds within the amber where there are spaces between the exposed ribs?" Twilight turned to look a little closer at the discovery. It was a massive bipedal creature, the visible flesh - where it had it - half decayed to an unhealthy looking greenish-yellow. Its rib cage and skull were both completely bare of flesh, and yet the entire thing was posed as if it were about to burst free of the amber and attack. While very dramatic...when looked that way, also quite concerning given it was easily big as the hydra of Froggy Bottom Bog. "So...what are you getting at?" she asked Tempest calmly. "Given the strong connection in history and mythology between evil forces, dark magic, and necromancy," Tempest continued calmly, "I'd say there's equal chance of this being an imprisoned lich of some sort as a fossilization anomaly. I'd feel better if we took some sort of security measures in that regard." She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Especially given your...track record when it comes to ancient sealed evils." Twilight gave Tempest an unamused, flat-eyed glare. "Very funny, Fizzle," she growled as Starlight giggled. "Still, your point is well taken. Spike!" Spike swooped down to land lightly atop the amber specimen, his toe-claws gripping it without digging in as he spread his wings for balance. "Yeah, Twilight?" he called back easily. He then glanced down at what he was standing on. "Whoa! Now that's an ugly mug..." "Get back to the Land Heart Museum and Display Center and up the guard complement," Twilight instructed firmly. "Get preparations underway for a multi-layer containment shield, and requisition as many unicorn Royal Guards as you can manage. Make sure they all know the Sunflash Cantrip." Spike quickly jotted down his instructions, then took another glance at the creature in the amber. "...you think we've got an undead monster here?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Tempest believes there's a good chance of it, and I can't fault her logic," Twilight allowed, giving Tempest a friendly smile. "Other than it being you running the expedition?" Spike called out playfully, laughing as he took wing after Twilight blew him a raspberry in response. She then turned and led the group off, taking their sample with them. Hidden in the trees nearby, a black hoof traced over writing in an ancient tome. "So..." a hissing voice observed softly. "The writings here are true..." A page was turned, revealing more writings and a picture of a mass of vines with eyes. "Then there is one other to release...to set in motion the destruction of Equestria...and the death of Twilight Sparkle!" The book closed, and the figure holding it snaked off into the shadows.